Periodic Report Summary - INTEGERS (Integrating and strengthening genomic research in South-Eastern Europe)
Over the past decade significant resources have been committed to development of capacities for genomic research in Croatia. These efforts have lead to formation of the Centre for Functional Genomics of the Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Zagreb. Within the national confines, Centre for Functional Genomics formed strong links with other Croatian groups interested in genomic research, as well as with recognised centres of excellence in European Union (in Scotland, Portugal and Germany), and also with the Harvard University (USA).
Initially formed through common research interests, these collaborations resulted in award of several research grants from the Croatian Ministry of Science, as well as international grants with EU partners (from The British Council, Royal Society UK, The Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council UK, National Institutes of Health USA and European Union). It is the main goal of the awarded project entitled "INTEgrating and Strengthening GEnomic Research in South-Eastern Europe" to strengthen and reinforce Centre for Functional Genomics of the Zagreb Medical School and its existing links with Croatian and EU centres. CFG already possesses advanced equipment needed for performing latest genomic experiments.
As part of the project funds allocated were used specifically to upgrade the existing equipment in the Centre, and to purchase new scientific equipment, as well as stronger computers and bioinformatics software. As envisaged by the original workplan of the project, 6 exchange visits between CFG and its EU collaborating institutions were carried out during the reporting period, 7 in total. In addition, a symposium entitled "Glycomics meets genomics: novel strategies in combining omics approaches" was organized in Dubrovnik, Croatia from April 23rd to 26th 2010., with and additional workshop attached to it.
As part of the dissemination activities, an additional event was organised, namely a workshop entitled "New Trends in Development of Modern Laboratory Capacities for Research and Diagnostics", which was held on November 6th, 2010 in Zagreb, Croatia. Dissemination activities were in a special focus of the project, and resulted in tangible and sustainable results which will not only benefit CFG and collaborating institutions, but will be of greater importance to the socioeconomic circumstances in Croatia and the region.
As envisaged by the original project proposal, the scientists working at CFG established a web-page under the internet address: www.genome.hr. Increased funding available through the project, and subsequent enhancement of research capabilities of collaborating scientists have already resulted in several high-profile publications. Scientists working at CFG were also able to organise a postgraduate course entitled "Genomic Approaches in Biomedical and Translational Research".
It is important to stress that the newly organized course will not be financed from the funds available through the project. Heightened scientific visibility of the CFG has resulted in inclusion in several consortia for future EU funded projects, for instance in the FP7 Regions of Knowledge and IPA funding schemes. Furthermore, to disseminate the final outcomes of the project, we were able to publish an article in the April edition of the "Projects" journal, published by British Publisher Ltd. Support from the EC (European Commission) has already enabled the Croatian biomedical scientific community to achieve some significant genomics research advances. Continued support will help the Croatian scientific community integrate into the ERA, while the sharing of technologies, knowledge and scientific achievements will boost the wider process of scientific and economic integration throughout south-eastern Europe.
Initially formed through common research interests, these collaborations resulted in award of several research grants from the Croatian Ministry of Science, as well as international grants with EU partners (from The British Council, Royal Society UK, The Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council UK, National Institutes of Health USA and European Union). It is the main goal of the awarded project entitled "INTEgrating and Strengthening GEnomic Research in South-Eastern Europe" to strengthen and reinforce Centre for Functional Genomics of the Zagreb Medical School and its existing links with Croatian and EU centres. CFG already possesses advanced equipment needed for performing latest genomic experiments.
As part of the project funds allocated were used specifically to upgrade the existing equipment in the Centre, and to purchase new scientific equipment, as well as stronger computers and bioinformatics software. As envisaged by the original workplan of the project, 6 exchange visits between CFG and its EU collaborating institutions were carried out during the reporting period, 7 in total. In addition, a symposium entitled "Glycomics meets genomics: novel strategies in combining omics approaches" was organized in Dubrovnik, Croatia from April 23rd to 26th 2010., with and additional workshop attached to it.
As part of the dissemination activities, an additional event was organised, namely a workshop entitled "New Trends in Development of Modern Laboratory Capacities for Research and Diagnostics", which was held on November 6th, 2010 in Zagreb, Croatia. Dissemination activities were in a special focus of the project, and resulted in tangible and sustainable results which will not only benefit CFG and collaborating institutions, but will be of greater importance to the socioeconomic circumstances in Croatia and the region.
As envisaged by the original project proposal, the scientists working at CFG established a web-page under the internet address: www.genome.hr. Increased funding available through the project, and subsequent enhancement of research capabilities of collaborating scientists have already resulted in several high-profile publications. Scientists working at CFG were also able to organise a postgraduate course entitled "Genomic Approaches in Biomedical and Translational Research".
It is important to stress that the newly organized course will not be financed from the funds available through the project. Heightened scientific visibility of the CFG has resulted in inclusion in several consortia for future EU funded projects, for instance in the FP7 Regions of Knowledge and IPA funding schemes. Furthermore, to disseminate the final outcomes of the project, we were able to publish an article in the April edition of the "Projects" journal, published by British Publisher Ltd. Support from the EC (European Commission) has already enabled the Croatian biomedical scientific community to achieve some significant genomics research advances. Continued support will help the Croatian scientific community integrate into the ERA, while the sharing of technologies, knowledge and scientific achievements will boost the wider process of scientific and economic integration throughout south-eastern Europe.