OVERVIEW OBJECTIVES ORGANIZATION OF EVALUATION CRITERIA VISION FOR 2018-2022 THE CINTESIS UNIT PARTICIPATING ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2018-2022 INSTITUTIONS APPLICATION SUMMARY Center for Health Technology and Services Research cintesis.eu OVERVIEW & VISION 2018-2022 title cintesis: Overview and Vision 2018-2022 editors Altamiro Costa Pereira António Soares co-editors Cláudia Azevedo Olga Estrela Magalhães Milaydis Sosa Napolskij graphic design Bárbara Mota Pedro Sacadura photography Alfredo Mendes de Castro/cintesis Bárbara Mota/cintesis Cláudia Azevedo/cintesis Egídio Santos/uporto Miguel Nunes/fmup Olga Estrela Magalhães/cintesis Pedro Granadeiro/cintesis ipo/cintesis uaveiro/cintesis 2 Overview 4 Vision 5 Objectives 9 Main Accomplishments 10 Organization 32 Evaluation Criteria 37 Institutions 40 Abbreviations & Acronyms 42 Researchers cintesis: overview & vision 2018-2022 2 overview Overview cintesis is a health research unit comprising 485 of inclusiveness and scientific capacitation. In researchers from 46 institutions from all Portuguese particular, cintesis aims to foster strong research regions (including Madeira and Azores) that teams in often neglected professional areas, collaborates with international researchers from over geographical regions, and scientific fields (e.g., Clinical 50 institutions around Europe, North America and Research, Public Health, Primary Care, and Nursing). Portuguese-speaking countries. This unit consists of Thus, cintesis is focused on creating opportunities a multidisciplinary health research cluster working for less appealing regions to be able to attract qualified to promote high-quality and high-impact scientific health researchers, thus leading to a better distribution outputs while addressing relevant societal issues and of human and capital resources within our National increasing technology transfer to the health industry. Scientific and Health Systems. Unlike traditional research units, cintesis has a cintesis works closely with 4 main stakeholders, highly decentralized structure, in tandem with its namely the academic community, healthcare providers, national coverage. Moreover, cintesis researchers health industry, and patients and other members of are well integrated within 29 education institutions the general public. With this, we aim to (i) increase – including Universities and Polytechnic Institutes –, health prevention knowledge, (ii) develop and 12 healthcare providers, and 5 health smes. evaluate safer and more efficient health interventions, and (iii) increase the wider and better use of evidence Another principle that differentiates cintesis from and information technologies by healthy individuals, traditional research units lies in its founding precept patients and health professionals. cintesis: overview & vision 2018-2022 overview 3 ABOVE: MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER FACULTY OF MEDICINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTO ON THE RIGHT: ALTAMIRO DA COSTA PEREIRA SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR cintesis: overview & vision 2018-2022 4 vision Vision In accordance with its These goals are not to have a positive impact CINTESIS MEETING, 2017 founding principles and limited to the production on society as a whole and research thematic lines of research outputs, to contribute to strengthen (tl), cintesis aims to despite their importance. the National Scientific consolidate its role as an Other elements are also System, to contribute international reference in involved such as students to the sustainability and Gastrointestinal Oncology, and researchers in safety of the National Inflammatory Bowel advanced education and Health System, and to Disease and Asthma, training, the provision of decrease health inequities. as well as to become an knowledge transfer and international reference in partnerships with industry, several other fields such and the engagement with as Health Data Science patients and other mem- and Digital Health. At a bers of the general public. national level, cintesis is set to maintain its With this vision, leading role in such fields cintesis aims to produce as Nursing, Primary Care high-quality and and Evidence-Based innovative research. In Medicine. addition, cintesis aims cintesis: overview & vision 2018-2022 objectives for 2018-2022 5 Objectives for 2018-2022 Research A Activities The 3 tls of cintesis (i.e. tl1 Preventive Health and and (iii) working towards its inclusion in eu-funded Societal Challenges, tl2 Clinical and Translational projects, particularly in the fields of Critical Care, Research, and tl3 Health Data and Decision Sciences Oncology, Cardiovascular and Ageing. & Information Technologies) are structured according to national and international health Additionally, cintesis is set to