i3S Joins European Consortium to Bolster Research in the EU’s Outermost Regions
The European project FOCUS-4R – Fostering Outermost Regions Capabilities in Research and Innovation and Upgrading Skills complying with 4R principles, in which the i3S is a partner institution, has recently been awarded €3 million in funding from the European Commission to strengthen research and innovation capabilities in the European Union’s outermost regions. Over €360,000 of this will come to i3S.
FOCUS-4R, which brings together six academic institutions and five non-academic partners from four developing regions (including institutions from Madeira and the Canary Islands) and four countries considered advanced, has the primary objective of mitigating the effects of geographical isolation and the scarcity of experts in biomedicine, reducing asymmetries between the outermost regions and the EU’s more developed centres, and establishing a sustainable ecosystem of scientific and technological excellence in these regions.
Within the scope of the project, which is led by CYROI - CYclotron Réunion Océan Indien, from Réunion Island (France), and is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2025, innovative methods for the evaluation of therapeutic molecules will be developed and implemented, in accordance with the 4R principles – Replacement, Reduction, Refinement, and Responsibility – which promote more ethical and efficient research, both scientifically and economically.
With the aim of fostering transferable skills aligned with industrial and market needs, several activities are planned, including cross-sectoral training initiatives, talent mobility, workshops, and mentorships.
Strategic Role of i3S
i3S will be playing a central role in the project through the involvement of its scientific platforms, notably in the areas of biomaterial characterisation and bioactive interfaces, advanced microscopy, animal models, bioimaging, bioscreening, electron microscopy, and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays. At an organisational level, several of the institute’s transversal units will also be involved: the Career Development Unit, the Unit for Responsible Conduct in Research, and the Advanced Training Unit. The research groups “Bioengineered 3D Microenvironments", “Expression Regulation in Cancer", “Host Targets of Infection", “Neuro & Skeletal Circuits", and “Tumour and Microenvironment Interactions", as well as the 3R Knowledge Center, are also participating in the project.
This participation in FOCUS-4R, say the coordinators of the application within i3S, André Maia, Marta Teixeira Pinto, and Anna Olsson, “reinforces i3S’s position as a strategic partner in high-impact international projects". According to André Maia, “this project adds value to our technological and scientific knowledge through an exchange of talent between leading European centres and companies, enabling us to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into practical applications".
Marta Teixeira Pinto highlights that “i3S will make a decisive contribution to FOCUS-4R through its robust experience in the application of alternative experimental models and the implementation of innovative technologies in the context of scientific research". The implementation of methods aligned with the 4R principles, Anna Olsson adds, “allows us to advance biomedical research ethically and efficiently, ensuring that our practices not only foster innovation but also respect the fundamental values of scientific responsibility, especially with regard to the reduction of animal experimentation".
A Strategic Investment in Human Potential
The FOCUS-4R project falls under the ERA Talent initiative and is part of the European Commission’s strategy for the European Research Area, which aims to promote the cross-border mobility of researchers, the development of sustainable and attractive careers in science, and the circulation of knowledge between sectors and disciplines. By supporting projects such as FOCUS-4R, ERA Talent contributes to strengthening R&I capacities across Europe, combating fragmentation and promoting more inclusive, ethical, and collaborative science.