Neurobiotech launched at European Parliament: The start of an International Research and Innovation Community on Neurosc

Brussels, April 9, 2014: The launch of the Neuromed-led project "Neurobiotech", aimed at setting up an International Research and Innovation Community on Neuroscience, was held on April 2 at the European Parliament.

Neuromed and ISC hosted the press conference to introduce media and interested stakeholders to the project Neurobiotech. Neuromed is a research centre recognized by the Italian Ministry of Health as a highly qualified research and clinical organization specialized in Neuroscience in cooperation with the Molise Regional Government, the Italian National Research Council, the Universities of Rome Sapienza, Tor Vergata and Molise. Several foreign research centres and companies have also agreed to participate in the Neurobiotech cluster.

With Horizon 2020 as a platform, Neurobiotech aims to combine research, innovation, technology transfer and training to focus on the common goal of sharing and integrating knowledge, stimulating research activities in the field of Neuroscience while applying a multidisciplinary approach. Hence, research, exchange of know-how, intensive interaction and the joint use of infrastructures, facilities and services with high added value are encouraged.

As a partner of the project, the Molise Regional Government will consider the proposal as a pilot project for the definition of the strategic framework of the regional cohesion policy. Within the framework of the Neurobiotech cluster, the Molise region has set aside financial resources for companies and research centres wishing to invest in Molise, therefore contributing to a knowledge-based economy. It will be the first experiment in integrating European resources managed both by the European Commission as well as local authorities.

"We start from a large knowledge base that is ensured directly from Neuromed. The environment, being multidisciplinary in nature, is ideal to accommodate interests from institutions very different from each other. But the most important aspect is that our approach will never be arrogant, something already defined which institutions can only join. On the contrary, what we propose is a true partnership, in which everything is decided by the partners. Search strategies, ideas for practical applications, technological developments, all of these objectives will be continuously discussed and defined according to the skills and aspirations of each of the entities in the network," said Jacopo Meldolesi, Chief Scientific Officer, Neurobiotech Project, at the press conference.

"Our model," continued Meldolesi, "is what is called 'bottom up', there are no directives and projects from the top: we have the knowledge, we have the facilities, we have the ability to create a network. We simply invite those who want to work in this direction to join us. And we do not want to limit ourselves only to academia or research. There are also businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, which have ideas to be developed in the fields of study that characterize Neurobiotech."

Neurobiotech starts from a base of expertise and excellence guaranteed by its founding members. The project launched an invitation to all facilities which wish to join a large project in the sharing of methods and knowledge, the exchange of people, ideas and shared planning. The outcome of such shared resources could mean innovative solutions in one of the most promising fields of medicine: the study of the brain and its diseases. In this context, biotechnology, the second pillar of Neurobiotech, will play a key role.

The attention of the new Centre for Research and Innovation will be particularly focused on issues such as border-edge biotechnology, stem cells, tissue engineering and cell biology, genomics, nanotechnology and biomaterials, biomechanics, robotics and human-computer interface, advanced imaging, telemedicine and remote diagnostics, and bioinformatics.

Furthermore, Neurobiotech will not merely be a common structure of research and knowledge. Its skills will in fact be made available to governmental and supranational political bodies, in order to help guide the choices of research in the coming years in the field of neuroscience. And the closest target is the creation of a White Paper during the Italian presidency of the Council of the European Union.

"We already have many expressions of interest from international research centers and we are convinced that others will come very quickly. The invitation is open to all persons engaged in neuroscience and biotechnology," said Meldolesi at the press conference.

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ISC Intelligence in Science
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Editor's Note

I.R.C.C.S. NEUROMED:

Assistance, Research, Training & Education

The Neuromed Institute is a centre dedicated exclusively to monospecialist Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurorehabilitation. At the clinic, specialists of the afore mentioned disciplines work in synergy and conduct collaborative scientific research activities.

Further information: www.neuromed.it/?lang=en

Horizon 2020:

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.

Further information: ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizo … en/what-horizon-2020

Provided by ISC Intelligence in Science