consolidate its role in research priorities, agendas and the 2030 Horizon. In being a national reference in several areas, including fact, the tl3 deals with the 4th and the 5th research some often neglected (but with large societal impact) subthemes of fct’s National Agenda for Health, research fields, such as Nursing, Primary Care, Clinical and Translational Research (Digital Health Geriatric Mental Health, Health Technology and Health Technology Assessment, respectively), Assessment, and Health Services Research. while the tl1 and the tl2 relate with the 1st and the Collaboration and communication with national 3rd subthemes (Active Ageing and Advanced health authorities will also be sought so that knowledge Therapies, respectively). can be successfully applied. These alignments provide opportunities not only for These research activities will be supported by cintesis obtaining funding, but also for cintesis to expand its science managers, particularly in what concerns international prominence, particularly by (i) becoming with funding applications, diversification of national an international reference in fields like Health Data and international funding sources with involvement Science and Digital Health, (ii) fostering large of relevant entities such as the eu, the fct and the multinational and multicentric observational studies; Fundação La Caixa, networking with national and cintesis: overview & vision 2018-2022 6 objectives for 2018-2022 international research leaders, and provision of support in manuscript writing and statistical analysis. Particular care will be taken so that these services B will be provided to researchers from institutions or scientific fields with less developed research infra-structures. In order to monitor the accomplishment of these goals, and in tandem with the aims of the Charter group of the tl1, we will develop benchmarks aiming Advanced Education to assess research impact, including (i) fct and Training investment per obtained citation, (ii) investment per research discussed in the mass media, (iii) proportion of publications with young researchers as first author, and (iv) number of prizes per projects developed. cintesis aims to consolidate its role as a leading provider of advanced education programs in emerging areas of knowledge (with particular emphasis on the core phd programs more directly related to cintesis members), mostly by (i) fostering a higher impact of research developed under the aegis of these programs, and (ii) by increasing the proportion of international students. This will contribute to im- prove the skills and knowledge of cintesis members, as well as to cement its role as leader in several areas of knowledge. In order to accomplish these aims, the course of action of cintesis will rely on: CENTRE OF BIOMEDICAL 1 Supporting the 2 Promotion and 3 Assure regional and SIMULATION, FACULTY OF MEDICINE OF THE training of young organization of professional equity UNIVERSITY OF PORTO researchers through educational activities in their access to advanced education to improve skills and the aforementioned programs (phd, msc and knowledge on practical educational activities Continuing Education) matters, such as funding under the responsibility applications, research of cintesis researchers methods and scientific publishing cintesis: overview & vision 2018-2022 objectives for 2018-2022 7 C Dissemination of Scientific Knowledge and Social Impact Knowledge needs to be applied in order to serve society. cintesis aims to assure that its scientific activity has a positive impact on the society as a whole. This is to be accomplished by: 1 Development of performed both via society-centered research traditional and more activities. cintesis aims innovative media, targeting to consolidate its leading different subgroups, from role in developing common laymen to decision technologies to be makers and keystake- used by everyone (such holders in public policy as healthcare apps) and design. A good scientific in researching implemen- communication is tation of scientific expected to have a knowledge in society positive impact in (i) promoting scientific 3 Provision of external ABOVE: HEALTH RESEARCH 2 Development of literacy, (ii) promoting consultancy services outreach activities aiming the adoption of evidence- in research methods, BELLOW: DATA PROCESSING to raise awareness and -based decisions by policy biostatistics, information educate the general public stakeholders, and (iii) systems, and development regarding the main subject raising awareness for and management of areas of each tl. This the importance of research and information communication will be funding research infrastructures cintesis: overview & vision 2018-2022 8 objectives for 2018-2022 D E Knowledge Transfer Infrastructures cintesis aims to be a relevant partner in