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Activity Funded

Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health

Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal

Reference
UIDP/00276/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Scientific Area
Agricultural sciences
Funding Program
Concurso de avaliação no âmbito do Programa Plurianual de Financiamento de Unidades de I&D (2017/2018) - Financiamento Programático

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes Animal Sciences and Animal Health are arguably two major research fields at the core of critical societal concerns of present times. Animal science grants the development of novel sustainable systems to secure and provide plentiful, healthy and nutritious food for an increasing population. Animal Health directly impacts public health and the global economy and, in essence, it is at the base of the research required to sustain Human Health. However, scientific advance in these two mutually linked areas of knowledge generally lacks a common framework that can effectively foster knowledge and innovation. At a national level, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA) provides an organization platform that leads and integrates research performed at the major Portuguese institutes and research centers acting in the Animal Sciences and Animal Health fields. Thus, CIISA contributes to develop, densify and qualify the national research system in order to promote its societal impact and the international significance of Portuguese science. Today, CIISA’s two research groups, the “Animal Science and Food Safety” group and the “Animal Health, One Health” group, assume a leading international role in different areas of knowledge by assembling the critical capacity required to achieve well-detailed goals, while promoting an efficient use of shared infrastructures and human resources. CIISA common research platforms have recently provided significant international scientific advances as they foster creativity, talent attraction and the development of scientific careers. To continue this path will require extra investment in organization and in the definition of ambitious goals and research programs that may lead to even higher achievements at an international level. In order to optimize the current resources, we aim to improve the organizational and diversity base of CIISA’s infrastructure to promote its further integration into a higher hierarchy of national and international networks of excellence. Thus, here we present an ambitious strategic plan for 2018-2022, to consolidate and enlarge CIISA network of national centers under the premises of fostering international cutting edge research, post graduate training and the protection and exploitation of CIISA knowledge generated from successful projects. Funding for these general activities will be instrumental to complement the funds that CIISA scientists have successful raised in specific research grants and to promote CIISA capacity to cluster researchers in projects of excellence. In addition, to fully develop its strategic plan CIISA is applying for programmatic funding, which contemplates a contribution to PhD studentships and salaries of contracted researchers with PhD, support of a detailed internationalization program and the acquisition of equipment. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation Animal Sciences and Animal Health are arguably two major research fields at the core of critical societal concerns of present times. Animal science grants the development of novel sustainable systems to secure and provide plentiful, healthy and nutritious food for an increasing population. Animal Health directly impacts public health and the global economy and, in essence, it is at the base of the research required to sustain Human Health. However, scientific advance in these two mutually linked areas of knowledge generally lacks a common framework that can effectively foster knowledge and innovation. At a national level, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA) provides an organization platform that leads and integrates research performed at the major Portuguese institutes and research centers acting in the Animal Sciences and Animal Health fields. Thus, CIISA contributes to develop, densify and qualify the national research system in order to promote its societal impact and the international significance of Portuguese science. Today, CIISA’s two research groups, the “Animal Science and Food Safety” group and the “Animal Health, One Health” group, assume a leading international role in different areas of knowledge by assembling the critical capacity required to achieve well-detailed goals, while promoting an efficient use of shared infrastructures and human resources. CIISA common research platforms have recently provided significant international scientific advances as they foster creativity, talent attraction and the development of scientific careers. In the last five years, CIISA active role to cement Portuguese research performed in Animal Sciences and Animal Health have created novel opportunities for Portuguese science. Today CIISA combines a diverse group of research institutes, including Universities, Polytechnic Institutes, Research Institutes, National State Labs, pharma, biotech and food producing (animal and human) industries, private enterprises, cooperatives, producer’s associations and other non-profit organizations, which require extra investments in organization and in the definition of ambitious goals and research programs that may lead to even higher achievements at an international level. To further optimize the current resources, we aim to improve the organizational and diversity base of CIISA’s infrastructure to promote its further integration into a higher hierarchy of national and international networks of excellence. Thus, here we present an ambitious strategic plan for 2018-2022, to consolidate and enlarge CIISA network of national centers under the premises of fostering international cutting edge research, post graduate training and the protection and exploitation of CIISA knowledge generated from successful projects. Funding for these general activities will be instrumental to complement the funds that CIISA scientists have successful raised in specific research grants and to promote CIISA capacity to cluster researchers in projects of excellence. To achieve CIISA ambitious goals for 2018-2022, a well-defined strategy based on 8 master pillars will be implemented. Each pillar is not a repository of vague ideas but a well-defined plan of measurable and quantified activities, to be applied in a precise timeline and being continuously subjected to proper evaluation. (1) CIISA strategy to extend its R&D national networks is one of the most important components of CIISA strategic plan for 2018-22. In particular, CIISA will strive to successfully apply to the FCT Associate Laboratory and Co-Lab programs, aiming to reinforce its national leading role in animal sciences and animal health and the integration in national consortia of excellence. (2) The second pillar is directly associated with the first one and aims to foster CIISA internationalization based in the densification of CIISA infrastructure. CIISA will finance networking activities both for junior and senior scientists as a way to promote its integration into high impact international consortia. (3) In the third pillar, CIISA will finance advanced studies and training to young scientists to support the formation of the next generation of leading scientists. (4) Directly connected with the third pillar, CIISA will promote the implementation of scientific career development plans to junior scientists as a way to stimulate the development of planning and independence skills. (5) Finally, CIISA will finance emerging ideas in cutting edge research fields as a way to promote scientific leadership in an international context. (6) Globally the preceding five pillars aim to engage CIISA in high impact and high quality internationally relevant research. CIISA will directly stimulate scientific excellence by providing annual awards to the most impressive personal and group achievements. The final two pillars relate to CIISA role in promoting the organization of scientific and technical meetings, and transfer of knowledge (7) and the promotion of CIISA image, communication and dissemination of results (8). The application of this strategic plan by a well-managed research Centre and following a well- established democratic model of governance, which CIISA has fine-tuned for> 25 years, will significantly contribute to foster CIISA international reputation of excellence in research and advanced post-graduate training. To fully develop the strategic plan outlined above, CIISA is applying for a programmatic funding, which contemplates a contribution to PhD studentships and salaries of contracted researchers with PhD, the support to a detailed internationalization program and the acquisition of equipment. We acknowledge that CIISA instrumental capacity to support Portuguese science within a multitude of research centers spread out from the North to the South of Portugal fully depends on the quality of its infrastructure, both from a human and instrumentation perspective.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Lisboa Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal (ULisboa CIISA)
  • Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMV/ULisboa)

Funding 810.000,00 €

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

810.000,00 €