OLISSIPO – Fostering Computational Biology Research and Innovation in Lisbon

Project Information

OLISSIPO

Grant agreement ID: 951970

DOI

10.3030/951970

Project closed

EC signature date 27 June 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 30 June 2024

Funded under

• Twinning of research institutions

Total cost

€ 900 000,00

EU contribution

€ 900 000,00

Coordinated by

INESC ID INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIADE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES INVESTIGACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO EM LISBOA
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - OLISSIPO (OLISSIPO – Fostering Computational Biology Research and Innovation in Lisbon)

Reporting period: 2022-04-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

OLISSIPO (Fostering Computational Biology Research and Innovation in Lisbon) was an international research project funded by the European Commission through its Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation – Twinning action. Coordinated by INESC-ID (Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Lisboa) with the participation of EMBL Heidelberg, ETH Zurich, and Inria/Lyon, OLISSIPO aimed to significantly enhance the competences in Computational Biology at INESC-ID and extend these capabilities to Instituto Superior Técnico/Universidade de Lisboa (IST/ULisboa).
Over the past two decades, Computational Biology in Portugal has seen considerable progress. However, the structure remains fragile, preventing the full establishment of this research area. To address this issue, OLISSIPO focused on stimulating the growth of this fundamental discipline and ensuring competitiveness in forthcoming projects and innovative actions within Portugal.
The OLISSIPO Consortium was structured to provide outstanding and complementary expertise in several strategic areas of Computational Biology. The project leveraged the expertise of key institutions and Principal Investigators in Computational Biology. Together, we enhanced the research profile and innovation competence of INESC-ID by providing training to staff and Early Stage Researchers (ESR) and building critical mass at the interface of computer science and health research. Furthermore, the project strengthened the collaborative network between the Twinning partners and reinforced expertise in theoretical modeling, computer science, and statistical learning with a direct impact on biology, medicine, and health applications.
OLISSIPO explored various research topics and strategic areas: 1) Single-cell analysis, modeling, and simulation; 2) Mathematical modeling of interactions among cells and cellular communities; 3) Computational phylogenetics of single cells and cellular communities; 4) Translational bioinformatics, data management, and software development.
To achieve our objectives, we organized short-term staff exchanges, expert visits (exchange of scientific and administrative staff), and scientific events such as summer schools, workshops, and international conferences. The project also provided and supported training in both specific research topics and soft skills, e.g. project management, scientific writing, presentation skills), intellectual property issues, and open-source practices.
In conclusion, the OLISSIPO project has made significant strides in enhancing Computational Biology competences at INESC-ID and IST/ULisboa, fostering a robust international network and creating a foundation for an international pole of excellence in this multi-disciplinary field in Portugal. Through its comprehensive training programs and collaborative efforts, OLISSIPO has strengthened the research and innovation capabilities in Portugal, positioning the country as a competitive player and attractive partner in the global Computational Biology landscape.

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

Over the course of the project (Jan 2021 - Jun 2024), the OLISSIPO Team fully implemented activities aligned with the following work packages (WP):
WP1 – Short-term staff exchanges
WP2 – Organization of joint events, schools, workshops and conferences
WP3 – Dissemination, communication and outreach
WP4 – Enhancing the scientific profile of Early Stage Researchers (ESR)
WP5 - Strengthening the research management and administration skills of INESC-ID
WP6 - Project management
We organized staff exchanges and joint lab retreats between the Consortium, totaling over 33 visits, with more than 160 weeks duration, involving a diverse group of over 40 participants (PIs, Scientific Advisory Board members, ESR and co-supervised MSc and PhD students, and administrative staff).
We organized 4 one-week Summer and Winter Schools in Lisbon addressing the strategic areas with 20 invited speakers and more than 100 participants, and also 2 Alumni talks, besides supporting the organization of three editions of another online workshop (Two for a Tango Workshop), and 7 Invited Lectures, alongside other events. We also conducted a rich array of online seminars and workshops, 35 available on YouTube, with over 3530 visualizations; these also include 4 Twin Seminars (featuring paired seminars by INESC-ID + international researchers), and 1 Inaugural Workshop on Computational Biology. All these 30+ activities surpassed 1300 participants.
OLISSIPO’s support extended to 20 international conferences and course participation (including more than 35 ESR) and the involvement in more than 44 training courses, seminars and workshops to enhance the research management and administration skills at INESC-ID (targeting the project coordinator and project manager) on several topics (Project Management for Scientists, Communication, Proposal Writing, Human Resources, Data Management Plan, and Research Ethics).
Regarding the communication, dissemination and outreach activities, promotional material was created (logo, website, social media, project banner, poster, and video), and 6 Newsletters. We have also organized/participated 20 outreach activities that gather more than 1000 participants.
OLISSIPO was continuously present on social media, including LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/olissipo/) with 335 followers, 164 posts and over 83000 views; Twitter/X (https://twitter.com/Olissipo_eu) with 200 followers and 239 posts; and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/@olissipoproject6515) with over 3700 visits to our 35 videos.
All results have been published on the project website https://olissipo.inesc-id.pt/

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)

Through implementing its work plan, OLISSIPO significantly strengthened the institutional network between INESC-ID, Inria, ETH Zurich, and EMBL to spread excellence and stimulate scientific development and innovation capacity in Computational Biology.
We expect that this stronger collaborative network will be expanded further among the Twinning partners’ contacts, thus enhancing the internationalization of INESC-ID, increasing the attractiveness of INESC-ID and this area, in particular for Early Stage Researchers (ESR) and PhD candidates, who will be attracted to pursue their careers in Computational Biology. This aspect will further support the sustainability of INESC-ID’s expertise beyond the project.
The planned dissemination, communication, and outreach activities further boosted the visibility of INESC-ID to the wider public and divulged computational biology and its importance in health sciences, from personalized medicine and precision oncology to the analysis of infectious diseases. This will strengthen the link between ICT and Health, aligned with UN Goal 3.
The network built by the OLISSIPO project is now operating successfully, as demonstrated by INESC-ID members and Twinning partners having already identified synergies and planning to collaborate in the future by submitting national and international projects.
In conclusion, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the OLISSIPO project successfully advanced its goals of enhancing competences in Computational Biology, thereby contributing to creating an international pole of excellence in multi-disciplinary science in Portugal.

Project's public website