Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MOBILIsE (Molecular Bioengineering in health ERA chair)
Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2024-06-30
MOBILIsE will promote and consolidate the reputation of the Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto (INEB/i3S) as a world-leading institution in the field of Molecular Bioengineering.
Molecular Bioengineering applies the most recent advances in science and engineering to develop molecular tools for solving complex problems in medicine, such as targeted therapies and molecular diagnosis.
MOBILIsE will allow the recruitment of an outstanding researcher in the field of Molecular Bioengineering, the ERA Chair Holder, to establish a new research group at INEB/i3S. The ERA-Chair will create a synergic and cohesive research environment among key stakeholders (academy, research institutes, clinicians, and industry) in the Porto region through the creation of the MOBILIsE hub.
MOBILIsE will also contribute to the training of the future generations of researchers in Molecular Bioengineering and will have an impact in the development of new businesses in this field.
Molecular Bioengineering applies the most recent advances in science and engineering to develop molecular tools for solving complex problems in medicine, such as targeted therapies and molecular diagnosis.
MOBILIsE will allow the recruitment of an outstanding researcher in the field of Molecular Bioengineering, the ERA Chair Holder, to establish a new research group at INEB/i3S. The ERA-Chair will create a synergic and cohesive research environment among key stakeholders (academy, research institutes, clinicians, and industry) in the Porto region through the creation of the MOBILIsE hub.
MOBILIsE will also contribute to the training of the future generations of researchers in Molecular Bioengineering and will have an impact in the development of new businesses in this field.
- The first important milestone achieved in MOBILIsE was the recruitment of the ERA Chair Holder, Dr Helena Azevedo, an internationally established researcher with a prominent reputation in Biomolecular Engineering. Dr Azevedo’s work applies concepts from Chemistry, Biology and Engineering to develop innovative self-assembling biomaterials (hydrogels, membranes, drug delivery carriers) for regenerative medicine, targeted therapies, and in vitro tissue models.
The ERA-CH has established a new Research Group at INEB/i3S, the Molecular Biomaterials Group, which is an interdisciplinary and multicultural team comprising researchers from various nationalities. Together with her team, currently holding two Assistant Researchers, two Junior Researchers, two MSCA Postdoctoral Fellows, one Postdoctoral Researcher, one Research Technician, two pre-doctoral students, and one MSc student, Dr Azevedo will develop precision medicine technologies, based on molecular bionanomaterials, to underpin research in cancer, infection, neurodegenerative diseases and tissue repair/regeneration.
- The ERA-CH team has initiated various collaborations with groups of INEB/i3S. One of these collaborations prompted the publication of a high-impact factor (IF=40.4) scientific paper co-authored by the ERA-CH and the Project Coordinator.
- A self-assessment of the progress of INEB/i3S towards the implementation of the ERA priorities has been performed, a plan towards achieving them has been laid out, and the first evaluation of this implementation has been analysed.
Furthermore, the European HR Excellence in Research Award (HRS4R) has been conferred to the institute.
- The first Advanced course in Molecular Bioengineering was held in Nov 2023 with the second scheduled for Dec 2024.
- Training activities were implemented to support the Institute's Research Unit and enhance researchers' transferable skills, such as grant writing.
- Initiatives focused on career development (e.g. sessions on alternative careers) and mentoring (e.g. a mentoring program) were also established.
- Reflecting the importance of MOBILIsE’s stakeholders to the project, different initiatives have initiated to boost the interaction between them and the project:
i) dissemination of the project and its results in different national and international conferences by the ERA Chair Holder and other members of the project;
ii) the launch of the Molecular Bioengineering Seminar Series at INEB/i3S, with seminars from renowned scientists in the field (14 invited so far);
iii) stakeholder-focused activities, such as Industry Open Days (2 organised so far), in which MOBILIsE will host the visit of industrial or clinical stakeholders to find synergies and promote the establishment of new collaborations.
- The visual identity of the project has been established, the website and social media accounts have been created, and several communication materials have been prepared.
