IS_MIRRI21 (Implementation and Sustainability Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure for XXI Century)

A great news for the European Culture Collections is the recent project funding with 5 million euros for 36 months by the European Commission, under the call “Research and Innovation Actions - INFRADEV-03-2019”, and entitled Implementation & Sustainability of Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure for 21st Century (IS_MIRRI21). UMinho-MUM coordinates this project that involves more 13 partners distributed by 10 countries. The project formally started last 1^st February 2020.

This IS_MIRRI21 project was built on the top of the preparatory phase European project Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI) and subsequent work done by the Interim National Coordinators Forum (INCF) and Assembly of prospective Members (AM).

In brief, IS_MIRRI21 will push forward all work done so far under the MIRRI umbrella in order to establish this organisation as an European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) which is a specific legal form that facilitates the establishment and operation of world-class research infrastructure (RI). In addition, IS_MIRRI21 aims to implement the Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI) and secure its long-term sustainability. With this in mind, the mission of IS_MIRRI21 is to serve Bioscience and Bioindustry by providing (a) a broad range of high-quality biological resources and associated data, (b) long-term sustainability of microbial biodiversity, and (c) knowledge and professional development. This mission will be achieved by offering users from academia, governmental laboratories and the private sector access to a portfolio of microbial Biological Resource Centres´ (mBRC’s), services, expertise, education and training build-up and synergistically on the top of mBRC’s proficiencies. To accelerate innovative research processes in life sciences and biotechnology using microorganisms, or their derivatives, IS_MIRRI21 will set up a single-entry point portal (Collaborative Work Environmental) to promote its services, resources, expertise and knowledge transfer activities, as well as to provide access to partners´ resource associated data made interoperable for data searching and data mining. The continuously increasing knowledge will be transferred to users via expert clusters (e.g., for legal framework, for biosecurity, to support training and education programmes, information and cut edge technology, etc.). It will promote cross-disciplinary and innovative solutions (industry and academic) research collaboration through the transnational access offer (pilot study) in different microbial topics defined in pipeline services. With this project IS_MIRRI21 envisages to be a sound partner of the ESFRI landscape on the Biological and Medical Sciences Research Infrastructures, consolidate the operation of MIRRI and enlarge the membership and European coverage and beyond.

Portugal and Spain will host the headquarters of the pan-European Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure - MIRRI

On 26 April 2018, during a meeting in Brussels, the Assembly of Prospective Members of MIRRI (www.mirri.org) accepted the Portuguese-Spanish proposal to host the Central Coordination Unit (CCU). The approval from the seven prospective countries (Belgium, France, Greece, Latvia, Poland, Portugal and Spain), which have previously signed the MIRRI Memorandum of Understanding is, as of May 9, confirmed.

MIRRI will be established as a not-for-profit legal entity following a distributed model with a CCU accommodating the operational headquarters and the national nodes bringing together the partners and stakeholders in each member country. MIRRI will facilitate the access to a broad range of high quality bioresources and data in a legal compliant way. By offering access to human expertise and providing a collaborative platform MIRRI will support research and development in the field of biotechnology and generate solutions to societal challenges by stimulating interaction between academia and bioindustry.

MIRRI CCU will consist of two distributed sections:

- Statutory Seat located in Portugal (University of Minho, Braga)

- Collaborative Working Environment hub operated from Spain (University of Valencia, Paterna) and supported by LifeWatch-Spain, a closely related e-infraestructure.

The accepted proposal was prepared by Dr Nelson Lima, Professor and Head of the Micoteca da Universidade do Minho (MUM) from the Biological Engineering Centre, and Dr Rosa Aznar, Professor and Head of the Colección Española de Cultivos Tipo (CECT) from the University of Valencia. In addition, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) from the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, and the Secretary of State for Research and Innovation from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO), supported the proposal.

After the preparatory phase (2012-2016), funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement no. 312251, MIRRI is now entering in a construction phase. The 1st step submission for the MIRRI-European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) application is scheduled for September 2018, in view of having MIRRI legally established by the end of 2019.

Call for a Post-Doctoral Grant Position [closed]

 MIRRI – the Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure is a new FP7 3 years project (preparatory phase) established as part of the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) road map. This connects European microbial resource collections (MRC) with stakeholders (users, policy makers, funders and microbial researchers) by storing important microbial material and improving access to enhanced quality microbial resources. An appropriate legal framework is employed, thus underpinning and driving life sciences research (www.mirri.org).

Europe hosts approximately 60 service microbial collections in 26 European countries organised by an umbrella organisation, the European Culture Collections' Organisation (ECCO) which provides access to more than 350,000 microbial strains. The MIRRI project which will commence 1^st November 2012 and comprises 16 partners from 11 countries will work very closed with other European microbial collections. The fungal culture collection, Micoteca da Universidade do Minho, Portugal (MUM, www.micoteca.deb.uminho.pt), is one of the partners and a workpackage leader on “Capacity building, education and training”. This has 3 major aims: 1) Design innovative learning programmes and tools; 2) Coordinate training programmes and access to the research infrastructures; and 3) Develop capacity building.

We are seeking a highly-motivated post-doctoral researcher to establish a robust educational programme for the European MRC. The scientist will work closely with MUM and design new programmes for capacity building, education and training for MRC. In addition, close contact with other European organisations, culture collections and higher educational institutions will be maintained. For more details click here.

MIRRI

Micoteca da Universidade do Minho, between 2012 and 2016, was a partner of the FP7 European project The Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure (MIRRI) which is a new 3 years project (preparatory phase) established as part of the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) road map. This connects European microbial resource collections (MRC) with stakeholders (users, policy makers, funders and microbial researchers) by storing important microbial material and improving access to enhanced quality microbial resources. An appropriate legal framework is employed, thus underpinning and driving life sciences research. 

Microbial DNA Bank

The European Microbial DNA Bank Network is a portal made by EMbaRC -the European Consortium of Microbial Resource Centres.

EMbaRC 

Micoteca da Universidade do Minho is a partner of the FP7 European project EMbaRC - the European Consortium of Microbial Resource Centres.

A ONE-STOP ACCESS 

European Consortium of Microbial Resources Centres – EMbaRC is an EU project funded under the Seventh Framework Programme Research Infrastructures. It aims to improve, coordinate and validate microbial resource centre delivery to European and International researchers from both public and private sectors. This collaboration with the WDCM provides “A one-stop access” to the collections of EMbaRC strain catalogue data providing better access to authentic microorganisms and validated associated data from this consortium of European collections.