Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WELCOME2 (Welcoming ERA Chair to Centre of excellence in nutrigenomics for optimising health and well-being in the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-10-01 bis 2022-03-31
The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IARFR PAS) is a leading national research centre that brings together interdisciplinary research to investigate the mechanisms of environmental impact on the health and well-being of humans and animals. The main objective of WELCOME2 is to upgrade the research potential of IARFR PAS to achieve excellence on sustainable basis and fully participate in European Research Arena (ERA). Through the project, an outstanding researcher with high leadership skills (ERA Chair holder) and research group will be permanently employed at IARFR PAS to create and lead a Centre of Excellence in Nutrigenomics for optimising health and well-being. In parallel, we will implement structural changes for responsible research and effective science management that will enable delivery of IARFR’s science as public good. Introducing policies on Good Laboratory Practices, Open Access, Open Data Management and ethics will make IARFR a competitive and credible ERA-recognised centre. Upgraded Human Resources unit will underpin proficient execution of the principles of the European Charter & Code for Researchers and OTM-R values, fostering ERA priorities of gender equality, research freedom and training, and thus increase IARFR’s attractiveness for excellent mobile researchers. Under Chair’s guidance we will run “Rising Managers Academy”, advancing our research management and administrative skills to improve IARFR's capacity to compete successfully for international funds. WELCOME2 received support from authorities, industry and research stakeholders, and demonstrates a strong synergy with European Structural Investment Funds. Project’s ambitions will feed into regional and national smart specializations, as well as Horizon2020 Societal Challenges, HorizonEurope Pillar2 Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness and UN Sustainable Development Goals. We will disseminate WELCOME2 outcomes to external stakeholders in open trainings, scientific seminars and Knowledge Arena Workshops, and this way modify research and innovation landscape of region and country.
Within the period of the first 18 months of the project, two international calls for the position of ERA Chair holder were held, which ultimately resulted in the recruitment of Prof. Carsten Carlberg at IAR&FR. Prof. Carlberg is an outstanding specialist in the field of biochemistry and nutrigenomics, with over 30 years of experience in the research on vitamin D. The research team of WELCOME2 ERA Chair will investigate the effect of vitamin D and other nutritional compounds on changes of the epigenome and transcriptome of tissues and cell types of healthy and (pre)diseased individuals.
Prof. Carlberg has taken steps to prepare a new interdisciplinary strategy that will consolidate ongoing research at IAR&FR and incorporate new practices towards a better use of existing EU co-funded research facilities. Supported by the newly recruited English-speaking Grant Specialist, Prof. Carlberg has also selected competitive research funding opportunities and started the work on preparing grant applications to be submitted to national and international project calls. Efforts have also been taken to further develop IAR&FR’s collaborative networks with EU’s leading organisations in the field of omics-based research. Recently, IAR&FR has become a member of a prestigious European Nutrigenomics Network NuGO.
Measures were taken to upgrade the assistance of IAR&FR’s staff offered to researchers in developing grant applications. For this purpose, English-speaking Grant Specialist was employed to support IAR&FR’s scientific staff with regards to identifying relevant open calls; preparing grant applications and providing feedback on draft proposals; and implementing strategies that would improve the competitiveness of grant applications. Research Management Guidance (RMG) - an integrated researcher-centric and project-based online tool was created under the direction of the Grant Specialist, which brings in one place all the key information needed to apply for and maintain grants, navigate complex policies, and conduct safe research in compliance with the regulations.
With WELCOME2 we have recruited a full-time experienced English-speaking HR Business Partner. He cooperates with IAR&FR’s commissions for ethical issues and workplace harassment, and disciplinary spokesman. During the reporting period HR BP was designated to perform two important positions: Man of Trust for Mobbing and Equal Treatment Proxy. As Equal Treatment Proxy, HR BP introduced “Gender Equality Plan” (GEP) announced by the Director’s Ordinance. To provide support to foreign employees and their accompanying persons in solving daily life issues, the HR Manual for Employment of Foreign Researchers at IAR&FR was developed and introduced.
