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Activity Funded

Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioural Intervention

Centro de Investigação em Neuropsicologia e Intervenção Cognitivo Comportamental

Reference
UIDP/00730/2020
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 Programático

Abstract

10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes The Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC; R&D unit 730) is a Research Unit (RU) of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of University of Coimbra. The strategic vision of CINEICC for the period between 2018 and 2022 is aligned with its past research and with the societal challenges of health, demographic changes and wellbeing of the EU Framework Programme Horizon2020. The main aim of the RU is to study emotional and cognitive processes, and develop screening and assessment tools and empirically-based psychological interventions towards the promotion of health and well-being. The activities of the RU for the period of 2018-2022 will expand on those previously developed and will be organized in 4 main scientific aims: 1. Study of factors and processes of health, psychopathology and aging. The RU will develop new studies that will explore the interplay between psychological processes and biological factors on mental health problems, and will explore risk and protective factors for individual, couple and family adaptation to different health conditions (e.g. HIV; pediatric conditions) and development transitions (e.g. to parenthood), and for normal and pathological aging. 2. (Neuro)psychological assessment. The RU will develop new instruments and put forth a series of studies of adaptation, clinical and psychometric validation, and normalization of (neuro)psychological assessment tools for the Portuguese population in a much needed effort in order to overcome the lack of assessment tools for the Portuguese population. 3. Development, application and assessment of empirically-based (neuro)psychological interventions. The RU will develop new 3rd-wave cognitive and behavioral intervention programs for prevention and treatment in mental health, and promotion of health/wellbeing. 4. Development of Cognitive Neuroscience research with potential translational impact. The RU will use neuroscientific approaches to test how neural connectivity shapes distal processing, to study the organization of object knowledge in the brain, and to study neuroplasticity in congenital deafness. These studies will inform novel translational projects on mental health. The RU also proposes a set of strategic aims for the period between 2018 and 2022: 1. Establish international networks. 2. Increase national partnerships. 3. Promote postgraduate and graduate training of young researchers. 4. Optimize dissemination and favor an open science policy. 5. Promote knowledge transfer. 6. Capture more external funding for financing ongoing and future research projects. The work proposed will have a fundamental impact on both the psychological sciences, and on the development, dissemination, and implementation of scientifically-informed knowledge that is tremendously useful to mental health professionals (as well as other professionals), and to the community at large. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation The Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC; R&D Unit 730) is a Research Unit (RU) of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of University of Coimbra. The strategic vision of CINEICC for the period between 2018 and 2022 is aligned with its past research and with the societal challenges of health, demographic changes and wellbeing of the EU Framework Programme Horizon2020. The main aim of the RU is to study emotional and cognitive processes, and develop screening and assessment tools and empirically-based psychological interventions towards the promotion of health and well-being. The activities of the RU for the period of 2018-2022 will expand on those previously developed and will be organized in 4 main scientific aims: 1. Study of factors and processes of health, psychopathology and aging. The RU will develop new studies that use experimental and longitudinal designs, and national-representative samples to explore issues on mental health. For instance, we will explore the interplay between psychological processes (e.g. compassion, mindfulness, emotional regulation) and biological factors (e.g. psychophysiological, neural and genetic correlates) on mental health problems. We will also explore risk and protective factors for individual, couple and family adaptation to different health conditions (e.g. HIV; pediatric conditions) and development transitions (e.g. to parenthood). Finally, we will explore the profile of the aging population in Portugal, and the risk and protective factors for normal aging and for the development of neurodegenerative diseases. 2. (Neuro)psychological assessment. The RU will develop new instruments and put forth a series of studies of adaptation, clinical and psychometric validation, and normalization of (neuro)psychological assessment tools for the Portuguese population in community, clinical, and neuropsychological settings. This is a much needed effort in order to overcome the lack of such tools for the Portuguese population. These assessment tools will cover different areas such as psychological adjustment, performance and symptom validity, cognitive impairment, cognitive reserve and rehabilitation, personality, or forensic assessment. Moreover these studies will be done on tests presented in different formats (e.g. computerized batteries). 3. Development, application and assessment of empirically-based (neuro)psychological interventions. The RU will develop new 3rd-wave cognitive and behavioral intervention programs for the prevention and treatment of mental health problems, and the promotion of health/wellbeing. These programs will expand the current range of interventions in terms of:1)target populations, including specific populations and clinical conditions in different settings;2)delivery formats, such as face-to-face individual/group formats and cutting-edge eHealth programs; and 3)integration of neuropsychological and neuroscience approaches, namely neuropsychological rehabilitation and cognitive enhancement interventions. These programs will be developed in collaboration with stakeholders (e.g. hospitals) and will be aligned with a cost-effective health care approach. The efficacy of these interventions will be assessed on psychological and behavioral outcomes, and on epigenetic, neuroendocrine, cardio, physiological, and inflammatory correlates. We will also develop implementation fidelity studies of these interventions. 4. Development of Cognitive Neuroscience research with potential translational impact. The RU will use cognitive neuroscientific approaches to test how neural connectivity shapes distal processing, to study the organization of object knowledge in the brain, and to study neuroplasticity in congenital deafness. For instance, new studies will be implemented on how connectivity shapes neural processing, exploring whether the effects of using neuromodulation within an area spreads to connected but distal (and inaccessible) areas, and whether these distal effects are additive. Other studies will involve the study of conceptual organization, or the neuroplastic changes associated with congenital deafness. Importantly, these studies will inform novel translational projects on mental health (e.g. the treatment of anxiety disorders). Alongside with the scientific aims, the RU also proposes a set of strategic aims for the period between 2018 and 2022: 1. Establish new international networks and reinforce existent collaborations with international institutions and researchers. 2. Increase national partnerships through the cooperation with governmental and non-governmental institutions, industry, research units, and laboratories. 3. Promote postgraduate and graduate training of young researchers. 4. Optimize dissemination by continue to successfully publish research results in scientific journals, favoring an open science policy, and present in international scientific meetings. 5. Promote knowledge transfer through the publication of intervention materials, the provision of consultancy and specialized training, the implementation of business plans that come out of the research outputs, and the dissemination of the results in community events and media outlets. 6. Capture more external funding for financing ongoing and future research projects. The work proposed will have a fundamental impact on both the psychological sciences, and the development, dissemination, and implementation of scientifically-informed knowledge that is tremendously useful to mental health professionals (as well as other professionals), and to the community at large. In that CINEICC is unique in Portugal: we have led, and will continue to lead, the field and provide much needed research-based solutions to different populations and professionals. This funding scheme will allow us to consistently put forth research of the highest quality, and to reinforce our position as a major player at an international level.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Investigação em Neuropsicologia e Intervenção Cognitivo-Comportamental (UC CINEICC)
  • Universidade de Coimbra (UC)

Funding 637.500,00 €

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

637.500,00 €