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Activity Funded

Aveiro Institute of Biomedicine

Instituto de Biomedicina - Aveiro

Reference
UIDP/04501/2020
Project Start Date
2020-01-01
Project End Date
2024-12-31
Principal Investigator
Scientific Area
Medical and health 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 The Aveiro Institute of Biomedicine – iBiMED was created in 2014 to implement a Health Sciences Program capable of improving the quality of life and health care provision through biomedical and clinical research and advanced training. iBiMED researchers are making important contributions to understand Lewy bodies dementia, Parkinson´s, Alzheimer´s, immunological, genetic and infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, the benefits of physical exercise on cardiovascular diseases, the relevance of protocoled exercise-related interventions during hospitalization and the effects of family participation during pulmonary rehabilitation processes. The French Centre National de la Research Scientifique – CNRS, and the private Foundation Ilidio Pinho recognized these achievements by awarding iBiMED the title of International Associated Laboratory – LIA and the Ilídio Pinho Chair of Neuroscience, respectively. New knowledge will be generated during the next 5 years and transferred to patients through a Systems Medicine (SYSMED) Research Program that will introduce Predictive, Preventive, Personalized and Participatory Medicine (P4 Medicine) in the Aveiro region. The objectives of this Systems Medicine Research Program are to: i) develop new technologies and tools for the detection of the first signs of disease in healthy individuals, ii) implement corrective pharmacological and/or life style measures to reverse such physiological dysfunctions and iii) develop highly specific diagnostics and personalized therapeutics to improve quality of life. iBiMED and its partner Hospitals and Health Centers will endeavor to create multidisciplinary teams, including clinical scientists and the infrastructure to launch the necessary initiatives to support and promote P4 Medicine. A large population of healthy and diseased individuals will be phenotyped, genetically stratified and an information dense biobank and an eHealth platform for Systems Medicine will be implemented. SYSMED data will be made available to partner Hospitals and Health Centers and clinicians will be trained to use such data to improve diagnostics, therapeutics, and disease and patient management. This will qualify the regional NHS units, make the region more attractive to highly qualified biomedical and clinician scientists and will leverage our participation in national and European health sciences consortia. It will reduce health care costs through superior preventive medicine, contributing to the financial sustainability of our NHS. It will also put the Aveiro region on the radar map of Pharma and P4 Medicine investors. New jobs will be created for young highly qualified scientists and new research laboratories with sophisticated scientific instruments will be installed to promote new areas of research and the internationalization of iBiMED´s science. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation An aging population and financial sustainability of the national health system (NHS) are major challenges for the Portuguese Society. iBiMED´s long term mission, vision, strategy and objectives have been designed to tackle these challenges through biomedical and clinical research and advanced training in a manner that efficiently transfers knowledge from the laboratory to the bed side. This is possible due to: i) excellent researchers and research program in biomedicine, ii) articulation of graduate, post-graduate training and research programs, iii) organization of research facilities in a Health Innovation Pipeline, iv) integration of biomedical and clinical research, v) a unique organization of iBiMED in ideas and questions, vi) engagement of clinicians and hospitals in both biomedical and clinical research and training, and vii) professional support for technology transfer. iBiMED is embedded in a highly multidisciplinary, dynamic and excellent University: 2nd best in Portugal in research, 1st in teaching and 1st among the young Portuguese Universities (<50 years), according to the times higher education ranking 2016-2017. it is located in one of most densely populated and economically dynamic regions portugal; 3rd main contributor national gdp, where 3 hospital centers serve a population approximately 1 million people. we will take advantage this unique context leverage health sciences by bringing together synergistically integrating traditionally separated worlds clinical andbiomedical sciences. our long term ambitions are transform regional centers, not yet associated with any medical faculty, into clinical, research teaching through distributed academic center, attracting pharma, biotech, diagnostics devices enterprises create fct collaborative laboratory. over next 5 years, strategy mobilize>100 clinicians, nurses, physiotherapists and other health professionals, >100 PhD students, >80 Researchers and collaborators affiliated to diverse research units and sophisticated research infrastructure available in the UA Campus. Biomedical and clinical scientists will work side-by-side on a Systems Medicine Research Program focused on the stratification and characterization of a large cohort of volunteers to implement Predictive, Preventive, Personalized and Participatory Medicine (P4Medicine). We will strengthen our ongoing Systems Biomedicine research program on Human Molecular and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Medical Microbiology, Genetics and Genomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics and Clinical Sciences to advance knowledge on human diseases. This program is supported by PI´s individual projects, an European Teaming Project – the DiscoveriesCTR, the University of Aveiro, regional government authority (CCDRC) and private funds. A large regional cohort of volunteers and a biobank of high information density (genotyping, deep phenotyping and lifestyle) capable of leveraging P4 medicine will promote longitudinal pre-clinical and clinical projects and will diversify our funding sources by potentiating our participation in European Research Consortia, observational and clinical trials projects funded by both Private and Public Institutions. iBiMED will also make major contributions to create jobs for highly qualified scientists and clinicians. The rapid expansion of the Aveiro Health Sciences Program, a virtuous partnership of iBiMED, the Department of Medical Sciences (DMS), Regional Hospital Centers, the Polytechnic School of Health (ESSUA) and other Research Units of the UA, combined with meetings, advanced training through Biomedical and Clinical PhD programs, advanced courses and specialized workshops will make the region more attractive to biomedical researchers, clinicians and health professionals. In the last 2 years, 10 iBiMED members have been hired by the DMS, ESSUA and CHBV. This is a unique scenario in the Portuguese Science and Technology system and demonstrates our extraordinary commitment and contribution to the national scientific employment strategy. Moreover, 10 clinicians have registered and are enrolled in our PhD Program in Biomedicine, contributing to the increase in the number of MD/PhD fellows in Portugal, another strategic national policy. We will endeavor to boost clinical research output in our region by 200% and create at least 20 qualified academic and clinical jobs (PhD level) over the next 5 years, including 2-3 ERC awardees. We will maintain our successful internationalization strategy and will actively promote the participation of our researchers in European consortia (at least 5-7 EU projects in 2018-2022). There will also be strong incentives for the participation of our researchers and students in international conferences, seminars and workshops, and professional support to prepare ERC and other European and international grant proposals. Science and Society initiatives will be articulated with the UA OPEN CAMPUS (http://opencampus.web.ua.pt/), the “Centro Ciência Viva” Aveiro - FABRICA (https://www.ua.pt/fabrica%5C; https://www.facebook.com/fabricacienciaviva/) and the Instituto de Educação e Cidadania – IEC (www.educacao-e-cidadania.pt) which together reach thousands of students and public members every year and bring multiple science initiatives to schools and the community. New initiatives are being planned through the UA Ciência Viva Center – Fábrica, to explore citizens and patients views on biomedical and clinical science, and foster the dialogue with scientists and clinicians, with the collaboration of partner patient associations, Health Centers and Hospitals.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Aveiro Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIMED)
  • Universidade de Aveiro (UA)

Funding 962.500,00 €

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

962.500,00 €