Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SynaNet (Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders: from synapses to networks)
Berichtszeitraum: 2017-04-01 bis 2018-12-31
"The ""SynaNet"" EU Funded project – ""Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders: from synapses to networks"" – aims the promotion of collaborative multidisciplinary and translational research by enhancing effective knowledge transfer, exchange of best research practices, and the mobility of early stage researchers between the Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM) in Lisbon, Portugal, and leading partners at: the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) in Kuopio, Finland; the University of Rome, La Sapienza (URS) in Rome, Italy; the Lancaster University (ULANC) in Lancaster, UK.
Researchers integrating this offer a broad range of research and training opportunities, from molecules to brain function and cognition, from membrane excitability to network activity, from the bench to the bedside and they cover basic knowledge of disease mechanisms and applied research (biomarker identification, target drug discovery and clinical trial design, neurotechnologies, neuroimaging).
""SynaNet"" project has all the required ingredients for enhancing effective knowledge transfer and exchange of best practice between research institutions and leading partners.
The objectives of SynaNet project may be summarized as:
1. To foster collaborative multidisciplinary research and technology exchange between the different partners.
2. To foster translational research among the different groups.
3. To promote student mobility including shared supervision of PhD and Post-Doc projects.
4. To create conditions for successful joint research grant applications.
5. To create connections between PhD schools.
SynaNet achievements
Objective 1: At least 19 joint collaborative projects emerged among partners; 8 shared supervision of PhD students emerged.
Objective 2: The collaborative projects were fostered by SynaNet, and the results already achieved lead to better understanding, at the synaptic level, several neurologic and psychiatric disorders as Alzheimer disease, Amyotrophic Latera Sclerosis, Rett Syndrome, Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, Chronic cannabinoid use related cognitive dysfunction. Some of these projects encompass more than one research group at iMM, approaching basic and clinical researchers at iMM.
Objective 3: a) A total of 38 short term scientific missions (STSM) that involved mobility between beneficiaries took place; several to perform or initiate relevant tasks for PhD projects
Objective 4: 8 Joint projects applied for additional funding. The success rate was high (5 were successful, 2 await decision, 1 was not financed)
Objective 5: PhD students that were involved in SynaNet actions belong to different PhD Schools. During STSM students closely interacted with students at the other beneficiary institutions. Also, the interactions in annual meetings, Summer Schools and workshops were intense. The possibility to tight bonds with other colleagues from other institutions was highlighted by the students in the quality assessments at the end of the workshops and annual meetings
"
Researchers integrating this offer a broad range of research and training opportunities, from molecules to brain function and cognition, from membrane excitability to network activity, from the bench to the bedside and they cover basic knowledge of disease mechanisms and applied research (biomarker identification, target drug discovery and clinical trial design, neurotechnologies, neuroimaging).
""SynaNet"" project has all the required ingredients for enhancing effective knowledge transfer and exchange of best practice between research institutions and leading partners.
The objectives of SynaNet project may be summarized as:
1. To foster collaborative multidisciplinary research and technology exchange between the different partners.
2. To foster translational research among the different groups.
3. To promote student mobility including shared supervision of PhD and Post-Doc projects.
4. To create conditions for successful joint research grant applications.
5. To create connections between PhD schools.
SynaNet achievements
Objective 1: At least 19 joint collaborative projects emerged among partners; 8 shared supervision of PhD students emerged.
Objective 2: The collaborative projects were fostered by SynaNet, and the results already achieved lead to better understanding, at the synaptic level, several neurologic and psychiatric disorders as Alzheimer disease, Amyotrophic Latera Sclerosis, Rett Syndrome, Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, Chronic cannabinoid use related cognitive dysfunction. Some of these projects encompass more than one research group at iMM, approaching basic and clinical researchers at iMM.
