Marie Curie Actions: Inspiring Researchers - Imdea

The fi rm carries out stem cell research and develops transgeniccellular and animal models. It is very active in EU-backed collaborativeresearch efforts and is a full research partner in several projectsfunded by the Union’s Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes,including fi ve in which it is the coordinator. BioTalentum has a branchspecialising in the management of biomedical research projectsand provides such services to national and European projects.Teamoholic has also helped researchers in the corporate worldrenew their links with academia and then take advantageof that experience in the business world. One Fellow in thisposition was Ildiko Nagy, a teacher of biology and chemistryfrom Hungary who is now vice-president of BioTalentum. ‘AfterI got my PhD, I continued my career in the business world, withGeneral Electric, HSBC and other multinational companies,’ sherecounts. ‘The biggest reward of the Teamoholic project for mewas the wonderful opportunity to modify my career path backto science, and combine that with my experience in business.’People powerThe success of Teamoholic and its spin-offs, Dr Dinnyes insists,is down to the quality of the researchers involved – and thatis why Marie Curie Fellowships are so important. ‘Marie CurieActions provide something which is even more important thanstate-of-the-art equipment: well-trained, motivated researchers,’he believes. ‘Once you have found a good young scientist, it isimportant to keep them on a self-development path. Combiningthe different Marie Curie Actions which are best suited for thespecifi c career stage of the researchers can enhance the lastingimpact on their careers.’It is no surprise then that Dr Dinnyes has set up and becomeinvolved in new Marie Curie projects, including a research trainingnetwork called Clonet which helps early-stage and experiencedresearchers to acquire sound basic knowledge and technologicalexperience to tackle the increasing complexity of transgenicanimal model research for biomedical applications.Project acronymTeamoholicFull project titleTeam on advanced transgenic animal technologiesType of grantExcellence TeamBudgetEUR 1.8 millionDuration of project01-05-2004 - 30-04-2008Scientific disciplineLife sciencesLead partnerProf. Andras DinnyesAgricultural Biotechnology CentreSzent-Györgyi Albert 4HU-2100 Gödöllő - PestTel. +36 20 510 9632 // Fax +36 28 526 151E-mail: andrasdinnyes@yahoo.com143