About us
Our Mission
The Alliance4Life Virtual Research Center (VRC) was established to strengthen scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange among leading health research institutions across Central and Eastern Europe. Our mission is to create a thriving scientific network that empowers researchers, accelerates innovation, and drives societal impact through collaborative health research initiatives.
🧑🔬 About becoming a member
The VRC is open to active scientists and researchers from Alliance4Life partner institutions. Members are expected to contribute by participating in discussions, engaging in collaborative projects, and attending events.
As the platform is currently in its alpha phase, early members will:
📢 Receive regular updates and newsletters featuring events, funding opportunities, and research resources.
🚀 Gain early access to the beta version of the VRC platform, helping to shape its future functionality and features.
Governance Structure
The VRC operates under a rotating directorship to ensure shared leadership and diversity of perspectives. The director is elected every three years by the Alliance4Life Board. The current VRC Director is Assoc. Prof. Sergej Pirkmajer from the University of Ljubljana, serving a term until 2028.
Each research department within the VRC also has a dedicated director, who is responsible for driving and organizing collaboration activities, such as webinars, mini-conferences, and collaborative grant proposals.
Evolving Research Focus
The VRC is designed to grow with the needs of its scientific community. If a member of Alliance4Life wishes to establish a new research department, they can submit a New Department Application Form available on the website. Upon approval by the Alliance4Life Board, the department will be officially established, and a director will be appointed to lead its collaborative efforts.
🌱 How to create a New Virtual Department
The VRC is designed to evolve with the needs of its researchers. If an important area of life sciences is not yet covered, members have the opportunity to establish a new Virtual Department.
Who can propose a new department?
New departments can be proposed by experienced researchers who are actively involved in one of the A4L partner institutions. This includes researchers with more than 10 years of experience after obtaining a PhD or those leading a major grant, such as an ERC grant.
If you meet these criteria and have a vision for a new department, your leadership can help shape the future of the VRC!
What responsibilities come with creating the department?
Creating a new department is not just about tasks—it’s about shaping the VRC itself. The departments are the VRC; they bring it to life and make collaboration possible. Key responsibilities include:
- Organizing webinars and virtual Journal Clubs for VRC members.
- Contributing to virtual mini-courses for PhD students.
- Participating in scientific meetings and advancing societal engagement.
- Identifying common research interests and fostering complementary expertise.
- Exploring collaborative projects and joint grant applications with other members.
- Contributing to the A4L_BRIDGE e-learning platform and supporting its mentorship and internship activities.
Through these activities, the department creates the community—connecting researchers, driving innovation, and ensuring VRC thrives as a dynamic and collaborative network.
How is a new deparment approved?
Each new department needs to be approved by the A4L board to ensure alignment with the network’s goals and maintain high-quality standards.
We will guide you through the process to ensure a smooth approval and integration into the VRC.