Alliance4Life Community Meeting 2025: A United Crew Setting Sail for Scientific Excellence

Navigating Research Culture: The Power of a Strong Crew

One of the key discussions of the meeting centered around research culture and how institutions can create an environment that fosters excellence, transparency, and collaboration. Nikola Kostlánová and Eliška Handlířová from CEITEC Masaryk University, set the tone for this conversation. The challenge, they explained, is ensuring that institutions not only strive for scientific excellence but also cultivate a supportive and structured evaluation culture, effective HR management, and sustainable research practices.

To navigate this course, institutions rely on external guidance and internal development. The International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB) acts as the navigation officers, helping institutions assess their research performance through external evaluations. Some organizations within the alliance have already embraced this process and benefited from independent assessments, while others are just beginning to understand the value of international scientific evaluation. Regardless of their starting point, the meeting underscored that learning from each other’s experiences can accelerate progress and create a more standardized approach to research assessment across the region.

But strong leadership and governance alone are not enough—an institution can only thrive if its people do. That is where the HR professionals within Alliance4Life come in, acting as the first mates who ensure that researchers, administrators, and leadership teams operate under clear, fair, and effective career development policies. The discussion focused on best practices in hiring, leadership, diversity, and talent retention, emphasizing that the HR Award process has become a critical framework for improving working conditions within research institutions. Just like a well-managed crew makes all the difference in a ship’s journey, well-supported researchers are the foundation of any successful research organization.

Sustainability was another major theme, both in terms of scientific culture and environmental responsibility. Every research institution today must consider how to minimize its environmental footprint, and Green Lab Strategies play a crucial role in achieving that goal. The sustainability officers, much like those responsible for managing the ship’s resources on a long journey, ensure that research institutions adopt environmentally friendly practices, making laboratories more efficient, reducing waste, and promoting responsible resource management. By exchanging experiences and best practices, institutions across the alliance can take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable research environment.

The discussions in this session highlighted a shared understanding: scientific excellence is not just about results—it’s about creating the right conditions for success. Whether through strong evaluation mechanisms, effective HR management, or sustainable research practices, every institution in Alliance4Life plays a role in shaping a culture that supports both high-quality science and the well-being of those who conduct it.

A New Web Platform: Upgrading Our Ship for a Smoother Voyage

Every successful journey requires not only a strong crew but also the right tools to navigate effectively. In the case of Alliance4Life, this tool is the newly redesigned web platform, developed as part of WP3 under the leadership of CEITEC Masaryk University. Much like a ship receiving a fresh coat of paint before setting sail, the Alliance’s website has been completely modernized—not just in appearance, but in functionality, accessibility, and purpose.

The platform now serves as the central communication hub for project partners, ensuring seamless coordination across institutions. It provides a structured space where researchers, administrators, and institutional leaders can stay informed about ongoing activities, access key documents, and collaborate more effectively. A well-maintained ship makes for a smoother voyage, and this upgraded digital infrastructure ensures that every member of the Alliance has the tools they need to navigate the project efficiently.

Beyond internal communication, the website is also the bridge that connects Alliance4Life with the outside world. By enhancing the visibility of the project’s activities, it strengthens engagement with external stakeholders, policymakers, industry partners, and the broader scientific community. Whether through project updates, success stories, or public reports, the website ensures that the impact of Alliance4Life extends beyond its member institutions and contributes to the broader European research landscape.

Just as every great expedition relies on clear navigation and strong communication, the new platform provides a compass for the Alliance’s journey ahead. With this digital transformation, Alliance4Life is not only improving internal collaboration but also reinforcing its presence on the international stage—ensuring that its achievements, expertise, and best practices reach the right audiences and drive meaningful change in the research ecosystem.

Strengthening the Crew: Mentorship as the Anchor for Growth

Every successful voyage depends not only on a sturdy ship but also on a well-prepared and well-supported crew. Without proper training and guidance, even the most promising sailors can struggle to navigate the open sea. This principle holds true for research institutions as well—early-career scientists need mentorship and guidance to grow into leaders in their fields.

Recognizing this need, WP4, led by Filip Sedlic from the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, introduced a structured mentorship model designed to ensure that senior researchers support and guide PhD candidates and junior scientists as they navigate their academic careers. Just as seasoned captains pass down their navigational skills to younger sailors, experienced scientists will help the next generation avoid common mistakes, gain essential skills, and integrate into the international research community.

