__Objectives
| Coordinator:
Prof. Richard Villems E-mail: rvillems@ebc.ee Project duration: 01.11.00-31.10.03 EU funding: 850 000 EUR |
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Controversial as it may sound, the list
of objectives of this proposal is not targeted to support any particular
type of scientific enquiry or technological developmental work in
the Estonian Biocentre (EBC) directly: we have adequate additional
means to finance our RTD from different research financing sources,
including the EU Framework Programme. Yet the project is clearly oriented
to high-tech field in one of the most dynamic and in several aspects,
controversial field – genomics. With a special, through not sole,
emphasise on humans, their diseases and human pathogens.The objectives
of this project lie both before and after technologies. They lie before
technologies in a sense that many of them address our human capital.
They lie before also because we see that in order to achieve and apply
some of our technological aims, we need to address not simply people,
but the population. They lie after technologies since healthcare is
a user and not itself a developer of technologies.Nevertheless, we
note here that the actual scientific and developmental work, carried
out in the EBC, is in full conformity with the following thematic
priorities of the Fifth framework Programme. Firstly, genomics itself
is a priority (1.1.1.8.) and our Centre works on all aspects of this
theme. Above them, we work in the direction of the priority themes
of the fifth framework programme:
Thus, the first wide objective of this project is to strengthen the position of the EBC as a centre of excellence in the field of genetics as a science and as a technology, to achieve a wider international reputation and regional trust in all our activities. For that, we propose specific measures in a form of work packages. These measures can be classified as those, targeted on ourselves, like finding unused and mobilising underused human capital, improving our international attraction. The second type of measures serve perhaps seemingly too wide objective for a single centre such as increasing informed consent of public in general, assessing public perception of gene screening and alike. Yet they already are and will very soon be increasingly important, even crucial, for a good part of our research, and even more to our technological development plans in the area of the applications for DNA-chip technologies. Hence, the measures undertaken in these general directions are directly related to the main objective of the present project.As the work packages will also show, the deliverables of the project consist of:
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Innovation
| The proposed measures have several innovative aspects. However, before discussing them, we wish to stress that bringing genetics and gene technologies to the attention of a wide public, to explain and interpret the link between science, technological means with the quality of life, healthcare and medicine, is itself a novelty and, as such, innovative.As for specific measure, we think that there is not much innovative behind trying to attract the best researchers available. However, we think that an attempt to facilitate of returning of a clearly rather substantial fraction of woman specialists into the category of active scientists, has a strong innovative element in it, however trivial the measure itself might seem to some. We need to try – in this small country we need to use all possible potential.We also consider innovative organising hands-on training courses, based on our gene technology products. We are perfectly aware that the same is done elsewhere by companies, but here we act as a centre of scientific excellence and technological competence, on behalf of our spin-offs.Finally, although indirectly, the measures proposed lie on scientific and technological developmental work, carried out in our Centre, what we believe to be innovative in many aspects. |
Work packages
Introduction
| Our work plan has five work packages. They are not ordered in the rank of priorities: we consider all of them essential to achieve the objectives.The first work package addresses our intellectual capacity. The expected rapid increase in demand is clear – both in private and public sectors. This is a brief title. More clearly, we bear here in mind discovering of hidden, underused and otherwise potentially lost intellectual capital – i.e. scientists, who for that or another reason, are either professionally "underused" or simply not here. Here we identify two target groups. The first one are women scientists, or, in more general terms, women in science. What we found out here, is that the problem is in the re-introduction of women into competitive research atmosphere after they stay, for a prolonged period, at home with children. They return, but in a large proportion do not get back to the track of creative science. What this work package proposes is to introduce, for women returning to science, a two-year "soft landing" scheme (research award system), what makes them free to plan their own experiments, attend conferences, practical courses, etc. The second activity under the same package has certain analogy but the target group are "repatriants". We had earlier this kind of extra resources thanks to one PHARE scheme and some other financial possibilities, and it turned out to be highly successful. We are very much willing to spend money for this purpose.The second package addresses improving our international attraction. The EBC is reasonably well equipped lab for high quality research – about 30 PCR DNA amplifiers, three automatic DNA sequencers, high class optical microscopes for FISH and cell biology in general, good possibilities to design and produce transgenic animals, unique home-made 4-laser DNA-chip scanners, in-house original DNA-chip-making technology etc. However, we do not have at present means to provide postdoc positions to people from abroad, certainly in a scale, what we think is perfectly possible and also very useful for us because