ACTIVITY REPORT 2019 1 2 INDEX DIRECTION BOARD MESSAGE 5 ABOUT CIIMAR 6 RESEARCH LINES 9 RESEARCH STRUCTURE 10 TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS 11 FACTS & FIGURES 15 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS 25 SCIENTIFIC OUTPUTS 69 3 MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD In 2019, CIIMAR attained the rating of EXCELLENT amongst Portuguese research centers as the results of the international evaluation process that started early in 2018. Although the overall funding is not significantly diferent from the previous one, it will allow the hiring of three new researchers and the assignment of 15 PhD grants funded by FCT. CIIMAR continued the implementation of two large Mobilizing Program projects led by industry – MARVALOR and MOBFOOD and, in 2019, a new one started ALGAVALOR - also led by industry. In 2019, we kept the trend of attracting national and international funds from the approval of new projects including 3 H2020 (AQUACOMBINE, TOXICROP, FutureMARES). In 2019, the sum of the projects in implementation in CIIMAR raised to 21.4 million euros. CIIMAR members published 448 papers in internationally peer-reviewed journals and successfully contributed to the graduation of 19 PhD and 78 MSc students. In 2019, four international patents were submitted, reflecting the increasing impact of our research and the success of the implementation of the measures to increase the technology transfer. The Collaborative Laboratory for the Blue Economy (B2E) whose application was led by CIIMAR, was oficially funded in 2019. CIIMAR outreach activities, both indoors and outdoors impacted more than 65 000 people. In September 2019 CIIMAR launched the BlueBioEconomy Roadmap for Portugal with the endorsement and presence of the minister of the Sea Ana Paula Vitorino. This was the end point of the H2020 Twinning action BLUEandGREEN but at the same time it became its legacy. A new collective associate joined CIIMAR in 2019, the Porto Polytechnic through the High School of Health, which will allow an increased collaboration and allocation of resources (human and space) between both institutions. CIIMAR aims in 2020 to strengthen the relationships with the University of Porto so as to establish a legal status that will allow an even better cooperation between both institutions taken into account all the challenges that are expected in the near future. The director of the Board of CIIMAR Vitor Vasconcelos 5 ABOUT CIIMAR CIIMAR is a leading research and advanced of aquaculture, and biotechnological training institution of the University of Porto, exploitation of the resources for environmental working at the frontiers of Ocean Knowledge and human health applications. and Innovation. CIIMAR provides innovative solutions and CIIMAR fosters an integrated approach to Ocean products responding to actual economic and coastal areas promoting the understanding and societal challenges. Among them are and knowledge on physical, chemical and the demand for high-quality seafood, new biological dynamics of these environments and drugs and marine products for industrial and the impact of natural and human disturbances, medicinal needs, water quality, sustainable aiming to unravel links between these processes, fisheries, preparedness for and mitigation of grasp Ocean and ecosystems functioning and oil and HNS spills, environmental monitoring & responses to global changes. risk assessment, preservation of ecosystems services, ocean & coastal management and CIIMAR uses this knowledge-base to promote Ocean Literacy. the natural capital and the sustained management of marine resources through monitoring of ecosystems health, optimization 6 Social Organs The current social organs initiated their mandate in January 2019 and are composed as follows: GENERAL ASSEMBLY BOARD FISCAL COUNCIL President President President Eduardo Rocha Vitor Vasconcelos Luísa Bastos Chairs Board members Members > Aires Oliva Teles > Ana Paula Mucha > José Fernando Gonçalves > Francisco Taveira Pinto > Isabel Sousa Pinto > Helena Peres > Carlos Vale > Luísa Valente > Susana Moreira > Rodrigo Ozorio 7 Headquarters Innovation and Science and Society CIIMAR´s new state-of-the-art facilities Technology Transfer CIIMAR has an extensive Outreach for research, training and services are CIIMAR supports the development Program addressed to all society located at the heart of the maritime of a sustainable blue economy, while sectors. In 2019 CIIMAR started industry and services in the Northern tackling important societal challenges. “Clubes Ciência Viva” Protocols with 4 region of Portugal (Leixões harbour). Through the implementation of Large schools, received the visit of 31 school The Centre features well-equipped Scale Mobilizing R&TD Programs, groups, and performed 29 indoor and laboratories for marine and maritime 23 outdoor activities with schools. research, technological core platforms, R&D projects in co-promotion with The Communication and Outreach high scale micro- and