Mentorship, however, is not just about guidance—it is about creating a culture of knowledge-sharing, professional development, and academic integrity. The new mentorship model will foster relationships that go beyond individual projects, building a stronger and more resilient research workforce across the Alliance. By embedding mentorship into institutional structures, Alliance4Life ensures that its crew members are not only prepared for the journey ahead but are also capable of mentoring the next generation in turn, strengthening the alliance for years to come.

Coordinated Navigation: Setting a Common Course for Joint Research

A ship’s journey is most successful when its crew works together, each member fulfilling their role to ensure smooth sailing. WP5, led by Sergej Pirkmajer from the University of Ljubljana, focuses on strengthening scientific collaboration through the establishment of the Virtual Research Center (VRC)—a space where institutions can align their research efforts, share expertise, and work together toward common scientific goals.

The VRC is designed to function as an interactive hub, much like the coordination center of a large fleet. Within this structure, different research departments operate like specialized teams on a ship, each contributing unique skills and expertise while working toward the same overarching mission. By eliminating redundancy, fostering collaboration, and ensuring resource-sharing, the alliance is setting a course toward a more efficient and impactful research environment.

Beyond its internal coordination, the VRC will extend its reach to external stakeholders, mapping patient associations, research networks, and industry collaborators to ensure that scientific discoveries address real-world needs. This proactive approach ensures that institutions are not just working in isolation, but actively engaging with key partners to maximize the impact of their research.

With a clear navigation plan and a united crew, Alliance4Life is creating a framework that will allow research institutions to explore new frontiers, tackle shared challenges, and make groundbreaking discoveries together.

Unlocking New Horizons: Data as the Compass for Future Research

Just as ancient mariners relied on maps and stars to navigate, modern scientific institutions depend on data to guide research and innovation. However, data access in CEE remains fragmented and inconsistent, limiting the ability of institutions to fully leverage clinical research and technological advancements.

WP10, led by Michal Janota from ICRC, is tackling this challenge head-on by introducing the Data Availability Map—a comprehensive tool to assess how institutions access, manage, and share clinical data. By identifying gaps in data availability, as well as the legal and technical barriers that hinder research, the initiative is working to pave the way for AI-powered health research and prepare institutions for Horizon Europe HEALTH calls.

Beyond mapping availability, this work package also aims to foster a culture of responsible data sharing and compliance with FAIR principles. Just as sailors must learn to read the stars accurately, researchers must have clear guidelines and standardized frameworks for handling data ethically and efficiently. The initiative will enable institutions to form stronger research consortia, linking academia, industry, and commercial partners in ways that drive more effective and impactful scientific discoveries.

By removing obstacles and unlocking the full potential of data, Alliance4Life is ensuring that researchers have the right tools to navigate the complex seas of modern science and accelerate progress in healthcare and biotechnology.

Technology Transfer: Transforming Research into Real-World Impact

A ship’s journey is not only about exploration but also about trade and exchange—bringing valuable discoveries to new destinations. Similarly, research must not remain confined to academic papers but must translate into tangible innovations that benefit society.

WP11, led by Kinga Zel from the Medical University of Lodz, is focused on technology transfer opportunities, ensuring that research findings can reach industry partners, biotech companies, and start-ups where they can have real-world applications. The initiative includes mapping internal expertise, training researchers in technology transfer (TT), and identifying valuable research assets that could be leveraged for collaboration.

A publicly accessible database of unique research assets will be created, allowing potential industry partners to easily explore opportunities for licensing, commercialization, and partnerships. In addition, the team will work on mapping potential TT partners, including biotech firms, clinical trial units, and start-ups, to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

By building sustainable trade routes for research results, this initiative ensures that discoveries made within Alliance4Life do not remain anchored in academic institutions but instead reach the market, where they can create real-world impact.

Looking Ahead: A United Research Community Charting New Waters

The Alliance4Life Community Meeting 2025 reaffirmed the collective strength of the alliance and the commitment of its members to driving institutional change, fostering collaboration, and unlocking new scientific opportunities. Work package leaders presented their progress and outlined the key actions planned for the upcoming year, ensuring all members were informed and aligned on next steps.

The agenda also included the Alliance4Life Board Meeting, attended by directors, key representatives from all member institutions, and work package leaders. The board members concluded that the project is being implemented in accordance with the project plan and remains fully aligned with the funding body's requirements. With a clear roadmap, a skilled and dedicated crew, and powerful new tools, Alliance4Life is well-positioned to navigate the evolving research landscape and strengthen collaboration across the CEE region. With the course set and the crew aligned, the alliance is ready to sail into the future—stronger, more connected, and more impactful than ever before!