of a flow of new experience, new skills and new connections in future.The third package addresses first of all intellectual property rights. Patent lawyers are professionals and expensive everywhere. We do not try to educate "our own" EBC lawyers, it will never work. However, we have preliminary agreements with three listed in Part C, Annex 3 universities that they may train our researchers to understand the essentials of patenting and licence market. Also under this package: as mentioned elsewhere, we have, during the last 2 years, launched four spin-off companies. We want them to understand the realities of the market place in many ways and under this package it is not always recognised problem of the translation of research into a product: it is a specific research. We have preliminary agreement with people in Finnish SITRA system, willing to train our people.The fourth package addresses a more professional sphere. This package is to finance organisation of a series of workshops and, specifically, hands-on training courses in the EBC. We have two, rather opposite objectives. We plan courses in order to rise awareness in the technological achievements of the EBC (e.g, a course of DNA-chip massive genotyping using our equipment and made here chips). We plan similar course in the field of post-genomics technologies. One may say – these hands-on courses are to advertise our high-tech production. On the other hand, we plan also more basic research-oriented workshops, allowing to bring here representatives of the top research centres – academic and commercial, as well as public health authorities of other countries.Finally, in the fifth work package we address one of the key elements in the future of our genomics: willingness of people to come along. Few specialists doubt in a future of genomics in medicine, all agree that for so-called multigene diseases, massive genome screening of the population is the only way to start. We explained elsewhere in this proposal that Estonian Government decided to go ahead with Gene Heritage programme, foreseeing comprehensive coverage of the population (size – around 1 million genotypes to be analysed). Yet all the willingness of the Government and scientists will be useless unless people do not come along. Therefore, here we plan to put a lot of special effort to rise awareness, to make modern genetics and its enormous possibilities to improve the quality of life known to people – i.e., to increase their ability to formulate informed consent.It is always a matter of conjecture to guess what will happen after three four years. Here – whether the "artificially" improved situation will survive. Both pro- and contra-arguments are to some extent a question of belief. Why we trust that we manage to maintain the essentials of this support scheme? First, we are relatively strong already at present and the progress during the last 5 years is steady. Second, there are very clear signs that the Estonian Government and the Parliament start to take technological innovation seriously, specifically so in gene technologies and in promoting infosociety. Third, we do not expect to create but created four spin-offs, based on developed and to be developed here high-tech products and services. Some of them are objectively needed for the Estonian healthcare system up to the stage that influences our prospects to join the EU. Others, such as transgenic animals, gene delivery systems and massive genotyping technologies – they already have strong demand in European academic and company research market and in healthcare. This makes us optimistic. |
WP1: Mobilising Intellectual Capacity |
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Objectives: The current workpackage is consisting of 2 tasks which have the following objectives:First task is aiming to improve possibilities for female researchers to regain their competitiveness after child leave and encouraging their potential to be fully exploited.Second tasks aims at attracting back promising young researchers and more experienced researchers of Estonian origin doing their research in leading universities and research centres in the world in order to strengthen the capacity of the centre. |
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Description of the contents, the workplan, the steps, the approach or the methodology: For the first task there will be in the beginning of every three years of the project period an open call for proposals, where women scientists finishing their child leave or female PhD students can propose their research projects to be carried out at the centre. Two grants per year (5000 Euro each) with duration of 12 months will be awarded to the best candidates. For the second task there and announcement of establishing "repatriation" grants (about 20 000 Euro each for duration of 12 months, about 1700 Euro per month) will be distributed in a targeted way in order to reach as many potential applicants in abroad as possible. The provided grant will be as a transitional measure enabling "repatriates" to establish during the first year their own research tasks at the centre and help them to apply for and secure future funding for it.For selection of candidates under both tasks detailed statutes of both grants, indicating the preferred research themes and modalities at the centre will be created and a selection committee established. |
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Deliverables, expected results, milestone for the overall package: Altogether 6 "women in science" and 4 "repatriation" grants with duration of 1 year will be awarded during this workpackage.This workpackage is aimed primarily to contribute to the capacity building of the centre but also for increasing the scope of the centre in terms of research themes and activities. |
WP2: Improving International Attraction |
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Objectives: The current workpackage consists of one single task with the objectives to increase the international attraction of the centre by providing competitive research grants for postdoctoral researchers from Europe to carry out their research at the centre. |
