Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ImmunoHUB (An Immunological Hub of Excellence in Porto tailored to fulfil the ERA Priorities)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-01-01 al 2022-06-30
The mission of the ImmunoHUB is to create a Platform of excellence in research and innovation at IBMC-i3S (Portugal). Cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmunity and neurodegenerative disorders are major societal problems. These pathologies are studied at the IBMC-i3S and result in part from deregulated immune responses, which makes Immunology a core pillar in our institute. Moreover, the successful usage of immune checkpoint blockade therapies has revolutionized the treatment of cancer, and highlights the importance of understanding how to harness the Immune system for the future development of vaccines or therapeutics against these diseases. Despite our rcontributions to understanding how immune responses are orchestrated in health and disease, the international visibility of the IBMC-i3S as a research center of Excellence in Immunology can still be fostered.
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.
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.
We have operationalized the ERA Chair program and significantly progressed on the activities related to all Work Packages (WP), with a particular focus on Project Management (WP1) and Recruitment of the ERA Chair Holder and team (WP2). Specifically, we established the ERA Chair Accompanying Team and Advisory Board (WP1), the ERA Chair Recruiting Team, completed the ERA Chair Holder selection process, and initiated the recruitment of the ERA Chair team (WP2) and the establishment of the European Charter for Researchers and The Code of Conduct for their recruitment (WP5) and Ethics requirements (WP8). We opened an international open call and recruited Dr. Pedro M. Alves (Feb 2022), which has been appointed as the ERA Chair Holder and group leader at the IBMC-i3S. Dr. Pedro M. Alves immediately initiated his new research laboratory and began establishing his research team (WPs1-2). We have also initiated activities related to other WPs that are directly led by Dr. Pedro M. Alves, namely scientific, technological and administrative capacity building (WP3), internationalisation activities (WP4) and dissemination, exploitation and Communication activities (WP6). Reciprocally, the IBMC-i3S provided all scientific, administrative, financial managerial and logistic conditions to the ERA Chair Holder. The research group has been integrated into the scientific network of the IBMC-i3S and allocated to one laboratory with appropriate space. As part of the recruitment process, we have offered a financial start-up package that enables the ERA Chair Holder to equip the laboratory , access to internal scientific/ technological platforms and start the research activities.
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.
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.
Dr. Pedro M. Alves established his laboratory – Immune Sensing and Signalling Dynamics (– which focuses on the study of the interaction between microbes and the host immune system. This is a complete novel research line at IBMC-i3S. The recruitment of the ERA Chair team members was launched shortly after the recruitment of Dr. Pedro M. Alves. During this reporting period, the ImmunoHUB has hired 1 technician, and calls for 1 project manager and 1 post-doctoral researcher were launched. Other researchers (2 post-doctoral researchers and 2 PhD students) are still to be selected. Dr Pedro M. Alves has already participated in several conferences, has been invited to different Institutes in Portugal, Europe and overseas as a speaker and as a jury member of PhD defences, which contributed to increasing the visibility of the institute (WPs 3-4-6). Through the transversability of Immunology and the elevation of the scientific standards, Dr. Pedro M. Alves and his team will keep raising the scientific competitiveness of IBMC-i3S (WPs 3-4-6). The research team is fully integrated into the scientific ecosystem of the IBMC-i3S.
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
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