An Immunological Hub of Excellence in Porto tailored to fulfil the ERA Priorities

Project Information

ImmunoHUB

Grant agreement ID: 951921

DOI

10.3030/951921

EC signature date 10 June 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• Establishing ‚ERA Chairs’

Total cost

€ 2 475 826,25

EU contribution

€ 2 475 826,25

Coordinated by

INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR E CELULAR-IBMC
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ImmunoHUB (An Immunological Hub of Excellence in Porto tailored to fulfil the ERA Priorities)

Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2024-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The ImmunoHUB's mission is to establish a platform of excellence in research and innovation at IBMC-i3S in Portugal. Cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions represent significant societal challenges. These diseases, studied at IBMC-i3S, often stem from dysregulated immune responses, positioning Immunology as a central focus of the institute.

While IBMC-i3S has contributed significantly to advancing knowledge of immune responses in health and disease, its international recognition as a center of excellence in Immunology can still be strengthened. The ImmunoHUB initiative aims to propel Immunology research at IBMC-i3S to the forefront of basic and translational biomedical science, generate knowledge with both fundamental and economic value, promote exemplary academic training for the next generation of immunologists, enhance the quality, competitiveness, and impact of the institute's research, innovation, fundraising and increase public awareness of Immunology's importance.

Building on IBMC-i3S’s robust scientific, technological, administrative, and governance infrastructure, a comprehensive work plan has been developed to ensure the successful integration and sustainability of the ERA Chair team and the implementation of the ImmunoHUB project. This initiative aligns with Portugal’s scientific policies, the European Commission’s H2020 program priorities, and key societal challenges. Through these coordinated efforts, ImmunoHUB aims to equip IBMC-i3S with cutting-edge infrastructure and world-class human resources, advancing scientific excellence in biomedical research across Europe.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first reporting period, the ERA Chair program was successfully launched, with notable progress across all Work Packages (WPs). Particular emphasis was placed on Project Management (WP1) and recruiting the ERA Chair Holder and team (WP2). Key achievements included forming the ERA Chair Accompanying Team and Advisory Board (WP1), assembling the ERA Chair Recruiting Team, finalizing the ERA Chair Holder selection process, and initiating team recruitment (WP2). Steps were also taken to adopt the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for Recruitment (WP5), and address Ethics requirements (WP8). At this stage, activities related to capacity building (WP3), internationalisation (WP4), and dissemination and communication (WP6) were in their early stages, yielding modest outcomes. To support the ERA Chair Holder and team, IBMC-i3S provided robust scientific, administrative, financial, and logistical resources, facilitating the establishment of an ambitious research agenda.

During the second reporting period, the project has built on these initial achievements. The Accompanying Team, including the ImmunoHUB ERA Chair coordinator and IIR program coordinators, continues to provide strategic guidance, while the Advisory Board monitors progress and offers feedback to enhance the project's impact (WP1). Recruitment efforts have been completed, resulting in a team comprising 3 postdoctoral researchers, 1 research technician, 1 project manager, 2 PhD students, and 2 research fellows (WP2).

Fully integrated into the IBMC-i3S scientific network, the ERA Chair Holder and team have made significant contributions to the institute's research, innovation, funding, and training efforts. They have published 5 scientific papers, participated in numerous national and international conferences, delivered lectures and seminars worldwide, organised scientific events, and mentored emerging immunologists (WP3). To increase the visibility of IBMC-i3S’s research, the ImmunoHUB Seminar Series and the ImmunoHUB Annual Meeting were launched, and the ERA Chair Holder conducted several international scientific visits. The first ERA Chair Annual Meeting was a success, with plans underway for the second edition (WP4).

IBMC-i3S was awarded the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) Award and successfully renewed this recognition in early 2024 during the European Commission's interim evaluation, reaffirming its commitment to excellence (WP5). Dissemination, exploitation, and communication plans (WP6) are now being fully implemented, ensuring transparency and maximising the project's impact.

Through the ImmunoHUB project, IBMC-i3S has significantly advanced its capacity to lead cutting-edge Immunology research globally. Efforts are ongoing to ensure that the transformative scientific philosophy, technological innovations, and training initiatives established by the ERA Chair action will endure beyond the project's conclusion (WP7).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The ERA Chair Holder established the Immune Sensing and Signaling Dynamics laboratory, a pioneering research group at IBMC-i3S dedicated to studying the interactions between microbes and the host immune system. This innovative research line marks a significant addition to the institute.
Pedro Moura-Alves and the team already published several manuscripts with the IBMC-i3S affiliation and sponsored by the ImmunoHUB project (WP3). The ERA Chair Holder and team have already participated in numerous conferences and have been invited as speakers and jury members for PhD and MSc defenses at institutions in Portugal, Europe, and beyond, enhancing the institute’s visibility.
Pedro Moura-Alves and his team have been able to start conducting experiments and consolidate research collaborations (both internal and external). Consequently, and in addition to previously established collaborations, the ImmunoHUB ERA Chair Holder and the team have started several national and international collaborations, intending to raise research standards and create opportunities for competitive funding proposal submissions, as well as increasing and maximizing the IBMC-i3S scientific network (WP3, WP4). By advancing Immunology's cross-disciplinary potential and elevating scientific standards, Pedro Moura-Alves and his team are fostering IBMC-i3S’s scientific competitiveness.

Efforts are also underway to extend ImmunoHUB initiatives into academia. Pedro Moura-Alves co-coordinates the Immunity and Infection module of a PhD program (Molecular and Celular Biology) involving IBMC-i3S. He is also actively involved in the organization of scientific meetings and launched a thematic seminar series in Immunology. Collectively, these actions will play a key role in training the next generation of immunologists and positioning IBMC-i3S and the region as a hub for Immunology excellence.

The ImmunoHUB project aims to generate translational knowledge in basic and applied Immunology, fostering collaborations and partnerships between IBMC-i3S and the Biotechnology and Healthcare sectors, driving innovation-related activities. The institute’s Research Innovation Unit, which specializes in knowledge transfer and intellectual property rights, provides strong support for these endeavors. The project's impact on clinical and translational studies and technology-driven programs is expected to grow in the latter stages of the project.
In line with European guidelines for Science with and for Society, the i3S Communication Unit is promoting ImmunoHUB activities to stakeholders through various engagement strategies. These efforts aim to increase the visibility of the new research group, the ImmunoHUB project, IBMC-i3S, and the region as a whole.

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