Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ApogeeBio (innovAtive European POstdoctoral fellowship programme of GEnopolE BIOcluster)
Période du rapport: 2022-05-01 au 2024-04-30
The ApogeeBio program, funded by the EU through Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND, aims to enhance postdoctoral researchers' careers with high-quality training, international mobility, and interdisciplinary research skills.
Focusing on gene and cell therapies, environmental genomics, systems and synthetic biology, biotechnologies, biophysics, structural and molecular biology, chemistry, and computational biology, ApogeeBio operates within Genopole, the premier biocluster in the South Paris Region.
ApogeeBio launched 3 calls for 24 fellowships to finance experienced researchers, offering choices among 14 academic labs and 83 companies within Genopole. These labs are supervised by national research organizations like Inserm, CNRS, CEA, and institutions such as the University of Evry and Institut Mines-Télécom.
The objectives of ApogeeBio are:
- Enhancing International Attractiveness: Making Genopole a top destination for international postdoctoral researchers with competitive opportunities.
- Advancing Scientific Research: Supporting innovative research projects in life sciences, biotechnology, and digital sciences.
- Promoting Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Fostering collaborations that bring together diverse expertise for comprehensive research outcomes.
- Providing Comprehensive Training: Offering training and career development to equip researchers with essential skills for successful careers.
ApogeeBio addresses gaps in postdoctoral research opportunities, advances scientific knowledge, and contributes to societal well-being, establishing a legacy of excellence in life sciences and biotechnology.
Focusing on gene and cell therapies, environmental genomics, systems and synthetic biology, biotechnologies, biophysics, structural and molecular biology, chemistry, and computational biology, ApogeeBio operates within Genopole, the premier biocluster in the South Paris Region.
ApogeeBio launched 3 calls for 24 fellowships to finance experienced researchers, offering choices among 14 academic labs and 83 companies within Genopole. These labs are supervised by national research organizations like Inserm, CNRS, CEA, and institutions such as the University of Evry and Institut Mines-Télécom.
The objectives of ApogeeBio are:
- Enhancing International Attractiveness: Making Genopole a top destination for international postdoctoral researchers with competitive opportunities.
- Advancing Scientific Research: Supporting innovative research projects in life sciences, biotechnology, and digital sciences.
- Promoting Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Fostering collaborations that bring together diverse expertise for comprehensive research outcomes.
- Providing Comprehensive Training: Offering training and career development to equip researchers with essential skills for successful careers.
ApogeeBio addresses gaps in postdoctoral research opportunities, advances scientific knowledge, and contributes to societal well-being, establishing a legacy of excellence in life sciences and biotechnology.
Since the beginning of the ApogeeBio project, three calls for postdoctoral applications have been launched (2021, 2022, and 2023), hosted on our platform (https://genopole.agorize.com/fr/challenges/apogeebio-2023(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)). These calls were widely disseminated internationally through the Euraxess portal, international job portals, and the communication networks of Genopole and its partners, as well as through diplomatic scientific missions. All call-related information was accessible on a dedicated website: https://apogeebio.genopole.eu/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). The evaluation was entrusted to the European Science Foundation - Science Connect to ensure three independent and international experts for each project.
In parallel, several alerts were sent to academic and private laboratories at Genopole, and information meetings were organized to present the ApogeeBio program's aims, the criteria and conditions of the calls, and the requirements for hosting a fellow. Hosting teams were invited to publish detailed presentations about their members, current research fields, and available resources, without mentioning specific research projects.
A consortium agreement was planned to formalize the commitment of academic partners. Instead of one unique agreement with academic partners and separate grants for each private company, we decided to have one agreement per fellowship with the recruiting institution. All terms of the grant agreement were included in the fellowship agreement template, ensuring that hosting institutions agreed to all obligations towards the European Commission and the fellows. For private hosting teams, a short notice on the commitment of hosting teams was shared during the call dissemination, and the fellowship agreement template was shared at the time of candidate selection. The steps followed were:
- At the call opening, a short notice was sent to interested private companies, detailing commitments and obligations.
- At the final selection stage, the fellowship agreement template was shared.
Selected fellows benefited from the support of Science-Accueil for their arrival preparations (consular formalities, prefectural procedures, social security, etc.) and services throughout the year. To facilitate their integration in France, Genopole supported cultural activities, outings, and French courses organized by Science-Accueil.
Upon their arrival, an initial meeting was arranged with each fellow and their supervisor, and a questionnaire was submitted to ensure they acknowledged their rights and obligations. The recruitment contract is signed between the hosting institution and the fellow, with Genopole receiving a copy of the contract and pay sheet. At the end of the first year, a follow-up visit was organized to review progress, address any issues, and plan the continuation of the Career Development Plan (CDP). The CDP includes training in various scientific and soft skills, as well as a workshop on managing professional networks and career plans.
In parallel, several alerts were sent to academic and private laboratories at Genopole, and information meetings were organized to present the ApogeeBio program's aims, the criteria and conditions of the calls, and the requirements for hosting a fellow. Hosting teams were invited to publish detailed presentations about their members, current research fields, and available resources, without mentioning specific research projects.
