Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CONI (Chair of Neuroinformatics)
Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2023-12-31
Neuroinformatics (NI) is nowadays an essential approach in brain research, to organise, analyse, integrate and interpret an increasing volume of diverse, multi-dimensional, fine-grain neuroscience data. University of Ljubljana’s (UL) faces challenges in suboptimal research management & open innovation in the field of NI. The aim of CONI project (Chair of neuroinformatics) is to enable UL, located in a low R&I performing country, to create appropriate conditions and opportunities for a high-quality researcher & research manager (ERA-Chair holder, ECH) to address these challenges and foster sustainable NI excellence as well as training in research management & administration.
CONI’s Objectives:
WP1/O1: Incorporate CONI and ratify CONI’s organisational structure and decision-making mechanism; WP1/O2: Select and employ ECH and CONI’s full-time staff according to the standards of Human Resources Excellence in Research and train CONI’s, NIC’s and UL’s staff in efficient teamwork and grant application/management; WP1/O3: Review implementation of the Project’s deliverables, impacts and measures to maximise impacts; WP1/O4: Prepare and ratify CONI's R&D&OI Business Plan to secure continuation of CONI; WP2/O5: Prepare, and update on an annual basis, CONI’s Data Management Roadmap and Implementation Plan (DMRIP) and Inventory of intellectual assets (IIA); WP2/O6: Train members of ERA-Chair NI quadruple helix cluster in data, data protection and OI management (DDPOIM); WP3/ O7: Develop an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Clinical Care Pathway (CCP) and Clinical Research Protocol (CRP); WP4/O8: Introduce innovative, nonformal training in research management & administration skills and to facilitate structural changes at UL; WP4/O9: Introduce innovative, formal and nonformal training, in Neuroinformatics and WP5/O10: Prepare Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication Action Plan and provide targeted information, at the national and international/EU-level, to multiple audiences.
CONI’s Objectives:
WP1/O1: Incorporate CONI and ratify CONI’s organisational structure and decision-making mechanism; WP1/O2: Select and employ ECH and CONI’s full-time staff according to the standards of Human Resources Excellence in Research and train CONI’s, NIC’s and UL’s staff in efficient teamwork and grant application/management; WP1/O3: Review implementation of the Project’s deliverables, impacts and measures to maximise impacts; WP1/O4: Prepare and ratify CONI's R&D&OI Business Plan to secure continuation of CONI; WP2/O5: Prepare, and update on an annual basis, CONI’s Data Management Roadmap and Implementation Plan (DMRIP) and Inventory of intellectual assets (IIA); WP2/O6: Train members of ERA-Chair NI quadruple helix cluster in data, data protection and OI management (DDPOIM); WP3/ O7: Develop an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Clinical Care Pathway (CCP) and Clinical Research Protocol (CRP); WP4/O8: Introduce innovative, nonformal training in research management & administration skills and to facilitate structural changes at UL; WP4/O9: Introduce innovative, formal and nonformal training, in Neuroinformatics and WP5/O10: Prepare Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication Action Plan and provide targeted information, at the national and international/EU-level, to multiple audiences.
UL successfully delivered online Kick-off meeting in M1. In M3 UL launched web portal (www.coni-erachair.si) and established 4 social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube).
By Month 18 UL launched 3 Calls to employ Era-Chair holder (ECH), with an academic rank of Professor or equivalent, who would lead UL's Chair of NI (CONI) and would have the authority and autonomy to apply for funding, manage and develop CONI, and develop independent lines of research. UL received 6 applications (2 per Call), with 4 applications being omitted due to lack of documentation and/or not fulfilling the criteria on research excellence. Two candidates attended the interview, with one application being rejected due to the internal mobility cause and the second applicant declined the offered position before signing the contract. In M19 CONI team explored different channels and options for recruiting suitable candidates for the open ECH position; however, due to the high amount of elapsed time, the risk of failing to achieve all relevant objectives and goals within the remaining 39 months emerged. Upon denied request for the 4th Call for ECH position, UL and PO agreed to terminate the project on 01/11/2022.
Members of Consortium held several discussions with coordinators of ongoing national and international projects, related to Neuroinformatics and cognitive decline, and discussed possible collaboration on the upcoming grants in E-health home care management.
By Month 18 UL launched 3 Calls to employ Era-Chair holder (ECH), with an academic rank of Professor or equivalent, who would lead UL's Chair of NI (CONI) and would have the authority and autonomy to apply for funding, manage and develop CONI, and develop independent lines of research. UL received 6 applications (2 per Call), with 4 applications being omitted due to lack of documentation and/or not fulfilling the criteria on research excellence. Two candidates attended the interview, with one application being rejected due to the internal mobility cause and the second applicant declined the offered position before signing the contract. In M19 CONI team explored different channels and options for recruiting suitable candidates for the open ECH position; however, due to the high amount of elapsed time, the risk of failing to achieve all relevant objectives and goals within the remaining 39 months emerged. Upon denied request for the 4th Call for ECH position, UL and PO agreed to terminate the project on 01/11/2022.
Members of Consortium held several discussions with coordinators of ongoing national and international projects, related to Neuroinformatics and cognitive decline, and discussed possible collaboration on the upcoming grants in E-health home care management.