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Activity Funded

Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute

Instituto de Biosistemas & Ciências Integrativas

Reference
UIDB/04046/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Base

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes Biological systems display complex properties that cannot be predicted from studying isolated parts. Addressing such complexity calls for integrative analyses combining high-throughput Omics with quantitative science and computational tools to describe and predict dynamic behaviours. The vision of BioISI, a new institute created in 2015 (www.BioISI.pt) is to pursue cutting-edge research on biosystems and integrative sciences to become the leading centre at the forefront of research in this area in Portugal and internationally. BioISI´s goal is to understand and address biological questions using integrative -Systems- approaches at the vanguard of life sciences research. Is researchers benefit from a unique multidisciplinary environment that fosters creative thinking to solve problems through integrative approaches. To achieve its vision BioISI pursues 5 major missions: 1) Research in BioSystems& Integrative Sciences 2) Technology & Instrumentation 3) Facilities & Services 4) Teaching & Training 5) Knowledge/Technology Transfer Outputs Supporting the vision and strategic objectives BioISI vision and goals for 2018-22 are substantiated in several achievements and track record in 2013-17 by its critical mass of ~130 researchers (with PhD) from different disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, computer science), evidencing how BioISI contributes with significant added value to the development of the national R&D system. Strategic objectives for 2018-2022 1. Taking a lead role in Biosystems/Integrative Sciences research nationally and internationally 2. Driving research and progress through technology development and innovation 3. Training next generation scientific leaders on Biosystems/Integrative Sciences 4. Providing research facilities and services to BioISI researchers and externally 5. Become a major player in industry partnerships and technology transfer for life sciences These strategic objectives will be implemented along BioISI´s 5 main Thematic Lines: Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Biological Chemistry; Bioinformatics; Biological Physics with the goal of contributing to 3 main projects: 1) Crop/product improvement& contributions to bioeconomy: grapevine & wine 2) Systems approaches to rare diseases: Cystic Fibrosis and neurodegeneration 3) Enabling technologies: to boost innovative research in biological systems To achieve its strategic 2018-22 goals BioISI proposes: 1) Strengthen BioISI research, technology & innovation by hiring new researchers 2) Reinforce training of junior and PhD students and young postdoc researchers 3) Invest in core-facilities to serve internal/external researchers and companies4) Stimulate scientific dissemination by organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, courses 5) Foster scientific/technological culture in society by promoting multiple outreach events 6) Encourage translation of research results to society by establishing a BioISI-Industry Partnership Programme. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation Biological systems display complex properties that cannot be predicted from studying isolated parts. Addressing such complexity calls for integrative analyses combining high-throughput Omics with quantitative science and computational tools to describe and predict dynamical behaviours. Vision in Systems Biology The vision of BioISI, a new institute created in 2015 (www.BioISI.pt) is to pursue cutting-edge research on biosystems and integrative sciences to become the leading centre at the forefront of research in this area in Portugal and internationally. Goal& Missions BioISI´s goal is to understand and address biological questions using integrative -Systems- approaches at the vanguard of life sciences research. Is researchers benefit from a unique multidisciplinary environment that fosters creative thinking to solve problems through integrative approaches. To achieve its vision BioISI pursues 5 major missions: 1) Research in BioSystems & Integrative Sciences 2) Technology & Instrumentation 3) Facilities and Services 4) Teaching and Training 5) Knowledge/Technology Transfer Outputs Supporting the vision and strategic objectives BioISI vision and goals for 2019-22 are substantiated in several achievements and track record in 2013-2017 by its critical mass of ~130 researchers from different disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, computer science), evidencing how BioISI contributes with significant added value to the development of the national R&D system. Highlights of 2013-17 were: a) Science of Excellence: 872 original publications in peer reviewed journals (~174/yr) with an average impact factor of 8.9 for the top 25% papers, and an H-index of 93; b) Competitive funding: an average of ~3.6 M€/yr of competitive funding were attracted, 25% of which from private sector; c) Internationalization: 55% of BioISI publications and 54% of its PhD students had international collaborators/co-supervisors; BioISI has 36 ongoing collaborative projects/networks and participates in several EU Infrastructures; d) Advanced training: 45 completed PhD and 129 MSc theses; currently 69 PhD students, namely from BioSys, a highly competitive FCT-funded PhD programme on Systems Biology (BioISI participates in 3 other programmes); BioISI has in place an Interdisciplinary Post-doctoral Programme (IPP) and mentors young PIs for independence; e) Promotion of scientific& technological culture and Actions of special relevance for society BioISI promotes awareness of its research societal impact through organization of science outreach events and strongly contributes to interactions with industry; f) Other: 12 meetings/workshops organized; 4 patents and 12 computational models registered, having contributed to the creation 17 start-ups/spin-offs; maintains and curates several databases. Strategic objectives for 2018-2022 1. Taking a lead role in Biosystems/Integrative Sciences research nationally and internationally 2. Driving research and progress through technology development and innovation 3. Training next generation scientific leaders in Biosystems/Integrative Sciences 4. Providing research facilities and services to BioISI researchers and externally 5. Become a major player in industry partnerships and technology transfer for life sciences These strategic objectives will be implemented along BioISI´s 5 main Thematic Lines (TLs): 1) Biomedicine: to understand molecular/cellular mechanisms of disease and translate findings into improved diagnoses/prognoses and better personalized therapies. 2) Biotechnology: to characterizing at systems-level economically relevant plants and microbes to sustainably meet the challenges of global climate changes while safeguarding the environment. 3) Biological Chemistry: to develop bioactive molecules (by synthesis or from natural sources) and understand molecular mechanisms of (bio)chemical systems (eg, molecular/cellular bioenergetics). 4) Bioinformatics: to promote digital biology at large, fostering the generation of systems-level knowledge and models to describe and predict the behaviour of complex biological systems. 5) Biological Physics: to boost interdisciplinarity rooted in Physics, eg, atomic force microscopy (AFM) related techniques for bio-systems or simulation approaches to protein (mis)folding. BioISI strategy is to cluster its competences in 3 main societal challenges as ´Flagship projects´: 1) Crop/product improvement& contributions to bioeconomy: grapevine and wine 2) Systems approaches to rare diseases: Cystic Fibrosis and neurodegeneration 3) Enabling technologies: AFM/FFM tools and innovative computational approaches To achieve its strategic 2018-22 goals BioISI proposes to: 1) Strengthen BioISI research, technology development & innovation by: hiring 10 new PIs in key BioISI areas; expanding current BioISI internal multidisciplinary projects. 2) Reinforce training: create a Junior Studentships Programme dedicated to early career researchers; expand both PhD (BioSys2) and Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral (IPP) programmes. 3) Invest in core-facilities: hire dedicated human resources; upgrade equipment; 4) Stimulate scientific dissemination: organize conferences, seminars, workshops, courses; 5) Foster scientific& technological culture in society: promote multiple outreach events; 6) Encourage collaborations with industry and boost knowledge & technology transfer (KTT): Establish a BioISI-Industry Partnership Programme and hire a dedicated KTT officer. Organisation BioISI has 1 main plus 3 partner institutions, 8 research groups (headed by a group leader), each RG contributing to the 5 TLs, headed by a TL Coordinator. This structure promotes cooperative interactions to foster integrative research. The BioISI Director, assisted by the TLCs and RGLs (Scientific Committee) and advised by the external Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is responsible for the implementation of the strategic plan.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas (BioISI)
  • FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências (Fciências.ID)

Other Institutions

  • Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA)
  • Universidade do Minho (UMinho)
  • Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD)

Funding 1.959.200,00 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

1.959.200,00 €