macroalgae companies and the CIIMAR’s Blue Ofice coordinated several science cultivation and animal experimental Business Development Platform, dissemination campaigns, such as the facilities for freshwater and marine the Centre promotes the transfer of Ocean Action and Ponds with Life, and organisms approved by the Portuguese knowledge, fostering the development traveling exhibitions (“Plastic Sea”, Veterinary Authority. of new technologies, products and “Marine Monsters”, “Amphibians: a paw services with a strong technology and on land, another on earth”). CIIMAR also Besides its headquarters, CIIMAR innovation component. participated in numerous public events comprises other partner facilities at and science communication displays five Units from U. Porto - Abel Salazar Disruptive ideas and technologies aimed to promote the dissemination Biomedical Sciences Institute, and are driven to business acceleration of CIIMAR’s research to society. CIIMAR Faculties of Sciences, Engineering, programmes, such as Blue Bio Value, Open Day, coinciding with Leixões Port Pharmacy and Law – and at Porto enabling knowledge value creation Day at 21 September 2019, constituted Polytechnic Institute, Regional through entrepreneurship. a major dissemination event, with over Secretariat for Agriculture and Fisheries CIIMAR is a founding member of the 11.000 visitors. (RG Madeira) and Portuguese Institute of National Maritime Cluster – Forum Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). CIIMAR is also responsible for the scientific Oceano, the BLUEBIO ALLIANCE, management of two Environmental CIIMAR is an integral research Centre of and more recently, the B2E CoLAB Monitoring and Interpretation Centres CIMAR - Associated Laboratory, together – Collaborative Laboratory for Blue (CMIAs) through cooperation protocols with CCMAR - University of Algarve. Economy. with the City Councils of Vila do Conde and Matosinhos. 8 RESEARCH LINES Marine Global Changes Biology, Biotechnology and Ecosystems Aquaculture and Top research is also focused on the Services Seafood Quality exploration of a wealth of Ocean resources CIIMAR provides basic knowledge and Development of new aquaculture for the discovery and characterization tools to support the protection and species, products, and innovative of new bioactive compounds with management of marine, estuarine and culture methods are central approaches ecological, pharmaceutical or other freshwater ecosystems. Sustainable to tackle societal challenges related to industrial applications. The study of exploitation of ocean resources with human nutrition and seafood quality. emerging toxins, development of production of valuable goods and High impact scientific knowledge and biosensors for early detection systems, services is fostered. Work is done in close innovation in these areas are provided and development of bioremediation and collaboration with SMEs, international through basic and applied research phytoremediation tools for ecosystem and local authorities, and stakeholders. recovery are other main goals of this and transferred to end-users and the research line. P.I. Lúcia Guilhermino industry. P.I. Vitor Vasconcelos P.I. Luísa Valente 9 RESEARCH STRUCTURE RESEARCH LINES RESEARCH GROUPS RESEARCH TEAMS EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS BLUE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ECOTOXICOLOGY EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS AND BLUE BIOTECHNOLOGY EMERGENT BIOTECHNOLOGIES AND SEAFOOD PROCESSING CYANOBACTERIAL NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF MARINE NATURAL PRODUCTS MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY NATURAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY: DRUG DISCOVERY AND DRUG DESIGN BIOREMEDIATION PROCESSES BIOREMEDIATION AND ECOSYSTEMS FUNCTIONING CONTAMINANT PATHWAYS AND INTERACTIONS WITH MARINE ORGANISMS ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS AND EMERGENT CONTAMINANTS CONTAMINATION PATHWAYS AND SOIL/WATER INTERACTIONS MECHANISMS OF TOXICITY MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY ECOTOXICOLOGY, STRESS ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HYDROBIOLOGY ESTUARINE ECOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS GLOBAL CHANGES & AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY AND AQUATIC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES CONSERVATION COASTAL BIODIVERSITY BENTHIC ECOLOGY COASTAL AND OCEAN DYNAMICS COASTAL MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OCEAN DYNAMICS, COASTAL AND WATER SYSTEMS MARINE ENERGY WATER RESOURCES SYSTEMS LAW OF THE SEA LAW OF THE SEA NUTRITION, GROWTH AND QUALITY OF FISH AQUACULTURE AND SEAFOOD SAFETY SAFE AND HEALTHY SEAFOOD AND SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION NUTRITION AND IMMUNOBIOLOGY ANIMAL NUTRITION AND HEALTH ANIMAL PATHOLOGY ANIMAL HEALTH AND AQUACULTURE BIOLOGY, AQUACULTURE ANIMAL GENETICS AND EVOLUTION & SEAFOOD QUALITY HISTOMORPHOLOGY, PHYSIOPATHOLOGY AND APPLIED