CNC.IBILI is a new Institution created by joining two research institutes of excellence in the Life and Health Sciences based at the University of Coimbra – the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), and the Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI). Overlap in scientific interests and a high level of complementarity guarantee that the whole will be greater than the sum of individual parts.
The CNC.IBILI unit incorporates the largest critical mass of biomedical investigators in the Center region of Portugal. CNC.IBILI is supported by a solid human resources and management structure including 220 PhD integrated members and 50 dedicated management staff. Outstanding technological infrastructures are available, namely the Microscopy Imaging Center of Coimbra (MICC), the Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), the NMR Platform, the Mass Spectrometry Unit, the Flow Cytometry Unit and a state of the art Animal Facility.
Deeply rooted at the University of Coimbra, CNC.IBILI joins together researchers from the Faculties of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research and University Hospitals around common objectives of biomedical research. The synergies at CNC and IBILI create opportunities for novel achievements in neurosciences, vision, aging, brain and metabolism-based diseases and advanced therapies. CNC.IBILI is composed of 21 groups supported by strong Core CVs, that are organized in three Thematic Lines: 1) Neuroscience, Vision and Brain Diseases; 2) Metabolism, Aging and Disease; and 3) Stem Cell-Based and Molecular Therapies.
CNC.IBILI is uniquely positioned in terms of transforming excellent basic research in both translational interventions and increased economic value. The close connection to the Coimbra University Hospitals Health System (CHUC), one of the largest in Portugal, provides access to clinical knowhow, patient samples, and patients themselves, ensuring the possibility of both CNC.IBILI pioneered initiatives, and the participation in international consortia.
CNC.IBILI is totally committed to two other crucial aspects of any research institute that aims to excel, namely training and science communication. The high-level and multidisciplinary mentoring of PhD students, clinicians and postdoctoral fellows in an international environment that fosters creative critical thinking in both basic and applied science is a top priority, developed both in in-house Masters and PhD Programs, and in international training networks. The need to be socially active and provide an efficient outreach program that creates an informed citizenship on scientific matters is another important aspect of the CNC.IBILI mission statement.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