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Description of the contents, the workplan, the steps, the approach or the methodology: There will be two calls for applications for postdoctoral research grants at the centre. The first call will be launched immediately after the start of the project and second call after nine months bearing in mind that with both calls three grants for duration of 1 years and indicative budget of about 20 000 – 30 000 Euro per grant are offered, depending on experience and place of origin. The Centre will ensure the possible widest dissemination of information to the potential applicants. Depending on the situation, PhD studentships is a parallel activity. Their cost might be significantly lower.For application and awarding procedures of the grants detailed statutes, indicating the priority research themes of the centre selection mechanism and research modalities of the centre will be created and a selection committee established. |
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Deliverables, expected results, milestone for the overall package: Altogether 6 – 12 one-year post doctorial research grants/PhD studentship awards will be provided. This workpackage is aiming to contribute to the capacity building of the centre and increased networking with other research centres in Europe but also for increasing the scope of the centre in terms of research themes and activities. |
WP3: Technology Transfer and Spin-off Support |
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Objectives: This work package includes two tasks with the following objectives:First task is aiming at improving the understanding and competence in field of Intellectual Property Rights among researchers, research administrators and spin-off companies.Second task aims to support the process of strengthening existing and establishing new spin-off companies by providing training on how to establish a spin-off company for interested researchers. |
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Description of the contents, the workplan, the steps, the approach or the methodology: Under the first task three workshops will be arranged in co-operation with SITRA Foundation in Finland and with partner universities. They will deal from the on hand with general managing IPR issues and from the other hand field specific issues related to genetics. Under the second task a training programme will be provided to the researchers already having or interested in establishing a spin-off company . This programme will consist of topical lectures and workshops starting from how to make a business plan and principles of accounting to the technology foresight and validation. The aim of this training programme is at least to double the number of spin-off companies from 4 to 8 and quadruple the turnover by the end of the current project. The training programme will be prepared carried out in co-operation with our partner universities and business consultants. |
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Deliverables, expected results, milestone for the overall package: 2 workshops on IPR issues and a training programme for spin-off support are the concrete outputs of this workpackage, which should contribute first of all to Increased linkage with and support for economic and social environment. |
WP 4: Know-how Transfer and Competence Building |
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Objectives: This workpackage consists of two tasks which have the following objectives: Under the first task we aim to provide hands-on training courses for various target groups who will benefit from the scientific and technological know-how transfer from the Centre..Under the second task our objective is to organise few focused international conferences on the key issues of the genetics. |
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Description of the contents, the workplan, the steps, the approach or the methodology: The following hands-on training courses are planned:
The following international conferences are proposed
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Deliverables, expected results, milestone for the overall package: 6 hands-on training courses and 3 international conferences are the concrete outputs of this activity. They will contribute to the increased networking between research centres; contribution to the capacity building and support for the economic and social needs of the region. |
WP 5: Raising Public Awareness |
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Objectives: The main objective of this workpackage is to increase the awareness of different target groups about the role, possible gains and threats, which the field of genetics entail. |
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Description of the contents, the workplan, the steps, the approach or the methodology: The work package will consist of preparation of a series of publications about the basics of genetics for various target groups, starting with "the man from the street" and ending with policy makers. The other main target group are children starting from early teens. A series of books will be either translated or written, adjusted to age groups. In a series TV programmes are planned. This activity will also be closely linked with other national initiatives particularly with Estonia Gene Heritage Programme. A considerable part of this activity is planned by subcontracting publishing houses. |
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Deliverables, expected results, milestone for the overall package: As an output of this activity a several smaller and bigger publications about genetics will appear together with a series of a TV programme, which should particularly help to increase linkage with economic and social environment. A contest for the best essays in the thematic will be organised and a WEB site, including multimedia materials and simple glossaries for schools will be constructed. Books, specifically written to different age groups, will be translated and published. |
