Scientific Report 2018 01 // DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD Pg
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Scientific report 2018 01 // DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD pg. 4 02 // GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE pg. 8 03 // STAFF pg. 18 04 // GOALS ACHIEVED IN 2018 pg. 22 05 // PLATFORMS AND NETWORKS pg. 26 06 // FUNDING pg. 32 07 // INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS pg. 36 08 // RECURRENT TRAINING pg. 42 09 // BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH pg. 60 10 // SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION pg. 80 11 // INNOVATION AND TRANSFER pg. 174 12 // FACTS & FIGURES pg. 180 13 // COMMUNICATIONS pg. 196 14 // GOALS FOR 2019 pg. 200 // ANNEXED pg. 202 01DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD Scientific Report 2018 01 // DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD Director’s FOREWORD for 2018 Scientific Report funding from public and private institutions, by promoting high quality Clinical Research and by linking the institute closely to its society milieu, this latter having been a very active area in 2018. Indeed, to cite just an example, a well-established association with social prestige in Cordoba, recognized the work of The present report provides a detailed summary of the activity of the Maimonides Biomedical Research the institute at their 30th Anniversary, a gratefully appreciated testimony of the determined implication of Institute of Córdoba, IMIBIC, during 2018, a very special year for all of us, for it marked the first decade IMIBIC with the citizens and institutions of this city and the province of Córdoba. of life of the institute. The celebration of our 10th anniversary through different activities in 2018 was an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments accreted over this period, on how they have provided the Nevertheless, the fertile grounds ensuring the future of IMIBIC are not just economic or based solely fertile grounds for the current and future growth of our research community, as well as on the challenges on scientific production or social recognition, but largely rely on a pivotal change in the way biomedical and difficulties that we can expect ahead. research is nowadays conceptually and practically appreciated by our young and senior researchers alike. These 10 years have provided a novel view, a new perspective over the future of the biomedical research The progressive development of the research activity at IMIBIC has enabled the recruitment of nov- based in a profound self-confidence in the capacity of our research community to attain more difficult and el, competitive and young groups, which in 2018 accounted for a total of 27 Consolidated Groups, 5 superior goals. Not only the number and quality of publications but also the projects obtained by our re- Emerging Groups, and 12 Associated Groups. This structure ensures a solid basis for our activity, while searchers have continued growing in an environment of scarce research funding and decreasing resourc- promoting generational renewal and collaboration and cross-fostering among disciplines, which is the es, within a highly competitive and demanding environment. Most importantly, the research community root for the development of productive research programs, oriented towards solving health problems of encompassing scientist of clinical, translational and basic background, nurses, managers, technicians, the society through translational research. The total number of persons associated to this growing re- support personnel, and, remarkably, volunteering personnel, patients and their families, have together search activity surmounted this year 800, an impressive figure for a decade of life. The basic index of the achieved to build an overarching research environment capable to reach for goals that were unattainable research production of this community, the number and quality of scientific publications, has continued an even unthinkable just a few years ago. The feeling of sincere gratitude and recognition for all those their steady growth, with a total of 459 articles published in 2018, 53% of them in the first quartile of their persons and institutions that made this advancement possible is as immense as their generosity. area, reflecting the efforts of the researchers to reach higher quality objectives each year. Of note, through our International Area, we attained a long-pursued goal, the funding of the IMIBIC Fellowship Programme There are many steps and goals yet to be fulfilled, there are many challenges and difficulties to be over- for Personalised and Precision Medicine (IMIBIC-P2Med) (H2020 MSCA-Cofund FP 2018), a Research come, but the spirit of the IMIBIC has humbly shown the path to blend basic and clinical research, to Training Programme that will bolster our capacity to advance in the fields of bioinformatics and precision combine competitiveness with cooperation, to support profound changes while maintaining coherent medicine by incorporating young and competitive junior postdoctoral researchers. Along these lines, it and solid project goals, to attain excellence and quality in research while ensuring a steady growth should be recognized and praised that the results of all areas of activity of the institute, from Innovation through efficient economic management, to maintain its obliged functional autonomy while nurturing and Transfer of Technology to Core Support Services, from Research Training to Communication and loyal institutional integration, and, most importantly, this spirit has helped us to identify worthwhile goals Science Dissemination, have also continued their progress and consolidation. Advances in registered to pursue, those targets where it is necessary to spend our efforts. Over the next pages, you will have the patents and innovation grants, incorporation of new equipment and methodologies, organization of Sem- opportunity to realize the results of this continued growth and the consolidation of our efforts to progress inars, the 10th Young Investigators Meeting, the 8th Maimonides Lecture, and our active participation in in the field of biomedical research, but most of all, you will witness the robust willingness to continue a number of events aimed at science communication illustrate the plethora of areas currently covered rising altogether in this common and enduring pathway. by the IMIBIC community. Meanwhile, our budget raised to reach 9.8 M€, confirming the economical robustness of the institute amidst the uncertain situation of research funding in our environment. Main- Justo P. Castaño taining a balanced budget over time is only possible through an active and joint work to obtain research Scientific Director pg. 6 pg. 7 02GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE Scientific Report 2018 02 // GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE 1. Organization Chart 2. Governance and structure IMIBIC’s governing and representative bodies are detailed below: » One representative from the Progress and Health A. Collegiate Bodies Foundation (FPS) The collegiate bodies composing IMIBIC are the Governing Ana Madera Molano. Managing Director. Council, the Executive Committee, the Scientific Council and the External Scientific Board. Each body has its competencies » IMIBIC’s General Manager and is composed of several specialists. José Miguel Guzmán de Damas (til Jun 2018) / Álvaro Granados del Río (from Jul 2018). Council • Governing Council The Governing Council is the uppermost governing body of • Executive Committee IMIBIC. The Governing Council is composed of the following In order to facilitate agile decision making, the Governing members: Council adopted, on July 27 2015, an agreement to create an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is » Two representatives from the Regional Ministry of composed of one member from each of the institutions Health of the Andalusian Regional Government that constitute the Governing Board, as set forth in the Teresa Molina López. General Director of Research and collaboration agreement between the Regional Ministry of Knowledge Management of the Ministry of Health. Health, the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Valle Garcia Sánchez. Managing Director of the Reina Business and the University of Córdoba. The Scientific Sofia University Hospital and President of FIBICO Direction, General Manager and the Governing Council will participate with voice but without vote. » Two representatives from the Regional Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Science and Business • Scientific Council Manuel García León. General Director of Research and The Scientific Council is an advisory body to the Scientific Knowledge transfer Director. It is composed of the Scientific Director, the Deputy Manuel Carmona Jiménez. Territorial Delegate of Scientific Director of IMIBIC, the Principal Investigators (PI), Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment of the Emerging Researchers (ER), the Associated Researchers Córdoba (AR), a representative of the Reina Sofia University Hospital » Two representatives from the University of Córdoba Board of Directors (RSUH), the IMIBIC’s General Manager Antonio J. Cubero Atienza. Vice rector of Institutional and representatives of the technical and management staff. Coordination and Infrastructures It was established on July 9, 2009. Luisa M. Rancaño Martín. Managing Director. • External Scientific Advisory Board » IMIBIC’s Scientific Director The External Scientific Advisory Board is a body appointed Justo P. Castaño Fuentes by the Governing Council, whose mission is to assist the pg. 10 pg. 11 Scientific Report 2018 02 // GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE Scientific Director in the performance of his duties. It is an • Scientific Director 3. Scientific Structure these processes at different stages of life. It also focuses advisory body to the Scientific Direction but its decisions are Justo P. Castaño Fuentes.