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Setting up the ERA Chair of Comparative Medicine in the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences of the Estonian University of Life Sciences

Rezultaty

Updated dissemination and exploitation plan

Updated dissemination and exploitation plan once the ERA Chair team is in place the exact content of WP4 activities will be planned in detail in line with WP3 activities resulting in an updated dissemination and exploitation plan

ERA Chair Development Plan

For creating the Chair of Comparative Medicine as the physical form of the ERA Chair the Development Plan will be composed within WP 1 by Month 12

ERA Chair ethics strategy

As the COMBIVET project itself does not involve any research activities but increases the capabilities of IVMAS to conduct excellent research ethics issues as such are not relevant for implementing the project However animal ethics is an important cornerstone of the research to be conducted at the new Chair and is addressed in the project appropriately Most of all WP1 foresees the creation of an ERA Chair ethics strategy see also T14 Ethics and knowledge management that would account for any new ethics concerns that are identified during the project eg related to exploring emerging diseases and developing new animal models In addition the creation of an ERA Chair Advisory Board is foreseen involving experts who are able to guide the new ERA Chair strategically including issues of animal research ethics As the Board will be made up of outstanding researchers and experts from various international research organizations all relevant ethics concerns should be covered effectively supporting excellent research at the ChairThere are solid ethical scientific legal and economic reasons for making sure that animals are treated properly in research and used in as minimum numbers as possible As such the basic strategy for handling the ethics of animal research in the ERA Chair will proceed from the three R principles which guide the humane use of animals in scientific research and are widely approved in various strategies eg Directive 201063EU Replace the use of animals with alternative techniques if possible or avoid the use of animals altogether Reduce the number of animals used to a minimum to obtain information from fewer animals or more information from the same number of animals Refine the way experiments are carried out to make sure animals suffer as little as possible incl better housing and improved procedures which minimize pain and suffering andor increase animal welfare

Summer school draft agendas

In the last 3 years of the project 3 international summer schools will be organized The ERA team EMU staff as well as guest experts will conduct seminars and workshops during the summer schools on topics related to One Health and comparative medicine focusing on the research topics of the ERA Chair Through various communication channels foreign PhDs will be encouraged to participate to promote networking among the young researchersSummer school draft agendas a report outlining the central topics and the exact content of each of the three summer schools along with operational details dates preliminary presenters etc will be prepared by the M22

Training plan

Training plan is a plan outlining the trainings conferences workshops etc that the ERA team will attend based on the needs of the team and events available at the timeThe Chair holder will map the expertise available in the ERA team and agree on a plan with the research team on how to improve their skills according to the research to be conducted in EMU This includes training sessions guest speakers and conference attendance

