RESEARCH STRUCTURES
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH STRUCTURES LABORATÓRIO ASSOCIADO ITQB (LA-ITQB) Coordinator: Luís Paulo N. Rebelo (ITQB Director) Since January 2011, following a re-structure, <strong>the</strong> LA-ITQB brings toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> <strong>Instituto</strong> <strong>de</strong> Tecnologia Química e Biológia (ITQB-UNL), <strong>the</strong> <strong>Instituto</strong> <strong>Gulbenkian</strong> <strong>de</strong> Ciência (IGC), <strong>the</strong> <strong>Instituto</strong> <strong>de</strong> Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (IBET) and <strong>the</strong> Centro <strong>de</strong> Estudos <strong>de</strong> Doenças Crónicas (CEDOC-UNL). The current LA-ITQB is a successor of a previous, smaller consortium, set up in 2001, between ITQB, IBET, and a few groups of IGC, as one of <strong>the</strong> first Associated Laboratories in Portugal. In its present form, it is a much wi<strong>de</strong>r partnership whose main aim is to carry out a collaborative research programme, un<strong>de</strong>rpinned by a strong communications network and sharing of infrastructures, namely libraries, scientific facilities, aca<strong>de</strong>mic services, and administrative support. It is currently one of <strong>the</strong> broa<strong>de</strong>st Associated Laboratories in terms of scientific expertise, spanning research areas from Chemistry to Medicine, along <strong>the</strong> following research <strong>the</strong>mes: 1. Syn<strong>the</strong>sis, structure, and function of biologically important molecules; 2. From genetics, cell and <strong>de</strong>velopmental biology to pathogenesis and novel <strong>the</strong>rapies; 3. Computational and <strong>the</strong>oretical biology: from biochemistry to medicine; 4. Host-microbe and host-cancer interactions; 5. Plant genomics and stress responses; 6. Evolution of ecosystems, biological risk, and food safety. In 2011, research at <strong>the</strong> LA-ITQB involved 350 PhD hol<strong>de</strong>rs (post-docs, group lea<strong>de</strong>rs), produced 425 Web of Science-referenced papers, over 10,000 WoS citations, 45 Highly Cited Papers (world top 1%), an average of one PhD <strong>the</strong>sis awar<strong>de</strong>d per week. Across <strong>the</strong> four research institutes, <strong>the</strong>re were over 380 running projects, with several funding sources including over €5M from <strong>the</strong> European Commission. Also in 2011, a fur<strong>the</strong>r €3.5M euros income in I&D contracts with <strong>the</strong> private sector was secured. CHAMPALIMAUD FOUNDATION NEUROSCIENCE PROGRAMME AT THE IGC Head: Zachary Mainen PhD in Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 1995 Principal Investigator - Systems Neuroscience Group The Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme (CNP) was created in 2007 through a collaborative agreement between <strong>the</strong> Champalimaud Foundation and <strong>the</strong> Calouste <strong>Gulbenkian</strong> Foundation. It is a basic research team with <strong>the</strong> broad aim of un<strong>de</strong>rstanding brain function through integrative biological approaches. CNP laboratories apply advanced molecular, physiological and imaging techniques to elucidate <strong>the</strong> function of neural circuits and systems in animal mo<strong>de</strong>ls that inclu<strong>de</strong> Drosophila, mouse, rat and zebrafish. As of December 2011 <strong>the</strong> CNP comprises sixteen in<strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>nt research groups, including thirteen in-house principle investigators, one research fellow and two associated external principle investigators. This year, <strong>the</strong> CNP was joined by three new investigators (C. Machens, L. Petreanu, A. Renart), one research fellow (A. Kampff), and recruited ano<strong>the</strong>r investigator who will join <strong>the</strong> programme in 2012. In 2011, CNP investigators published 3 review articles and 10 refereed research articles, including a study on <strong>the</strong> role of <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>ndritic branch in <strong>the</strong> potentiation pattern of single synapses, which was published in Neuron (I. Israely). Also, at <strong>the</strong> end of 2011, CNP investigators R. Costa and M. Carey received <strong>the</strong> International Early Career Scientist Award by Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The CNP also organises <strong>the</strong> International Neuroscience Doctoral Programme (INDP). In this programme stu<strong>de</strong>nts are provi<strong>de</strong>d with a broad educational background through both formal classes and hands-on experience in basic topics in contemporary neuroscience such as cellular and synaptic physiology, sensation and action and cognitive neuroscience. Quantitative approaches are emphasised and stu<strong>de</strong>nts also receive background courses in ma<strong>the</strong>matics and programming. IGC ANNUAL REPORT ‘11 RESEARCH STRUCTURES 105