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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CREATE (The CREAtion of the Department of Physical Chemistry of Biological SysTEms)

Teaser

Summary

The CREATE project is targeted at development at IPC of a new chair - Department of Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems led by a reputable world-class scientist (ERA Chair holder). The project predicts a number of measures to be taken by the new leader, aimed at extending research excellency of IPC into the new field (physical chemistry inspired by biology). The new research field is coherent with regional and national strategies. IPC has a solid research record in both - fundamental and application-oriented researches on sensors, new materials for nanotechnology, and chemical functionalization of nanomaterials. IPC efforts and excellency in conducting researches were appreciated by professional investor, who set up 2 spin-off companies with IPC. It proves that IPC brought to perfection analytical methods, used for researching physical and chemical systems. However, development capacity of these methods in abovementioned fields has almost run out. Therefore, based on analysis and discussions with major stakeholders, IPC decided to refocus on researching biological systems. The assumption underlying the CREATE project was in particular to develop applied research. Therefore, implementation of abovementioned plan required finding reputable expert in biology and establishment of the new department focused on applications of developed techniques in biological systems.

Therefore, preliminary action under the CREATE project was to recruit an outstanding scientist capable of:
- indicating research directions of modern quantitative biology studies within physical chemistry and advising on possible links of physical chemistry and biology,
- enhancing IPC researchers to contribute to the new interdisciplinary research field,
- establishing cooperation with international scientific units on partner basis.

The CREATE project was aimed to bring essential know-how to IPC but also spread excellence through science-science and science-business cooperation platform. For this reason, communication and dissemination measures under the CREATE project were designed to ease integration with ERA and transition into Horizon2020 through:
- setting up conditions for open dialogue with authorities on science problems,
- favouring business-science cooperation,
- stimulation of cooperation between research units.

The society is ultimate beneficiary of the project as a recipient of improvement of socio-economic environment. Additionally, some direct measures were addressed to the society.

Work performed

In the first reporting period the most important step towards proper implementation of the CREATE project was recruitment of an ERA Chair holder. The selection proceedings was transparent and was carried out by the international Selection Committee, mainly ERC grant holders. As a result Professor Maciej Wojtkowski was selected, a world-widely renowned scientist working in the field of biomedical imaging.

Prof Wojtkowski started his enrollment with establishment of the Department of Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems. Taken actions focused on acquisition of team members and equipping of the new lab. During the first reporting period a few employees of diversified profiles were recruited and the lab infrastructure for optical imaging was purchased. Additionally, a series of measures â€“ aimed at strengthening potential of the new chair and extending its influence upon IPC society â€“ were taken.

Under the 2.reporting period the CREATE project was focused â€“ in particular â€“ on:
- expansion of Department of Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems (PCBS) by acquiring new team members (16 persons);
- supplementing equipment of the lab;
- setting general research programme for PCBS â€“ i.e. Physical Optics (fundamental studies), Application photonics to biology, Application of optics to medicine;
- selection of synergetic groups willing to collaborate with the ERA chair holder an(4 research groups were selected to collaborate with PCBS)
- defining detailed research plan with attributed source of funding and indicated actors, incl. research projects with synergetic teams;
- tutoring and mentoring activity, in particular towards synergetic groups (as a result there were 81 lab & study visits of IPC researchers, 10 interdisciplinary lectures, 4 business lectures);
- securing funds and conducting research with secured funding: Prof Wojtkowski managed to secured funding for the research conducted by the new lab of ca. EUR 2.68 m. from both H2020 and Polish financial resources;
- setting collaboration with 3 new research units & high-tech companies (Nankai University; Oculomedica Sp. z o.o., Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine);
- communication & dissemination (9 new open access publications, 9 new press notes, 28 lessons for students, 2 open days, 9 other promotional events);
- supporting introduction of structural change (research & administration management).

Prof Wojtkowski was elected for the IPC Scientific Council, and became a member of habilitation committee. Additionally, he was involved in the process of transforming IPC PhD programme to become more interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international. Taken actions and acquired funding helped in obtaining A+, the highest excellence category among research units in Poland (A+) â€“ top 5% of research units in Poland distinguished by the quality of R&D activities.

Final results

The CREATE project is dedicated to unlock, develop and extend research potential of the Institute. The actions aimed at implementation of the above-mentioned objectives of the CREATE project will influence the progress beyond the state of the art and socio-economic surrounding in many ways. The first and the foremost, acquiring the ERA Chair holder and establishment of new IPC specialization at the border on chemistry/physics and biology/medicine will significantly improve the research potential of the IPC, and as a result will contribute to national and regional economy by strengthening their innovative potential. Additionally, acquiring researchers from the outside of the European Union will have the positive influence on the whole European economy. Activity of the ERA Chair holder will enhance integration with international organizations, incl. ERA institutions, and will enable creation of new generation of scientists, eligible for ERA. The CREATE project will also exert the socio-economic environment by easing open access to IPC infrastructure (through e.g. expansion of research infrastructure ELAD database by register of patent applications and obtained patents, as well as IPC fields of expertise) and to IPC scientists (e.g. through participation of local communities in open days organised in IPC).
In particular, under the project, new tools for eye imaging based on the optical coherence tomography will be developed. Therefore, the new expertise of IPC will have direct effect on society, and its health.

Thanks to this project, namely through the establishment of new high-quality research group and a number of structural changes will touch on the other research groups of IPC and quality of their studies.

Inclusion in the Advisory Board of the CREATE project representatives of business and authority will influence linkage improvement between government, market and academia, which will also have a positive socio-economic impact.