Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EpiViral (Viruses and Epitranscriptomics: seeking novel targets for antiviral therapy)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-01-01 bis 2022-03-31
Viral infections are one of the most prominent and persistent threats to human health, resulting in high mortality rates and a tremendous economic impact. The frequent mutations and emergence of new viral species undermine a large part of the existing therapeutics, mainly directed at specific viruses or strains, emphasizing the importance of discovering novel broad-spectrum antiviral strategies. Investigating common mechanisms shared by different viruses, such as the regulation of host RNA modifications (epitranscriptome) upon infection, may provide important hints for the development of novel antiviral therapies.
EpiViral aims to intensify, increase, and consolidate the scientific research on virology and epitranscriptomics at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro (iBiMED-UAVR). The specific objectives include:
1) Boost research excellence of iBiMED-UAVR in the fields of virology and epitranscriptomics.
2) Stimulate the innovation capacity of iBiMED-UAVR and contribute to new joint teams of highly skilled researchers.
3) Promote and enhance networking and international awareness of iBiMED-UAVR research and achieve a broad societal impact for virology and epitranscriptomics research.
4) Promote the establishment of links with the industry based on the experience and best practices of the two leading partners.
5) Create advanced and sustainable virology and epitranscriptomics research network for further cooperation.
Towards the achievement of these goals, iBiMED-UAVR is twinning with two internationally leading research institutions, the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and the Goethe University Frankfurt (GUF).
EpiViral is fostering networking activities within the consortium to share knowledge, methodologies, and tools, which are crucial to raise the iBiMED-UAVR researcher’s profile and boost research achievements. EpiViral will, hence, highly contribute to the enhancement of iBiMED’s research quality, international awareness, and innovation capacity.
EpiViral aims to intensify, increase, and consolidate the scientific research on virology and epitranscriptomics at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro (iBiMED-UAVR). The specific objectives include:
1) Boost research excellence of iBiMED-UAVR in the fields of virology and epitranscriptomics.
2) Stimulate the innovation capacity of iBiMED-UAVR and contribute to new joint teams of highly skilled researchers.
3) Promote and enhance networking and international awareness of iBiMED-UAVR research and achieve a broad societal impact for virology and epitranscriptomics research.
4) Promote the establishment of links with the industry based on the experience and best practices of the two leading partners.
5) Create advanced and sustainable virology and epitranscriptomics research network for further cooperation.
Towards the achievement of these goals, iBiMED-UAVR is twinning with two internationally leading research institutions, the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and the Goethe University Frankfurt (GUF).
EpiViral is fostering networking activities within the consortium to share knowledge, methodologies, and tools, which are crucial to raise the iBiMED-UAVR researcher’s profile and boost research achievements. EpiViral will, hence, highly contribute to the enhancement of iBiMED’s research quality, international awareness, and innovation capacity.
During the 1st Reporting Period, EpiViral organized a series of activities and networking events, which highly contributed to the international exposure of iBiMED researchers as well as the scientific progress of the research on virology and RNA biology at iBiMED-UAVR:
- EpiViral Spring Seminars – Experts in virology and RNA biology fields were invited to a series of three online seminars directed to iBiMED-UAVR researchers.
- Workshops on Intellectual Property Rights and Knowledge transfer – These training activities for researchers were organized in collaboration with UACOOPERA, the Technology Transfer Office from the University of Aveiro.
- 1st EpiViral Symposium – The Symposium was held online on the 10th of January 2022 and brought together leading scientists in the fields of virology and RNA biology. It provided a unique opportunity to discuss new challenges and the future of research at the crossroads between these fields.
- EpiViral Mentoring Programme – This programme was created to support early-stage researchers from iBiMED-UAVR.
- EpiViral Young Scientists Conference Attendance Award – The two editions of this award covered the participation of iBiMED-UAVR young researchers in international meetings, aiming to promote scientific excellence, internationalization, and science dissemination.
- Staff Exchanges – EpiViral organized six staff exchanges involving fourteen researchers and staff members. These exchanges had the objective of promoting the networking between consortium members and increasing iBiMED-UAVR scientific performance.
o EpiViral Kick-off meeting – This meeting was held online on the 20th of January 2021. It brought together members of the partnering institutions to officially launch the project and discuss its implementation.
o “Training on LC/MS-MS technique to identify RNA modifications” was held from the 13th of September to the 13th of October 2021 at GUF.
o “Researchers’ exchanges” were held on the 27th of October 2021 at LUMC and on the 30th of November 2021 at GUF.
o “Researcher Support Office exchanges” were held on the 27th of October 2021 at LUMC and on the 30th of November 2021 at GUF.
- Communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities – EpiViral established a Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation plan to promote the engagement of the scientific community, industry, and general public to EpiViral results and initiatives. Communication with different stakeholder groups was promoted through the project website, social media accounts, flyers, TV, and radio.
- 1st Annual Plenary Meeting – This plenary meeting was held online on the 14th of March 2022. The meeting aimed to evaluate the project's progress, discuss the major challenges and achievements, and present the way forward.
- Stakeholder's meetings – EpiViral researchers have been actively engaging with healthcare and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders to present the project and the main results. These collaborations will further increase the innovation capacity of iBiMED-UAVR.
Beyond these activities, EpiViral researchers have published two scientific articles within the scope of the project and have been invited to participate in several national and international conferences and seminars.
- EpiViral Spring Seminars – Experts in virology and RNA biology fields were invited to a series of three online seminars directed to iBiMED-UAVR researchers.
- Workshops on Intellectual Property Rights and Knowledge transfer – These training activities for researchers were organized in collaboration with UACOOPERA, the Technology Transfer Office from the University of Aveiro.
- 1st EpiViral Symposium – The Symposium was held online on the 10th of January 2022 and brought together leading scientists in the fields of virology and RNA biology. It provided a unique opportunity to discuss new challenges and the future of research at the crossroads between these fields.
- EpiViral Mentoring Programme – This programme was created to support early-stage researchers from iBiMED-UAVR.
- EpiViral Young Scientists Conference Attendance Award – The two editions of this award covered the participation of iBiMED-UAVR young researchers in international meetings, aiming to promote scientific excellence, internationalization, and science dissemination.
- Staff Exchanges – EpiViral organized six staff exchanges involving fourteen researchers and staff members. These exchanges had the objective of promoting the networking between consortium members and increasing iBiMED-UAVR scientific performance.
o EpiViral Kick-off meeting – This meeting was held online on the 20th of January 2021. It brought together members of the partnering institutions to officially launch the project and discuss its implementation.
o “Training on LC/MS-MS technique to identify RNA modifications” was held from the 13th of September to the 13th of October 2021 at GUF.
o “Researchers’ exchanges” were held on the 27th of October 2021 at LUMC and on the 30th of November 2021 at GUF.
o “Researcher Support Office exchanges” were held on the 27th of October 2021 at LUMC and on the 30th of November 2021 at GUF.
- Communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities – EpiViral established a Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation plan to promote the engagement of the scientific community, industry, and general public to EpiViral results and initiatives. Communication with different stakeholder groups was promoted through the project website, social media accounts, flyers, TV, and radio.
- 1st Annual Plenary Meeting – This plenary meeting was held online on the 14th of March 2022. The meeting aimed to evaluate the project's progress, discuss the major challenges and achievements, and present the way forward.
- Stakeholder's meetings – EpiViral researchers have been actively engaging with healthcare and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders to present the project and the main results. These collaborations will further increase the innovation capacity of iBiMED-UAVR.
Beyond these activities, EpiViral researchers have published two scientific articles within the scope of the project and have been invited to participate in several national and international conferences and seminars.
EpiViral is contributing to placing iBiMED-UAVR within the core of European research organizations working at the crossroads between virology and epitranscriptomics.
The fostering of networks between researchers has contributed to new joint applications, which will increase iBiMED-UAVR competitiveness in national and international fundraising.
The participation of EpiViral in science communication activities has promoted public awareness regarding the importance of research in virology and epitranscriptomics. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, several communication activities were dedicated to increasing knowledge on viral infections and discussing emerging technologies in vaccine development.
The promotion of knowledge-sharing activities, such as training staff exchanges, expert visits, and scientific meetings, will enhance iBiMED-UAVR research excellence with an added value for commercial exploitation.
The fostering of networks between researchers has contributed to new joint applications, which will increase iBiMED-UAVR competitiveness in national and international fundraising.
The participation of EpiViral in science communication activities has promoted public awareness regarding the importance of research in virology and epitranscriptomics. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, several communication activities were dedicated to increasing knowledge on viral infections and discussing emerging technologies in vaccine development.
The promotion of knowledge-sharing activities, such as training staff exchanges, expert visits, and scientific meetings, will enhance iBiMED-UAVR research excellence with an added value for commercial exploitation.