The annual STEPUPIORS project meeting period successfully gathered project participants from all 4 collaborating countries on October 04, 2023, in Belgrade Serbia. Dr Sergi Castellvi-Bel, head of the FRCB-IDIBAPS Genetic predisposition to gastrointestinal cancer group, is the project PI partner and Work Package 4 Leader, working on profiling the response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer, in collaboration with the project coordinator Dr Milena Cavic from the Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Serbia (IORS).
Earlier this year the IORS team visited FRCB-IDIBAPS to exchange knowledge about biobanking and project grant management. This time, STEPUPIORS organized a Post-award Grant Management Training around 70 future Serbian grant holders and leaders from 11 institutions. Project managers Lidia Castro and Joan Pallares participated as Training faculty members and gave insightful lectures on Legal Issues, Personnel Cost/Equipment Depreciation and Dissemination/Communication/Exploitation.
The event was held in a dynamic and constructive atmosphere. Lecturers and participants exchanged knowledge and experiences related to managing EU and national grants. Discussions stimulated members of the international scientific community to take a more active part in applying for collaborative grants.
After the Training, first project deliverables and milestones were outlined:
- 1 Biobank successfully established at IORS
- 4 Publications and multiple congress abstracts presented
- 3 large trainings on grant management and omics approaches
- Many interesting outreach activities
- 1 Research Management Office successfully established at IORS
Dr Sergi Castellvi-Bel successfully presented WP4 activities performed within the first year of the project and outlined future plans for the next two project years.
