Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PhenolAcTwin (ENHANCING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CAPACITY OF TUBITAK MRC FOOD INSTITUTE ON DIETARY POLYPHENOLS AND BIOAVAILABILITY/ BIOEFFICACY)
Reporting period: 2020-12-01 to 2022-02-28
In parallel with the growing consumers’ demand for healthier food products, there has been a growing interest in research, development, and commercialization of functional foods/ingredients, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements and presenting their health effects around the globe. Not only scientific communities but also the EU, governments, organizations contribute to ensuring a high level of human health protection. The promotion of healthy lifestyles with better diets and increased physical activity is outmost importance for future public health, well-being and prosperity in Europe. For this purpose, PhenoAcTwin project emphasizes on the health effects of dietary (poly)phenols, knowing key aspects such as their bioavailability and bioefficacy.
PhenolAcTwin will contribute to “Vision Document” of Joint Programming Initiative (JPI): “A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life” and 11th Development Plan of Turkey with relevant thematic priorities by focusing on the bioavailability/bioefficacy of dietary polyphenols with project partners TUBITAK (Türkiye), CSIC (Spain), QIB (United Kingdom), and INRAE (France). This periodic report covers first 15 months (01 December 2020 – 28 February 2022) of the 3-year PhenolAcTwin project.
The main objective of this project is to enhance the research and innovation capacity of TUBITAK on dietary polyphenols focusing on their bioavailability and bioefficacy. In order to achieve the project objective six (6) major objectives (OBJ) have been set.
OBJ1: To support research profile of human resources, especially the young researchers
OBJ2: To enhance the research and innovation capacity of TUBITAK
OBJ3: To improve networking of TUBITAK with leading partners/other related stakeholders
OBJ4: To improve capability of TUBITAK for future collaborations
OBJ5: To spread the impact of the Twinning Project
OBJ6: To improve proposal preparation and project management/administration skills of TUBITAK
PhenolAcTwin will contribute to “Vision Document” of Joint Programming Initiative (JPI): “A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life” and 11th Development Plan of Turkey with relevant thematic priorities by focusing on the bioavailability/bioefficacy of dietary polyphenols with project partners TUBITAK (Türkiye), CSIC (Spain), QIB (United Kingdom), and INRAE (France). This periodic report covers first 15 months (01 December 2020 – 28 February 2022) of the 3-year PhenolAcTwin project.
The main objective of this project is to enhance the research and innovation capacity of TUBITAK on dietary polyphenols focusing on their bioavailability and bioefficacy. In order to achieve the project objective six (6) major objectives (OBJ) have been set.
OBJ1: To support research profile of human resources, especially the young researchers
OBJ2: To enhance the research and innovation capacity of TUBITAK
OBJ3: To improve networking of TUBITAK with leading partners/other related stakeholders
OBJ4: To improve capability of TUBITAK for future collaborations
OBJ5: To spread the impact of the Twinning Project
OBJ6: To improve proposal preparation and project management/administration skills of TUBITAK
Within the first 15 months of this project, some of the activities were forced to be re-organized due to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. In order to meet the proposed goals of the project, some of the activities were held as virtual activities and some activities were postponed. The work performed over first 15 months of PhenolAcTwin is summarized as follows:
Trainings: Three virtual scientific trainings were organized by the leading scientists of PhenolAcTwin partners for the young researchers to increase awareness. In addition, trainings on project proposal writing and project management were taken to improve the skills of TUBITAK PhenolAcTwin members. Success story meetings gave the opportunity to share the experience and best practices of different types of projects funded by EU.
Internal and external research project group meetings: These on-line meetings with internal and external experts focused on analyzing current situation, gaps, further needs, and opportunities in defined scientific area.
Seminar and Open-day activity: A virtual seminar on “Recent Advances in Polyphenols and Health Research” was organized together with an Open-day activity. The aim of Seminar was to raise awareness on health effects of foods, bioavailability/bioefficacy, whereas Open-day aimed to introduce the Twinning project and capabilities of TUBITAK.
Dissemination activities: Web-page and social media accounts of PhenolAcTwin were actively used for dissemination of Project activities. Also dissemination tool such as logo and leaflet are designed for PhenolAcTwin. First newsletter of the project including details about PhenolAcTwin, completed activities and upcoming events is prepared and shared via webpage and social media accounts.
Trainings: Three virtual scientific trainings were organized by the leading scientists of PhenolAcTwin partners for the young researchers to increase awareness. In addition, trainings on project proposal writing and project management were taken to improve the skills of TUBITAK PhenolAcTwin members. Success story meetings gave the opportunity to share the experience and best practices of different types of projects funded by EU.
Internal and external research project group meetings: These on-line meetings with internal and external experts focused on analyzing current situation, gaps, further needs, and opportunities in defined scientific area.
Seminar and Open-day activity: A virtual seminar on “Recent Advances in Polyphenols and Health Research” was organized together with an Open-day activity. The aim of Seminar was to raise awareness on health effects of foods, bioavailability/bioefficacy, whereas Open-day aimed to introduce the Twinning project and capabilities of TUBITAK.
Dissemination activities: Web-page and social media accounts of PhenolAcTwin were actively used for dissemination of Project activities. Also dissemination tool such as logo and leaflet are designed for PhenolAcTwin. First newsletter of the project including details about PhenolAcTwin, completed activities and upcoming events is prepared and shared via webpage and social media accounts.
Scientific trainings: Not only the PhenolAcTwin members but also the young researchers had the opportunity to take scientific trainings on specific topics. By these trainings young researchers had the opportunity to acquire new skills, enlarge their knowledge and ask their questions to the experts in this field.
Seminar and Open-Day activity: The aim of the first Seminar was to raise awareness on health effects of foods, bioavailability/bioefficacy. Especially the young researchers were the target group of the seminar and participants registered from 15 different countries.
National and international project proposals: With the skills gained from trainings and networks, PhenolAcTwin Team Members in TUBITAK coordinated or joined consortiums and submitted proposals within the PRIMA, GreenDeal and Horizon Europe calls.
Regarding the national projects, within the first 15 months, Team Members in TUBITAK have coordinated more than six (6) national projects related to PhenolAcTwin.
Seminar and Open-Day activity: The aim of the first Seminar was to raise awareness on health effects of foods, bioavailability/bioefficacy. Especially the young researchers were the target group of the seminar and participants registered from 15 different countries.
National and international project proposals: With the skills gained from trainings and networks, PhenolAcTwin Team Members in TUBITAK coordinated or joined consortiums and submitted proposals within the PRIMA, GreenDeal and Horizon Europe calls.
Regarding the national projects, within the first 15 months, Team Members in TUBITAK have coordinated more than six (6) national projects related to PhenolAcTwin.