Objective 3: a) A total of 38 short term scientific missions (STSM) that involved mobility between beneficiaries took place; several to perform or initiate relevant tasks for PhD projects
Objective 4: 8 Joint projects applied for additional funding. The success rate was high (5 were successful, 2 await decision, 1 was not financed)
Objective 5: PhD students that were involved in SynaNet actions belong to different PhD Schools. During STSM students closely interacted with students at the other beneficiary institutions. Also, the interactions in annual meetings, Summer Schools and workshops were intense. The possibility to tight bonds with other colleagues from other institutions was highlighted by the students in the quality assessments at the end of the workshops and annual meetings
"
SynaNet facts and Figures:
- Number of partner institutions - 4 (iMM, URS, UEF, ULANC)
- Number of labs in each institution - 19 labs (26 Principal Investigators)
- Total number of attendees at 4 summer schools and 7 workshops - 424
- Total number of participants in the 4 annual meetings - 364
- Total number of students involved in Short Term Scientific Missions - 38
- At least 19 collaborative projects emerged
- 5 successful funding applications occurred
- 8 shared supervision of students or young researchers
- 22 publications that acknowledged SynaNet benefits
- SynaNet participated in at least 8 widely attended public sessions and debates
- Number of partner institutions - 4 (iMM, URS, UEF, ULANC)
- Number of labs in each institution - 19 labs (26 Principal Investigators)
- Total number of attendees at 4 summer schools and 7 workshops - 424
- Total number of participants in the 4 annual meetings - 364
- Total number of students involved in Short Term Scientific Missions - 38
- At least 19 collaborative projects emerged
- 5 successful funding applications occurred
- 8 shared supervision of students or young researchers
- 22 publications that acknowledged SynaNet benefits
- SynaNet participated in at least 8 widely attended public sessions and debates
"The research topics studied under the SynaNet project present a strong relevance to societal needs in Europe and Worldwide; namely:
1) Influence of cannabinoids in brain circuitry;
2) Synaptic dysfunctions in Alzheimer’s disease;
3) Synaptic dysfunctions in schizophrenia;
4) Synaptic correlates of sleep dysfunctions.
5) Synaptic dysfunctions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
6) Synaptic dysfunctions in Rett Syndrome
7) Neuroinflammation in epilepsy
Society has a great curiosity and interest in brain research, and in particularly in neurodegenerative diseases, since the prevalence of these diseases increased in the last years, so science communication to society will potentiate their confidence in research and increase their knowledge in neurosciences.
Public events and debates were also aligned with societal needs and initiatives at the European level as:
1) Participation in Mind-Brain Awareness Weeks 2016, 2017, 2018
2) Promotion of ""Mind-Brain talks"" on Parkinson's disease, ""Alzheimer's disease"", ""Sleep, Mind and Brain"" ""Were does Mental Illness Start?""
3) Participation in the European Researchers’ Night
4) ""PubhD of Lisbon - Explain your PhD in a bar"" and “Pint of Science – Rome”
5) Collaboration in activities designed for children
6) Collaboration in activities with senior universities
"
1) Influence of cannabinoids in brain circuitry;
2) Synaptic dysfunctions in Alzheimer’s disease;
3) Synaptic dysfunctions in schizophrenia;
4) Synaptic correlates of sleep dysfunctions.
5) Synaptic dysfunctions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
6) Synaptic dysfunctions in Rett Syndrome
7) Neuroinflammation in epilepsy
Society has a great curiosity and interest in brain research, and in particularly in neurodegenerative diseases, since the prevalence of these diseases increased in the last years, so science communication to society will potentiate their confidence in research and increase their knowledge in neurosciences.
Public events and debates were also aligned with societal needs and initiatives at the European level as:
1) Participation in Mind-Brain Awareness Weeks 2016, 2017, 2018
2) Promotion of ""Mind-Brain talks"" on Parkinson's disease, ""Alzheimer's disease"", ""Sleep, Mind and Brain"" ""Were does Mental Illness Start?""
3) Participation in the European Researchers’ Night
4) ""PubhD of Lisbon - Explain your PhD in a bar"" and “Pint of Science – Rome”
5) Collaboration in activities designed for children
6) Collaboration in activities with senior universities
"