A consortium agreement was planned to formalize the commitment of academic partners. Instead of one unique agreement with academic partners and separate grants for each private company, we decided to have one agreement per fellowship with the recruiting institution. All terms of the grant agreement were included in the fellowship agreement template, ensuring that hosting institutions agreed to all obligations towards the European Commission and the fellows. For private hosting teams, a short notice on the commitment of hosting teams was shared during the call dissemination, and the fellowship agreement template was shared at the time of candidate selection. The steps followed were:
- At the call opening, a short notice was sent to interested private companies, detailing commitments and obligations.
- At the final selection stage, the fellowship agreement template was shared.
Selected fellows benefited from the support of Science-Accueil for their arrival preparations (consular formalities, prefectural procedures, social security, etc.) and services throughout the year. To facilitate their integration in France, Genopole supported cultural activities, outings, and French courses organized by Science-Accueil.
Upon their arrival, an initial meeting was arranged with each fellow and their supervisor, and a questionnaire was submitted to ensure they acknowledged their rights and obligations. The recruitment contract is signed between the hosting institution and the fellow, with Genopole receiving a copy of the contract and pay sheet. At the end of the first year, a follow-up visit was organized to review progress, address any issues, and plan the continuation of the Career Development Plan (CDP). The CDP includes training in various scientific and soft skills, as well as a workshop on managing professional networks and career plans.
The importance of ApogeeBio for society is multifaceted:
- Health and Biomedicine: Supports advanced research in gene and cell therapies, genomics, and biotechnologies, aiding disease understanding and medical treatment development.
- Environmental Sustainability: Addresses challenges in biodiversity, ecosystem preservation, and sustainable development through environmental genomics and biotechnologies.
- Scientific Excellence and Leadership: Enhances the international visibility and attractiveness of European research, maintaining Europe's leadership in scientific research and innovation.
- Economic Growth: Stimulates economic growth and job creation in life sciences and biotechnology sectors by fostering innovation.
In the first 24 months, ApogeeBio achieved several objectives through strategic initiatives and collaborations:
- Increased international visibility of the Genopole biocluster, attracting talented researchers globally, including from India, Italy, Germany, Brazil, and Colombia.
- Supported research projects leading to advancements in fundamental research and biotechnologies for health, industry, environmental management, and biofuel innovation.
- Provided training, career workshops, and cultural immersion activities for fellows' integration in France.
Fellows' research projects cover various innovative and impactful R&D areas:
- Optimizing bioprocesses with E. coli for producing biomedical pigments, aiming to replace synthetic pigments in cosmetics.
- Developing a rapid diagnostic kit for detecting antibiotic resistance in bacteria, for use in clinical settings.
- Building computer models to study the diffusion of technological innovation in the biofuel sector, accounting for market, consumer, producer, and policymaker interactions.
- Creating a mammalian cell production process for a therapeutic protein to treat AMD, with plans to scale up production in bioreactors.
- Exploring molecular interactions that regulate tumor suppressors, focusing on proteins and non-coding RNAs involved in cellular responses to DNA damage, aiding drug screening.
- Investigating gene transfer by adeno-associated viral vectors to improve gene therapy for muscular dystrophies, developing cellular systems that mimic patient conditions.
- Developing myoorganoids to model skeletal muscle, aiding the study of muscle mechanisms, disease pathophysiology, and treatment effectiveness for muscular dystrophy.
These research endeavors collectively contribute to significant advancements in biotechnology and medical treatments.
- Health and Biomedicine: Supports advanced research in gene and cell therapies, genomics, and biotechnologies, aiding disease understanding and medical treatment development.
- Environmental Sustainability: Addresses challenges in biodiversity, ecosystem preservation, and sustainable development through environmental genomics and biotechnologies.
- Scientific Excellence and Leadership: Enhances the international visibility and attractiveness of European research, maintaining Europe's leadership in scientific research and innovation.
- Economic Growth: Stimulates economic growth and job creation in life sciences and biotechnology sectors by fostering innovation.
In the first 24 months, ApogeeBio achieved several objectives through strategic initiatives and collaborations:
- Increased international visibility of the Genopole biocluster, attracting talented researchers globally, including from India, Italy, Germany, Brazil, and Colombia.
- Supported research projects leading to advancements in fundamental research and biotechnologies for health, industry, environmental management, and biofuel innovation.
- Provided training, career workshops, and cultural immersion activities for fellows' integration in France.
Fellows' research projects cover various innovative and impactful R&D areas:
- Optimizing bioprocesses with E. coli for producing biomedical pigments, aiming to replace synthetic pigments in cosmetics.
- Developing a rapid diagnostic kit for detecting antibiotic resistance in bacteria, for use in clinical settings.
- Building computer models to study the diffusion of technological innovation in the biofuel sector, accounting for market, consumer, producer, and policymaker interactions.
- Creating a mammalian cell production process for a therapeutic protein to treat AMD, with plans to scale up production in bioreactors.
- Exploring molecular interactions that regulate tumor suppressors, focusing on proteins and non-coding RNAs involved in cellular responses to DNA damage, aiding drug screening.
- Investigating gene transfer by adeno-associated viral vectors to improve gene therapy for muscular dystrophies, developing cellular systems that mimic patient conditions.
- Developing myoorganoids to model skeletal muscle, aiding the study of muscle mechanisms, disease pathophysiology, and treatment effectiveness for muscular dystrophy.
These research endeavors collectively contribute to significant advancements in biotechnology and medical treatments.