The ERA Chair - Adriana Sánchez-Danés - remains in position. During this period, her research - combining genetic, modelling, imaging and quantitative systems to understand the mechanisms involved in tumor progression, resistance and relapse – was awarded 250K EUR of competitive funding from the primary national public funding body (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, FCT) and the Maratona da Saúde Prize for Cancer Research (public/private, 20K EUR) demonstrating a keen reception of her work by national scientific structures. She recruited an experienced research team of postdocs, technicians and graduate students (Doctoral and Masters), training junior scientists and overcoming the major potential risks associated with this action. Her research programme has been showcased by major media outlets (including primetime national TV channel RTP 1).
Further expansion of the Physiology and Cancer programme was achieved through the launch of two calls for Group Leaders and significant allocation of resources, increasing the number of Group Leaders to 6 (up from 4 in 2018, prior to project initiation, and now with gender parity). An innovative MD-PhD sandwich programme to train forward-thinking physician-scientists was designed in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of the Algarve and submitted to the national body for formal accreditation (A3ES). A postdoctoral programme is under development with a view to part-fund through a COFUND-FP application.
The implementation of structural changes is underway, with investment in new RI networks including CorEuStem newly funded COST network, expert personnel and installation of new technologies (RNAscope; Multiphoton and Confocal Microscopy). Drawing on international best practices, “HR Excellence in Research” status was successfully awarded in 2020, making CF the third of only six institutes awarded nationally to date. The action plan, including steps towards improving biosafety, recruitment and mentorship, is now in the implementation phase.
A highlight of this period is the continuation of a strong Responsible Research and Innovation programme, in particular the science education pilot Ciência di Noz Manera (Science Our Way), bringing researchers closer to underserved high school students and on which an international consortium MSCA-Citizens application was based. Several workshops were organised in collaboration with RIs (CONGENTO, Biodata.pt) European reference laboratory ECVAM, of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), international publisher EMBO Journal and independent experts, with corporate sponsors (including Fisher Scientific) attracted. The timely workshop “Justifying your Research Design: Sex and Gender Dimensions” highlighted key considerations in research design for Horizon Europe and beyond.
Regarding project management, KPIs and IAMs have been monitored and responsibilities shifted where required. A further 6 deliverables were submitted and 2 milestones achieved. The project Scientific Advisory Board and Independent Ethics Advisor have been consulted to monitor progress and ethics through the project’s duration, respectively.