The process of improving the science management system at IAFR&FR and fostering good scientific practices in research and scholarship was initiated with the recruitment of an Internal Auditor who is spearheading the construction of Research Data Management policy at IAR&FR. The Open Access and Data Management regulations have already been developed and introduced as Director’s Ordinances following a series of meetings with group leaders, IT specialist and scientific directors, as well as surveys performed among principal investigators and main data producers.
WELCOME2’s communication and dissemination strategy was developed to maximize the expected impacts of the project and increase the visibility of IAR&FR. Brand identity of WELCOME2 was developed together with communication tools such as the project's website, document and presentation templates and event stand. The objectives and expected outcomes of WELCOME2 were disseminated to various stakeholders, incl. scientific community, business representatives and general public, through press conferences, kick-off meeting, press releases in regional and national media (incl. social media).
Prof. Carlberg has taken steps to prepare a new interdisciplinary strategy that will consolidate ongoing research at IAR&FR and incorporate new practices towards a better use of existing EU co-funded research facilities. Supported by the newly recruited English-speaking Grant Specialist, Prof. Carlberg has also selected competitive research funding opportunities and started the work on preparing grant applications to be submitted to national and international project calls. Efforts have also been taken to further develop IAR&FR’s collaborative networks with EU’s leading organisations in the field of omics-based research. Recently, IAR&FR has become a member of a prestigious European Nutrigenomics Network NuGO.
Measures were taken to upgrade the assistance of IAR&FR’s staff offered to researchers in developing grant applications. For this purpose, English-speaking Grant Specialist was employed to support IAR&FR’s scientific staff with regards to identifying relevant open calls; preparing grant applications and providing feedback on draft proposals; and implementing strategies that would improve the competitiveness of grant applications. Research Management Guidance (RMG) - an integrated researcher-centric and project-based online tool was created under the direction of the Grant Specialist, which brings in one place all the key information needed to apply for and maintain grants, navigate complex policies, and conduct safe research in compliance with the regulations.
With WELCOME2 we have recruited a full-time experienced English-speaking HR Business Partner. He cooperates with IAR&FR’s commissions for ethical issues and workplace harassment, and disciplinary spokesman. During the reporting period HR BP was designated to perform two important positions: Man of Trust for Mobbing and Equal Treatment Proxy. As Equal Treatment Proxy, HR BP introduced “Gender Equality Plan” (GEP) announced by the Director’s Ordinance. To provide support to foreign employees and their accompanying persons in solving daily life issues, the HR Manual for Employment of Foreign Researchers at IAR&FR was developed and introduced.
The process of improving the science management system at IAFR&FR and fostering good scientific practices in research and scholarship was initiated with the recruitment of an Internal Auditor who is spearheading the construction of Research Data Management policy at IAR&FR. The Open Access and Data Management regulations have already been developed and introduced as Director’s Ordinances following a series of meetings with group leaders, IT specialist and scientific directors, as well as surveys performed among principal investigators and main data producers.
WELCOME2’s communication and dissemination strategy was developed to maximize the expected impacts of the project and increase the visibility of IAR&FR. Brand identity of WELCOME2 was developed together with communication tools such as the project's website, document and presentation templates and event stand. The objectives and expected outcomes of WELCOME2 were disseminated to various stakeholders, incl. scientific community, business representatives and general public, through press conferences, kick-off meeting, press releases in regional and national media (incl. social media).
In the first 18 months of the project the WELCOME2 team has worked towards all the expected deliverables and milestones of the project and is well positioned to continue to meet the impacts of the project:
1. Increased attractiveness of the institution, region and country for internationally excellent and mobile researchers;
2. Increased research excellence of IAR&FR in nutrigenomics for optimizing health and well-being;
3. Improved capability to compete successfully for internationally competitive research funding;
4. Institutional changes within IAR&FR to implement the European Research Area priorities;
5. Wider socioeconomic and social benefits.
1. Increased attractiveness of the institution, region and country for internationally excellent and mobile researchers;
2. Increased research excellence of IAR&FR in nutrigenomics for optimizing health and well-being;
3. Improved capability to compete successfully for internationally competitive research funding;
4. Institutional changes within IAR&FR to implement the European Research Area priorities;
5. Wider socioeconomic and social benefits.