Page 27 - MemoriaCIBER2019-ENG

CIBER-BBN 27
Presentation by the Scientific Director
Ramón Martínez Máñez
Once again, I am pleased to review and highlight the activity carried out by CIBER-BBN during the previous year detailed in this annual report.
In 2019, we have continued the implementation of the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, which involved a new way of organising our activity and our internal calls for projects.
At the international level, a project has started in which CIBER participates through our ICTS NANBIOSIS (Singular Scientific and Technological Infrastructures) to create large infrastructures that facilitate the development of medical devices containing nano-technology in compliance with European regulatory frameworks. Our presence in different international events has also been maintained to improve our external visibility.
In addition to the fact that our researchers have participated in various proposals for the European H2020 pro- gram, I would especially like to highlight the joint application, in coordination with all the thematic areas, to the COFUND program (Marie Sklodowoska-Curie Actions), which includes the incorporation of 23 postdoctoral researchers to the CIBER, distributed among all the thematic areas. We are particularly satisfied with the pro- posal presented, which places CIBER in Europe as a highly attractive centre for foreign researchers in the field of biomedicine.
Regarding our scientific activity, 131 intramural collaborations have been active, in which groups from BBN and from all CIBER areas participate, which shows the multidisciplinarity of our lines of work, as well as 30 Early Stage projects which are led by hired PhD researchers doctors.
Within the framework of the Annual Conference, held in Tarragona with the presence of members of the External Scientific Advisory Committee, prizes were awarded to the best articles published in 2018 by young researchers, this being the 2nd Edition of the CIBER-BBN Awards.
In collaboration with other areas, the seed projects have been completed in collaboration with CIBERONC, as well as the joint projects with CIBERES and CIBERER.
Three new valorisation projects have also been launched in 2019, which receive funding to ensure that a tech- nology with a minimum TRL of 3 can reach a more mature level of development. Several transfer projects from previous calls have also been maintained, jointly financed by CIBER-BNN and by a company.
As for NANBIOSIS, infrastructures of the Andalusian centre BIONAND have been integrated, making this institu- tion a third additional node to the two existing ones, CIBER and Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre. Also this year, the Nucleotide Synthesis Unit has been incorporated, which completes the Biomolecule Production Platform.
I would also like to note that CIBER-BNN has taken part, as have all areas, in the evaluation process promoted by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III to evaluate the CIBER programme for the 2015-2108 period.
The scientific production of this period has continued along the lines of the previous year, maintaining the quality standards for publications in the first quartile and decile.