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).