Data management plan

An initial Data Management Plan (DMP) for research conducted by the ERA Chair will be completed during the first six months of this project. The DMP will be created to support the data management life cycle for all data that will be collected, processed or generated by the project and will be updated periodically throughout the project. The Project Manager, the ERA Chair holder and the Project Steering Committee will create the initial DMP. Once hired, the ERA Chair will work with other units and team members to keep the DMP up to date. The DMP will follow the template set by Horizon 2020 and include sections for each data set developed, including the data set name and description; Standards and metadata; Data sharing and Archiving and preservation. In so doing, the DMP will ensure that scientific research data produced by the ERA Chair will be accessible, and intelligible, have as many uses as possible and have a high standard of interoperability. Ownership of data As the sole applicant in this project, EMU will retain initial ownership over data and knowledge generated. Thus, there is no need to develop respective ownership agreements at the initial stages. However, as the project develops and the ERA Chair enters into collaborative relationships with other institutions, then specific agreements will be established to manage ownership and access to knowledge. Furthermore, as described further below, efforts will be made to make research results as transparent, open and accessible as possible. Data collected/generated Broadly speaking, three types of knowledge will be collected/generated: Collected animal data – As part of the research activity of the ERA Chair, animal laboratory samples will be collected and stored in custom databases that will be created to carry out analyses. As described in WP3, animal samples representing various pathogens, infections and diseases will be collected and stored, and used to create models that will help understand each health issue and feed into studying the same conditions in humans. All data collection methods and means of storing will be outlined in the DMP. Generated knowledge – Based upon the analysis that will be conducted on the collected data, it is anticipated that this project helps to leads to the discovery of new knowledge in metabolic disorders, cancer/cardiovascular disease and joint/skeletal diseases, and facilitate the development of new treatments for these disorders. Products/tools/services – In carrying out research activity, various tools will need to be developed that could have potential commercial applications. For example, the software that is used to collect and coordinate data, the software used for or the necessary tools for setting up and maintaining the database. Also, protocols will be developed for procedures that could potentially be marketed as services for customers from inside and outside of EMU. Examples of exploiting the ERA Chair’s work in that sense include: • providing advisory and monitoring services as well as risk and scenario analyses to the public sector; • offering data based on animal samples that can be used for both public (evidence-based planning, state-level strategies) and private purposes (new applications, possibility of creating spin-offs etc.); • providing animal models for preclinical trials that could lead to the development of new treatments and medicine. Data exploitation/sharing – different approaches to exploitation and sharing will be taken depending upon the types of data/knowledge that is generated: • Collected animal data – The data collected from animal samples will be open to any researchers who are interested. To enable this, the ERA Chair will seek to create data-sharing networks with other researchers in the field. Doing so will have two distinct benefits, first, working with partners will enable the ERA Chair to enlarge the number of samples within the database. Secondly, data generated from this

ERA Chair communication plan

ERA Chair communication plan is a communication plan specific the exact target groups messages and channels for achieving enough traction for the project The plan will also include the exact setup and content of the planned outreach activities and expected outcomes in media

Local seminar plan

Local seminar plan will be issued on M27 This is a report outlining the central topics and the exact content of each of the local research workshops along with operational details dates preliminary presenters etcDuring the project it is planned to organize 8 workshops on RD results These seminars will be mainly targeted at international researchers and students but they also offer a good opportunity to engage and the raise awareness of industry and public sector players for potential cooperation

Report on study modules

The project will improve EMUs doctoral training by developing new specialized study modules that will be in line with the EU Principles on Innovative Doctoral Training including aspects such as research excellence the modules will be based on frontier research conducted in the ERA Chair attractive institutional environment opportunities for additional training travelling etc interdisciplinary research options crossfertilization and attractiveness for students from various faculties exposure to industry and other relevant employment sectors guest lecturers industry representatives business clusters etc international networking relationships with international institutions international experts presenting mobility funding etc and transferable skills communication project management ethics etc horizontal skills besides strictly comparative medicine related knowledgeFour 4 study modules amounting to 20 EAP for PhD students that focus on interdisciplinary One Health and comparative medicine topics according to the Chair holders vision will be developed approved and taught The aim is to set up these modules in a way that they could be integrated into various curricula as a means of specialization both in IVMAS and EMU as well as for instance the University of Tartu who could codevelop these modules according to their specific needs Besides providing insights of One Health these modules will emphasize transferable skills ie the knowledge and skills gained through these modules will be useful in various contexts be it related to research business or civil serviceReport on study modules a report describing the exact content of the 4 One Health study modules and a plan for integrating them into various curricula will be issued on M22 of the project

ERA Chair research integration plan

ERA Chair research integration plan is a plan specifying work flows between various chairs of IVMAS and integrationupgrading strategies for conducting excellent research at the ERA Chair

