British-Italian Partnership Programme for Young Researchers, ‘Microorganisms that Actively Damage Artistic and Historic Stoneworks’, British Project Coordinator: Prof John Colin Murrell (University of Warwick, UK)

Key objectives: a) to understand the structure and function of the microbial community using molecular microbial ecology techniques; b) analysis key metabolic steps in biodeterioration processes; c) detect metabolically active microorganisms; d) isolation and characterisation of "key players" in biodeterioration processes. This will lead to better evaluation of potential damaging effects of microbes on stone artifacts, a better monitoring of the biodeterioration process and more effective conservation strategies.