Under the CREATE project, we aimed to acquire for our Institute a reputable researcher (ERA Chair holder), recognisable in the European Research Area (ERA), to establish a new chair (Department of Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems; PCBS). The research field of the ERA Chair holder resulted from the IPC SWOT analysis conducted in collaboration with our stakeholders, including ERC grant laureates. Before the project, IPC had had a solid research record in fundamental and application-oriented research on sensors, new materials for nanotechnology, and the chemical functionalisation of nanomaterials. We had also brought to perfection analytical methods used for researching physical and chemical systems. However, the development capacity of these methods had run out, and the Institute had lacked purpose and inspiration for further research allowing to catch up with the European Research Area. Therefore, based on analysis and discussions with major stakeholders, IPC had decided to refocus on researching biological systems.
To reinforce the new IPC research specialisation, we expected the ERA Chair holder to review our research agenda and select synergetic research groups capable of collaborating with PCBS and reorienting their research into physical chemistry inspired by biology. The project predicted several measures to be taken by the new leader to expand the research excellence of IPC to include this new research agenda.
Implementation of the abovementioned plan required finding a reputable expert in biology and establishing a new department focused on applications of developed techniques in biological systems. Therefore the preliminary action under the CREATE project included recruitment of an outstanding scientist capable of:
- indicating research directions of modern quantitative biology studies within physical chemistry and advising on possible links of physical chemistry and biology,
- enhancing IPC researchers to contribute to the new interdisciplinary research field,
- establishing cooperation with international scientific units on a partner basis.
The CREATE project also aimed to bring essential know-how to IPC and spread excellence through science-science and science-business cooperation.
Under the project, we have achieved all of the abovementioned objectives. Professor Maciej Wojtkowski, an outstanding specialist in biomedical imagining, was selected for the position of the ERA Chair holder. He has successfully established the Department of the Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems. Under this department, we have further extracted three new research groups. IPC has gained a competitive research potential to conduct interdisciplinary research on the border of disciplines and established partner relations with international scientific units, in particular – from ERA. The new Department managed to obtain research funding of EUR 7 m. for their research. Besides, prof. Wojtkowski gained additional funding of almost EUR 9 m. to set a new centre – the International Centre for Translational Eye Research. The activity of this centre, being a continuation of CREATE, will contribute to solving important societal problems. ICTER aims to develop new therapies and diagnostic tools to detect and treat various visual dysfunctions (including age-related), not infrequently leading to blindness.