ERA Chair holder advertisement

Advertising the ERA Chair position will be done according to Estonian law, the EU Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers and using the work description described in section 1.3 ‘ERA Chair holder’. The candidates will be informed about the recruitment process, selection criteria, specific responsibilities and general requirements outlined in the European Charter for Researchers. To participate in the competition, candidates are required to submit the following documents to the Academic Secretary of EMU: an application to the Rector in free format, a copy of the document certifying PhD degree or equivalent, a CV (including publications, projects, academic work) and a motivation letter on the vision of the new unit. The ad will be disseminated in various channels to reach a wide range of potential Chair holders, including through EMU’s own channels (website, scientific network etc., see also WP6), international publications, the Euraxxes website, local newspapers and the Estonian Research Information System (a national register of R&D institutions and researchers). Also, acknowledged (non-)EU R&D organizations in the field of comparative medicine (e.g. the Comparative Medicine Institute of NC State University, the Colombia University Institute of Comparative Medicine, the Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine of the University of Glasgow, the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna etc.) will be contacted directly with a request to disseminate the information internally and through their own networks and channels. Sufficient time (3 months) will be provided for applying.

ERA Chair website

ERA Chair website is a chair-specific site on the main website of IVMAS with regular updates on project results, events and comparative medicine topics in general.

ERA Chair team member advertisement

Supported by the project manager, the Chair holder will create job listings for finding the rest of the new research team (3 full-time researchers, 4 post-docs and 4 PhDs). The offer will include a full description of the requirements, responsibilities, benefits, working conditions and career development prospects and will explain the recruitment process and selection criteria. The 3 full-time researchers will each be responsible for a specific field, based on the priority areas described in this proposal as well as the ERA Chair holder’s vision of the unit and its research. Channels similar to the recruitment of the Chair Holder will be used to disseminate the ads for team members. Sufficient time (3 months) will be provided for applying for the jobs. Most probably, the team members will be hired in stages in the first year of the project, ensuring that research activities (funded from other sources) will begin as soon as the first members are in place. The Selection Committee will carry out interviews with the most promising applicants as agreed by the Chair holder and project manager and make the final decisions based on interview results, CV reviews and references, taking into account complementary skillsets, international representation and gender balance.

Decision of the Creation of the ERA Chair

This project proceeds from an understanding that many of the health challenges faced by humans and animals are the same. This includes age-related diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, bone and joint diseases (e.g. osteoarthritis and osteoporosis) and metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes and insulin resistance). Thanks to these similarities, knowledge gained from studying and treating animal patients can be applied in humans while developing new diagnostic tools, vaccines and therapies for both humans and animals. This, however, requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach in research efforts and the development of research capabilities to support excellent comparative animal research. The strand of research that forms a bridge between human and animal health is called comparative medicine – the effort of exploring disease processes in animals and in humans with an effort to improve medicine for each. In response, the overall objective of this project is to establish an ERA Chair of Comparative Medicine in the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (IVMAS) of the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) in order to: • bring excellence to EMU and increase its attractiveness among international talent – the ERA Chair grant offers an excellent chance to recruit outstanding comparative/translational medicine researchers from Europe and beyond to develop and promote the fields of research that EMU has set as a priority (see also Methodology in section 1.3), increasing EMU’s image as a provider of solid career opportunities among international talent; • use the considerable potential existing in the field of comparative medicine in EMU and take it to the next level – besides good infrastructure and equipment for developing this field and the fact that IVMAS is the oldest approved veterinary school in the Baltics, EMU has several strong researchers who have already been focusing on the respective topics and are thus crucial in building up the ERA Chair (see also SWOT analysis in section 1.3); • promote breakthrough comparative medicine research in EMU – the university has a strategic aim to develop research excellence in the interdisciplinary field of comparative/translational medicine under the One Health concept (see more in section 1.3), while the ERA Chair grant is crucial in putting in place the preconditions (i.e. human resources, structural changes, skills and physical structures) for promoting breakthrough research in these fields; • boost the international visibility of EMU in the field of comparative medicine – besides increasing EMU’s visibility by promoting research in the specific fields of comparative medicine that need more research attention all over Europe (e.g. related to new and emerging diseases), the new ERA Chair will bring visibility to EMU through the project itself and the tasks related to dissemination, communication and maximizing the impact (see also section 3.1); • promote practical applications of the research done in EMU – one of the main reasons why EMU has taken a strategic course towards developing comparative medicine research in the university is that more and more, researchers are beginning to see its practical potential to improve the health of people and animals (see also WP4 on exploiting the research results); • reinforce cooperation with various departments and other R&D institutions – besides effectively integrating comparative medicine research conducted in various departments of EMU’s IVMAS under the One Health umbrella that the ERA Chair will focus on, the project will be based on interdisciplinary cooperation, bringing together EMU’s veterinary competence and the University of Tartu’s medicine expertise that has already been started through the National Centre for Translational and Clinical Research that the two universities co-founded.

