This report covers the last 21 month of the REMODEL project, January 2021 to April 2023.
The development of training activities, a significant part of the project, took place in three different formats: science focused workshops/courses, transversal skills workshops/courses and short term scientific training periods.
Science workshops were organized on the following topics: organoids and advanced-in vitro models for biomedical research, organoids for infection research, organoids in cancer research and organoids in bioengineering research. In addition, a Summer School was organized. On basis of the experience gained from these workshops, the course “Organoids and Advanced 3D in Vitro Models for Research in Health and Disease” was established at the coordinating institution where it is now part of the regular advanced training offer. An e-learning portfolio was developed specifically to support the practical classes. This e-learning allowed the students to see the entire experimental procedures on video before performing them themselves.
Transversal skills workshops were organized on the following topics: Research project management, Good practices in in vitro Research, I have a PhD, what’s next?, Open Science, Ethics, science and society, IP management, Diversity.
The short term scientific periods were tailored to the needs of each participating young researcher and consisted in periods of 1-8 weeks in one of the laboratories of the participating institutions.
Individualized training for host institution researchers is integrated with the implementation of new research models at IBMC-i3S. The workshops already had the intended effect of showcasing the REMODEL project within the host institution, giving rise to collaborations with research groups within the i3S in which PhD students receive training and support in setting up organoids for their respective PhD projects. Four organoids models were established: lung, intestinal, gastric and colon. Standard operating procedures for gastro-intestinal and lung organoids have been established.
The first Portuguese 3Rs centre was launched at the end of the project. As the first Portuguese Center dedicated to the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal experimentation) this is an important milestone not only formally for the REMODEL project (M8) but also by placing Portugal firmly on the map of European 3R initiatives.
With focus on Early Stage Researchers, students were co-supervised by REMODEL team members, transferrable training courses have been organized and scheduled and a mentoring strategy has been established. We were able to train 8 ERS and PhD students in these advanced models.
Project outreach took place through the project website and Twitter account, as well as through media releases. The project was featured in major Portuguese media at two different events.
