Project implementation progressed with the continued integration of the ERA Chair team into the existing IPH structure, the expansion of research capacity, the recruitment of professional personnel, and the strengthening of scientific and compliance frameworks.
Key activities and achievements included:
• Establishment of Armenia’s Biovisualization Research Excellence Core (ABREC): Total 220 m² of laboratory space was renovated, increasing capacity for research and training. Essential bioimaging and spectroscopy equipment was procured, installed, and fully integrated with existing hardware and software packages. ABREC is now a fully functional biovisualization research hub.
• Recruitment of the ERA Chair team: The recruitment process involved national and international calls, resulting in the formation of a multidisciplinary team comprising eight core research staff, ABREC instructors, and administrative support personnel.
• Development of advanced training modules: New modules on cell staining, hyperspectral imaging, and image processing were developed, complementing existing modules on atomic force and confocal microscopy. Educational curricula and syllabi were designed to support structured training.
• Preparation of the “Manual of Key Biomedical Imaging Techniques and Protocols”: This manual provides standardized methodologies for imaging-related research activities.
• Scientific application of the ME-HSI approach: ERA Chair team has led the expansion of HSI technology into the second spectral dimension. This novel approach is being applied currently to identify and classify diverse biological targets. In parallel, computational pipelines for managing, visualizing, and quantitatively analyzing large 4D datasets are being developed, tested, and validated. Also, a custom-built experimental pulsed field ablation (PFA) generator has been successfully fabricated.
• Capacity building of early-career researchers: Multiple workshops and seminars were held. Topics included effective presentation techniques, biostatistics, grant writing and application evaluation, budgeting and compliance requirements.
• Strengthening of the research compliance environment at IPH: The Ethics and Compliance Committee (ECC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Biosafety Committee (IBC), and Institutional Review Board (IRB) were established. Manuals and standard operating procedures for animal care and use, laboratory safety, research ethics, and biosafety were developed. Training materials were prepared, introductory seminars and online training were delivered, and online submission forms for research protocols were implemented.
• Organization of an international scientific conference: In 2024, the project organized a conference that brought together over 150 researchers and featured invited speakers from leading international universities as well as the Armenian research community.
• Sustained collaboration with national and international partners: Several collaborative projects with local educational institutions, including the American University of Armenia, were initiated. Joint events and workshops were conducted to disseminate ERA Chair research activities, and team members presented research results at national and international scientific conferences.
• Publication of scientific outputs: A growing number of peer-reviewed papers and conference proceedings has been published.
Other activities included:
• Continuous development of the ERA Chair website, including training modules, online protocol submission, access to scientific resources and outputs, and regular project updates.
• Upgrades to the animal facility through renovation, improving regulatory compliance and expanding surgical and experimental capacity.
• The submission of competitive proposals, resulting in four research grants exceeding €400,000 and seven grants for training and conference participation.
