Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ImmunoHUB (An Immunological Hub of Excellence in Porto tailored to fulfil the ERA Priorities)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-01-01 bis 2022-06-30
The ImmunoHUB action will project Immunology at the IBMC-i3S towards the forefront of basic and translational biomedical research, provide knowledge of fundamental and economical value, promote the finest academic practices to train the next generation of Immunologists and widen public awareness for the importance of Immunology. Taking advantage of our high-quality scientific, technological, administrative and governance structures, we have set a comprehensive work plan to facilitate the integration and sustainability of the ERA Chair team and the implementation of the ImmunoHUB project. Our proposal is aligned with the existing scientific policy in Portugal and with the Societal Challenges and the ERA priorities identified by the European Commission under the H2020 program. Together, these synergistic actions will play a pivotal role to endorse Portugal with the cornerstone infrastructures and human resources of the highest level to reach scientific excellence in Biomedical Research across Europe.
Together, these actions have provided an immediate integration of the group in our internal research meetings and promoted scientific interactions. These initial steps of scientific, administrative and social integration of the ERA Chair Holder have been assisted and followed by the Accompanying Team.
The IBMC-i3S further implemented the European Charter for Researchers & Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. The logo was awarded on September 6th 2021.
We also expect to produce translational knowledge in basic or applied Immunology, which promote new collaborations and contracts between IBMC-i3S and Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical companies, enabling more effective innovation-related activities (WPs 3, 4, 6). We will provide all the conditions via our Research Innovation Unit, which includes collaborators dedicated to knowledge transfer and IP rights. The potential impact of the work conducted by the ImmunoHUB project in clinical and translational studies, technology- and industry-based programmes will take place during the last years of the project (WPs 4-6).
We are establishing the foundations so that the initiatives of the ImmunoHUB will disseminate into Academia. Dr. Pedro M. Alves is already cooperating with other researchers in the organization of seminars (directed to Immunology-oriented students and early-stage researchers). Dr. Pedro M. Alves has integrated the scientific committee of the annual meeting of the Portuguese Society of Immunology. Dr. Pedro M. Alves also participates in the module of Immunity and Infection of one of the PhD programs in which the IBMC-i3S participates. Collectively, these actions will decisively contribute to the training of the next generation of Immunologists and enhance the attractiveness of IBMC-i3S and the region as a hub of excellence to train in Immunology.
The research outputs of the project will be available to all by following an OPEN ACCESS policy. Additionally, the ERA Chair team has started the organization of dedicated thematic seminar series in Immunology (WP6): The ImmunoHUB seminar series and the Annual Meeting. The ERA Chair will also participate in in-house existent public outreach events, which are intended at raising awareness of the general society about the importance of Immunology.
Following European guidelines for Science with and for Society, and to increase the visibility of IBMC-i3S excellence, the i3S Communication Unit is promoting the dissemination and communication of ImmunoHUB activities to putative stakeholders, through different communication and engagement activities. These actions will contribute to the increase of visibility of the new research group, the ImmunoHUB project, the institute, as well as the region