Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SymbNET (Genomics and Metabolomics in a Host-Microbe Symbiosis Network)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-01-01 bis 2022-03-31
Host-Microbe Symbiosis is a growing crucial axis of research in Biology, with impact in Human Health. Research in this field requires multidisciplinary highly skilled teams and collaborative research. To leverage the Host-Microbe Symbiosis research at FCG-IGC (Portugal) we will establish a European network in the use of Genomics and Metabolomics in this field. SymbNET, coordinated by FCG-IGC, will bring together the world leading research institutions EMBL (Germany), Kiel Univ. (Germany), and UNIL (Switzerland) and another local widening partner ITQB NOVA (Portugal), with whom we already collaborate locally. The network will bring together a consortium of leaders in the field that present a wide range of expertise, technological knowledge, scientific questions, and approaches in Host-Microbe Symbiosis. Therefore, SymbNET will be transformative to FCG-IGC and ITQB NOVA research and establish a center of excellence in Host-Microbe Symbiosis research in Portugal. SymbNET will promote transfer of knowledge and collaborations through programs of Researchers and Staff visit exchanges, collaborative projects, sponsoring the use of new technologies, organizing scientific meetings of the network, workshops, PhD Summer Schools, and a European meeting on Host-Microbe Symbiosis. There will be actions targeted at Early Stage Researchers to promote their research, training, mentoring, and networking, and ensuring gender equality in participation. The interaction with these leading institutions will also leverage FCG-IGC Research Management through the capacitation of the new Center for International Collaboration. SymbNET will promote a network for excellence in the field of Host-Microbe Symbiosis, capacitate the widening institutions, raise the profile and research quality of FCG-IGC, ITQB NOVA, and the other participating institutions, and establish an European consortium in this growing crucial area of research.
During the first part of the SymbNET program (Months 1-15), partners have organised several of the initiatives planned to achieve the main goal of establishing a network in the use of Genomics and Metabolomics in Host-Microbe Symbioses: (i) three Scientific Meetings with the consortium researchers and facilities’ staff that counted with external participants; (ii) a monthly online seminar series on Host-microbe Symbioses, Genomics and Metabolomics; (iii) three courses and workshops focusing on Host-microbe Symbioses, Genomics and Metabolomics; (iv) one career development event for early-stage researchers; and (v) three outreach events for the general public. Additionally, SymbNET directly funded four collaborative projects between the widening and leading partner institutes: one for a PhD student that foresees a visit to the collaborator; three for researchers (2 Postdocs, one Group Leader) to explore new techniques in Bioinformatics, Genomics and Metabolomics, not available in their Institute. All project initiatives have been widely communicated through the SymbNET social media and website, reaching a large audience.
Overall, through these initiatives, SymbNET has been promoting the networking and collaboration of its members, and supporting the career development of early-stage researchers in this field of research.
Overall, through these initiatives, SymbNET has been promoting the networking and collaboration of its members, and supporting the career development of early-stage researchers in this field of research.
The SymbNET program meets the expected impacts established in the WIDESPREAD-05-2020 call, promoting an increase of research excellence in the strategic biological area of genomics and metabolomics of host-microbe symbiosis of the coordinating institution, FCG-IGC and the partner ITQB NOVA, as well as at the national level in the widening country Portugal. The creation of SymbNET will allow the growth of a crucial area of research that is currently underserved in Portugal while also attracting talent and the necessary critical mass to this fast-developing research field and expanding the European scientific and technological knowledge. The participation of state of the art facilities and world leading research groups in host-microbe symbiosis from institutions based in high-performing countries such as EMBL (a European flagship laboratory for life sciences, renowned by its capacity of developing new instruments, methods and training modules), Kiel University (CAU) (a core member of a unique collaborative research center on the origin and function of metaorganisms), and University of Lausanne (a leading research University with a state of the art metabolomics facility) ensures that the two network members from the widening country, FCG-IGC (as coordinating institution) and ITQB NOVA, can benefit from a wide range of knowledge and expertise. In fact, this network brings together eminent scientists with expertise that spans from fundamental mechanisms of the microbe-host interactions, to the development of tools and technology used in the field and to the training of the next generation of scientific leaders. Having access to experts in these areas will allow FCG-IGC and ITQB NOVA to improve not only its scientific capacity in the host-microbe symbiosis field, but also to improve its ability to develop research tools, recruit group leaders and train early stage researchers (ESRs) and postdocs. Through extensive staff exchange we will raise the quality of research, technical support infrastructures and support services at FCG-IGC and ITQB NOVA. As a consequence, SymbNET will enhance the reputation, attractiveness and networking channels of FCG-IGC and ITQB NOVA increasing their international visibility and stimulating network activities. Alongside, we are expecting to improve ITQB NOVA and FCG-IGC´s capability to compete successfully for national, EU and international grants, as well as to increase the number of publications in top peer-reviewed journals. Moreover, the work packages created will enable the establishment of long-lasting connections between the participating institutions and potentiate the internationalization of the widening country partners. Therefore, it is expected that the impact of this network will continue to grow after the conclusion of all activities planned in this document.