2010 AnnuAl REpoRT - Ciberdem

Project management
Introduction
The Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes
and Associated Metabolic Disorders (CIBERDEM)
works hard to obtain additional competitive funding to
develop research into diabetes and associated metabolic
disorders.
Currently, CIBERDEM’s project management department is
involved in all project phases, giving support to CIBERDEM
researchers in the preparation and presentation of
proposals, and also the submission, implementation and
justification of funded projects.
CIBERDEM aims to expand its presence in the worldwide
scientific community in its specific research field. The
strengthening of national, international and intersectorial
collaboration in research will help us to obtain more and
better scientific outcomes with high translational impact.
Objectives
To achieve excellence, to obtain competitive funding and to
monitor projects from implementation to justification.
To give support in the preparation of proposals by
researchers in the consortium.
To internationalize Spanish biomedical research, in
particular as regards CIBERDEM’s main lines of research
into diabetes and associated metabolic disorders.
To encourage and motivate researchers to participate in
calls and seize opportunities to take part in different kinds
of programmes through the monthly internal newsletter.
Coordination
Gemma Pascual, CIBERDEM Project Manager, and Donald
Mc Donagh, CIBERDEM Proposal Writer.
Achievements in 2010
CIBERDEM’s own actions
These are transversal initiatives implemented by members
of the consortium and in some cases with the collaboration
of external personnel. These translational projects try to
answer complex questions which could not be resolved
by one group working alone and will prove of benefit to
diabetic patients and the healthcare system in general.
In 2010, 15 research actions were underway, although
they had been implemented in previous years. These
were: 1) the Di@bet.es Study, which is the first national
epidemiological study that will provide the Spanish health
authorities with real figures relating to the prevalence of
type 2 diabetes (diagnosed as such or not) in addition to
other relevant parameters; for more information see page
21. 2) 14 CIBERDEM projects defined as translational
initiatives resulting from internal collaborative work:
-IREVAS, NEURONET-DIAB, INGENFRED, MODIAB, DOTUM,
DIASOBS, GIDIPRED, CHILDBODYFAT, ANTIBECELL,
LOWHDL, METADIAB, ENDODIAB, IODURE and STEMOB;
for more information see page 23.
CIBERDEM transversal initiatives are
possible because of the synergistic work
of nearly all the centre’s research teams,
with both basic and clinical profiles
National and Autonomous Community grants obtained
During 2010, two proposals submitted under the Strategic
Health Action Call of the National Scientific Research,
Development and Technological Innovation Plan of the
Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation received
grants. One was directed by Dr Mercedes Miranda
(Phosphatidate phosphatases (PAP, Lipin) regulation of
cellular functions by controlling phospholipid biosynthesis
and its relation with obesity) and the other by Dr Josep
Julve (HDL functionality in diabetes mellitus and
hyperhomocysteinaemia: studies in patients and animal
models); both are members of CIBERDEM’s postdoctoral
staff. Dr Mercedes Miranda, whose centre is located in
Tarragona, was also awarded an Autonomous Community
mobility grant by AGAUR.
International grants obtained
Turning to international grants, in 2010, an institutional
proposal was submitted to the Marie Curie-COFUND
Call in the People Programme as part of the European
Commission’s 7th Framework Programme (FP7). This
proposal, DIATRAIN (DIAbetes Trans-national Research
Advancement for INvestigators), involved two post-doctoral
mobility schemes and was led by Dr Ramon Gomis. The
centre was invited to negotiate; in 2011 this process should
be concluded and it is expected that implementation of the
project will begin.
CIBERDEM also submitted two initiatives as coordinator
and two initiatives as a partner in response to the
FP7 Health Call under the Cooperation Programme
of the European Commission. Of these, one, entitled
“Genetic and environmental factors of insulin resistance
syndrome and its long-term complications in immigrant
Mediterranean populations - MEDIGENE”, is currently
under negotiation and is expected to be approved before
the year is out.
2010 Annual Report
9