Health actions targeting public health emergencies

The project is participating to the pilot on open access

Publikacje

Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles Labelled with a Lipophilic Dye Using Fluorescence Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Autorzy: Midekessa, G., Godakumara, K., Dissanayake, K., Hasan, M.M., Reshi, Q.U.A., Rinken, T., Fazeli, A.
Opublikowane w: Membranes, Numer 20770375, 2021, ISSN 2077-0375
Wydawca: Molecular Diversity Preservation International
DOI: 10.3390/membranes11100779

Cellular, Extracellular and Extracellular Vesicular miRNA Profiles of Pre-Ovulatory Follicles Indicate Signaling Disturbances in Polycystic Ovaries

Autorzy: Rooda, I., Hasan, M.M., Roos, K., Viil, J., Andronowska, A., Smolander, O.-P., Jaakma, Ü., Salumets, A., Fazeli, A., Velthut-Meikas, A.
Opublikowane w: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Numer 14220067, 2020, ISSN 1422-0067
Wydawca: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249550

Spermatozoa induce transcriptomic alterations in bovine oviductal epithelial cells prior to initial contact

Autorzy: Reshi, Q. U. A., Viil, J., Ord, J., Lättekivi, F., Godakumara, K., Hasan, M. M., Fazeli, A.
Opublikowane w: Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, Numer 18739601, 2020, ISSN 1873-9601
Wydawca: Springer Verlag
DOI: 10.1007/s12079-020-00575-2

Role of extracellular vesicles in intercellular communication during reproduction

Autorzy: Godakumara, K., Dissanayake, K., Hasan M.M., Kodithuwakku S.P., Fazeli, A
Opublikowane w: Reproduction in Domestic Animals, Numer 09366768, 2022, ISSN 0936-6768
Wydawca: Blackwell Publishing Inc.
DOI: 10.1111/rda.14205

Reproductive options for families at risk of Osteogenesis Imperfecta: a review

Autorzy: Lidiia Zhytnik, Kadri Simm, Andres Salumets, Maire Peters, Aare Märtson, Katre Maasalu
Opublikowane w: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, Numer 15/1, 2020, ISSN 1750-1172
Wydawca: BioMed Central
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-020-01404-w

Non-Invasive Method to Detect Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Wild Boar by Measurement of Volatile Organic Compounds Obtained from Feces with an Electronic Nose System.

Autorzy: Beleño-Sáenz, K.J., Cáceres-Tarazona, J.M., Nol, P., Jaimes-Mogollón, A.L., Gualdrón-Guerrero, O.E., Durán-Acevedo, C.M., Barasona, J.A., Vicente, J., Torres, M.J., Welearegay, T.G., Österlund, L., Rhyan, J., Ionescu, R.
Opublikowane w: Sensors, Numer 14248220, 2021, ISSN 1424-8220
Wydawca: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
DOI: 10.3390/s21020584

Bovine Follicular Fluid Derived Extracellular Vesicles Modulate the Viability, Capacitation and Acrosome Reaction of Bull Spermatozoa.

Autorzy: Hasan, M.M., Reshi, Q.U.A., Lättekivi, F., Viil, J., Godakumara, K., Dissanayake, K., Andronowska, A., Jaakma, Ü., Fazeli, A.
Opublikowane w: Biology, Numer 20797737, 2021, ISSN 2079-7737
Wydawca: MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/biology10111154

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