- The project has been participating in outreach activities targeting high-school pupils and participated in the 2021 European Researcher’s Night introducing to the general public how biomaterials can be used to improve human health, and will participate in the upcoming edition in September 2024.
The ERA-CH has established a new Research Group at INEB/i3S, the Molecular Biomaterials Group, which is an interdisciplinary and multicultural team comprising researchers from various nationalities. Together with her team, currently holding two Assistant Researchers, two Junior Researchers, two MSCA Postdoctoral Fellows, one Postdoctoral Researcher, one Research Technician, two pre-doctoral students, and one MSc student, Dr Azevedo will develop precision medicine technologies, based on molecular bionanomaterials, to underpin research in cancer, infection, neurodegenerative diseases and tissue repair/regeneration.
- The ERA-CH team has initiated various collaborations with groups of INEB/i3S. One of these collaborations prompted the publication of a high-impact factor (IF=40.4) scientific paper co-authored by the ERA-CH and the Project Coordinator.
- A self-assessment of the progress of INEB/i3S towards the implementation of the ERA priorities has been performed, a plan towards achieving them has been laid out, and the first evaluation of this implementation has been analysed.
Furthermore, the European HR Excellence in Research Award (HRS4R) has been conferred to the institute.
- The first Advanced course in Molecular Bioengineering was held in Nov 2023 with the second scheduled for Dec 2024.
- Training activities were implemented to support the Institute's Research Unit and enhance researchers' transferable skills, such as grant writing.
- Initiatives focused on career development (e.g. sessions on alternative careers) and mentoring (e.g. a mentoring program) were also established.
- Reflecting the importance of MOBILIsE’s stakeholders to the project, different initiatives have initiated to boost the interaction between them and the project:
i) dissemination of the project and its results in different national and international conferences by the ERA Chair Holder and other members of the project;
ii) the launch of the Molecular Bioengineering Seminar Series at INEB/i3S, with seminars from renowned scientists in the field (14 invited so far);
iii) stakeholder-focused activities, such as Industry Open Days (2 organised so far), in which MOBILIsE will host the visit of industrial or clinical stakeholders to find synergies and promote the establishment of new collaborations.
- The visual identity of the project has been established, the website and social media accounts have been created, and several communication materials have been prepared.
- The project has been participating in outreach activities targeting high-school pupils and participated in the 2021 European Researcher’s Night introducing to the general public how biomaterials can be used to improve human health, and will participate in the upcoming edition in September 2024.
MOBILIsE is positioning INEB/i3S as a leader in Research and Development and advanced training in Molecular Bioengineering, as well as in implementing the ERA priorities, raising the attractiveness of the institution for outstanding researchers, a long-term goal of the project.
The MOBILIsE Hub has been promoting a cohesive multidisciplinary network which will be key to attracting foreign Bioengineers to develop work at the member institutions of the Hub. Currently, an enlargement of the consortium is under discussion, increasing the networking possibilities.
The organization and participation in courses, seminars, and conferences showcasing the outstanding work produced at INEB/i3S, will keep further increasing its international visibility and attractiveness.
New contacts with industrial stakeholders have been undertaken and collaborations between the ERA-CH and INEB/i3S groups have been established to enable and promote the innovation potential, through IP generation and publication of high impact research, and enhanced competitive advantage in grant applications.
The MOBILIsE Hub has been promoting a cohesive multidisciplinary network which will be key to attracting foreign Bioengineers to develop work at the member institutions of the Hub. Currently, an enlargement of the consortium is under discussion, increasing the networking possibilities.
The organization and participation in courses, seminars, and conferences showcasing the outstanding work produced at INEB/i3S, will keep further increasing its international visibility and attractiveness.
New contacts with industrial stakeholders have been undertaken and collaborations between the ERA-CH and INEB/i3S groups have been established to enable and promote the innovation potential, through IP generation and publication of high impact research, and enhanced competitive advantage in grant applications.