Periodic Reporting for period 2 - iSTARS (Informatics and Statistics for Advancement of Research Success)
Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2025-03-31
Data is collected every day and it is an essential part of daily life. Data analysis has an immense potential for scientific research, particularly in the field of health. iSTARS is a project of the Lisbon School of Medicine (Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa – FML) to develop an excellent unit in data science and Medicine. iSTARS intends to contribute to the transformation of data collection and data analysis with concrete benefits to the progress not only of scientific research, but also to benefit healthcare at large by establishing partnerships with industry, policy-makers, patients associations, among others.
iSTARS has the goal to establish an innovative data science unit at FMUL. Benefiting from a unique synergy between a School of Medicine, a biomedical research institute and a university Hospital in the same campus and all part of Lisbon Academic Medical Centre (CAML), this project aims to explore the potential of data analysis for health research. The iSTARS project aims to leverage the way data is collected, processed, and analysed improving scientific research but also the benefits to health decision making at different levels – from clinics to policy-making.
Excellent science implies support services in key areas of project management, communication and funding. Also, it needs that institutions provide good working environments to their researchers. The professionalization of research support services and making FMUL attractive to external researchers are also goals of iSTARS. The organised action will lead to transform data science at FMUL, transforming it in a referential unit of health data science both nationally and internationally, being capable to lead international projects, contribute to inform policy-making and public knowledge, and participating in innovative solutions for healthcare.
iSTARS has the goal to establish an innovative data science unit at FMUL. Benefiting from a unique synergy between a School of Medicine, a biomedical research institute and a university Hospital in the same campus and all part of Lisbon Academic Medical Centre (CAML), this project aims to explore the potential of data analysis for health research. The iSTARS project aims to leverage the way data is collected, processed, and analysed improving scientific research but also the benefits to health decision making at different levels – from clinics to policy-making.
Excellent science implies support services in key areas of project management, communication and funding. Also, it needs that institutions provide good working environments to their researchers. The professionalization of research support services and making FMUL attractive to external researchers are also goals of iSTARS. The organised action will lead to transform data science at FMUL, transforming it in a referential unit of health data science both nationally and internationally, being capable to lead international projects, contribute to inform policy-making and public knowledge, and participating in innovative solutions for healthcare.
To establish a data science unit it is necessary to have an excellent team. The first and second period of this project aimed to establish the ERA Chair team. This meant to hire not only the ERA Chair holder, but also the research team, and the support team (project manager, communication officer, and funding officer).
This task was concluded in the beginning of the fourth year and conditioned the project impact. Being strategic, the scientific team together with the support team, were focused in establishing partnerships and collaborations within and outside the Academic Medical Centre (CAML), to otimize the project outcomes by building on existing projects. So far, these efforts resulted in seven partnerships (maintained over time) and the application to 19 funding calls.
During these time period, iSTARS progressed in ERA priorities by organising the Gender Mainstreaming in medical research, being awarded with Human Resources excellence award by EURAXESS, and continued to offer training in health research integrity.
Other relevant progress was in the organization of research infrastructure: iSTARS organised the process of acquistion of computational infrastructure, while initiating the process of implementing RedCAP platform for data collection. In parallel, iSTARS offered to FML community (and other interested researchers) a training in research data management.
Communication and dissemination are also pillars of iSTARS. In this field, several activities were developed. A brand new strategic communication plan was developed and implemented, which included the creation of a new website and social media accounts. Additionally, team members were present in several scientific meetings and conferences, starting to present the work done at iSTARS and FML. Beyond the traditional communication and dissemination activities, the ERA Chair holder in charge developed dialogues with designated plastic artists to produce new forms of science communication.
The team also developed efforts to identify a stakeholders interest group, through networking and project communication.
iSTARS is a project dealing with health data, which is often sensitive data. Thus, the team has implemented an internal ethics screening with the support of the independent ethics advisory board.
In the end of the second reporting period, iSTARS has already achieved 3 of its milestones and produced 28 deliverables.
This task was concluded in the beginning of the fourth year and conditioned the project impact. Being strategic, the scientific team together with the support team, were focused in establishing partnerships and collaborations within and outside the Academic Medical Centre (CAML), to otimize the project outcomes by building on existing projects. So far, these efforts resulted in seven partnerships (maintained over time) and the application to 19 funding calls.
During these time period, iSTARS progressed in ERA priorities by organising the Gender Mainstreaming in medical research, being awarded with Human Resources excellence award by EURAXESS, and continued to offer training in health research integrity.
Other relevant progress was in the organization of research infrastructure: iSTARS organised the process of acquistion of computational infrastructure, while initiating the process of implementing RedCAP platform for data collection. In parallel, iSTARS offered to FML community (and other interested researchers) a training in research data management.
Communication and dissemination are also pillars of iSTARS. In this field, several activities were developed. A brand new strategic communication plan was developed and implemented, which included the creation of a new website and social media accounts. Additionally, team members were present in several scientific meetings and conferences, starting to present the work done at iSTARS and FML. Beyond the traditional communication and dissemination activities, the ERA Chair holder in charge developed dialogues with designated plastic artists to produce new forms of science communication.
The team also developed efforts to identify a stakeholders interest group, through networking and project communication.
iSTARS is a project dealing with health data, which is often sensitive data. Thus, the team has implemented an internal ethics screening with the support of the independent ethics advisory board.
In the end of the second reporting period, iSTARS has already achieved 3 of its milestones and produced 28 deliverables.
Data science is underdeveloped at Lisbon School of Medicine. With the establishment of ERA Chair team, it is expected that more collaborations will emerge, while iSTARS is getting known within the community due to its successful partnerships and expertise in health data science. Also, the acquisition of computational infrastructure and the establishment of RedCAP platform will open the iSTARS capacity to provide more data services using state-of-the-art tools.
The optimization of communication, including networking and conferences, will be consolidated with the two international events to disseminate outcomes. Besides the communication goals of the event, they will provide valuable opportunities do debate and exchange with relevant stakeholders and other possible partners from a wide range of areas.
In the second reporting period, iSTARS team have applied to 19 funding calls. In the next period, it is expected that FML could be the leader of a consortium to apply to funding, as this is one of the major goals of iSTARS.
The FML's commitment to leveraging research has also become stronger through the organisation of a new research centre and its associated services. iSTARS will play a crucial role in this effort, in particular by supporting the organisation of the data centre and all data-related services.
Support services are also essential in this process, and it is expected that by the end of the project the research support workflows will be fully optimised.
The optimization of communication, including networking and conferences, will be consolidated with the two international events to disseminate outcomes. Besides the communication goals of the event, they will provide valuable opportunities do debate and exchange with relevant stakeholders and other possible partners from a wide range of areas.
In the second reporting period, iSTARS team have applied to 19 funding calls. In the next period, it is expected that FML could be the leader of a consortium to apply to funding, as this is one of the major goals of iSTARS.
The FML's commitment to leveraging research has also become stronger through the organisation of a new research centre and its associated services. iSTARS will play a crucial role in this effort, in particular by supporting the organisation of the data centre and all data-related services.
Support services are also essential in this process, and it is expected that by the end of the project the research support workflows will be fully optimised.