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Embracing & Leveraging the Digital Era

Deploying transformative methods and tools is paramount for advancing healthcare research and clinical practice. FMHS researchers and units are encouraged to explore partnerships with the IT industry to develop innovative analytical and technological solutions for both discovery research and clinical applications. Emphasizing patient empowerment, we aim to integrate electronic health records with digital portals, wearable devices, and smartphone apps. These tools will not only facilitate patient access to clinical data but also support personalized wellness strategies. Spearheaded by a newly-funded FRQS network in Digital Health, these initiatives promise to both transform patient care and deliver new and powerful research methodologies.

The federation of data and knowledge enabled by information technology, alongside the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and data science towards generative models and tools, is set to transform healthcare. This digital evolution presents new technological and ethical challenges. The growing precision and volume of "omics" data are pivotal for generating large-scale biological datasets, turning each patient into a significant data source. These developments enable analyses of health and disease determinants with unprecedented sensitivity and specificity. FMHS, in collaboration with its affiliated hospitals, is poised to leverage these advancements to enhance research and clinical outcomes.

Moreover, realizing the potential of multi-dimensional data necessitates active research in computational methods. This includes a broad array of disciplines such as applied mathematics, computational biology, engineering, and computer science. UUÖ±²¥'s longstanding expertise in these areas, bolstered by initiatives like the Strategic Initiative in Computational Medicine and the Quantitative Life Sciences graduate program, underscores our commitment to innovation. Focus areas include mathematical and statistical modeling, multivariate analytics, and dynamical systems theory, addressing various scales from individual biological systems to population health.

A Stronger Research Infrastructure

FMHS appreciates the importance of core facilities in advancing research. These facilities are essential in providing cutting-edge technology, services, and expertise to our research community. These facilities also support the University's teaching mission by providing UUÖ±²¥ undergraduate and graduate students with access to advanced technologies and shared resources, facilitating hands-on learning and research experiences. However, sustaining the operations of these facilities poses significant challenges, in terms of financial and human resources – an issue experienced by all research-intensive academic institutions.

FMHS has made strides in securing more sustainable funding for core facilities in 2024, yet the resources remain insufficient. The Faculty will continue to work towards an appropriate business model, including by implementing an integrated system for improved management through professional software, to bolster the operational efficiency of these essential resources. Although the need for increased central funding is apparent, financial enhancements alone may not suffice. The Faculty is committed to working with all stakeholders to reassess the organization and promotion of core facilities, aiming to extend their reach within UUÖ±²¥ and to a greater number of potential external partners, enhancing their visibility and impact.

An integral part of enhancing our core facilities' sustainability lies in recognizing and valuing the talents of specialized personnel and support staff who are the backbone of these operations. Developing and offering attractive, more permanent career options and paths is crucial for attracting and retaining this talent. Addressing this need involves creating a supportive environment that recognizes their contributions to research advancements and provides opportunities for professional growth and stability.

FMHS aims to set the stage for a future-ready research infrastructure that is both innovative and sustainable.

Recruitment and Retention of Talent

The recruitment of talented students and early-career investigators is crucial. Prioritizing both excellence in fundamental domains and interdisciplinary collaboration, as highlighted in the present Plan. We aim to integrate measures of success and potential to enhance our research priorities. Financial support for graduate students and postdocs remains a priority, complemented by the growth of existing and the development of new cross-disciplinary training programs such as IPN and QLS.

Supporting new faculty members as they establish their laboratories at FMHS and begin their independent careers is also important. FMHS will work to provide more competitive research start-up packages, including funding and space allocations, and equitable support programs to ensure that talented recruits thrive at UUÖ±²¥, contributing to collective success.

FMHS strategy in these areas

• Prioritizing Recruitment and Retention of Talent: A critical aspect of FMHS's strategy is the targeted recruitment of young investigators and the support for new faculty members through competitive research start-up packages and integrated training programs, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of cross-disciplinary training programs.
• Machine-Intelligence & Data Repositories for Biomedical and Healthcare Research: We will encourage advanced analytical and information technologies for both discovery research and clinical applications, emphasizing patient empowerment and partnership in both the research mission and the delivery of care through digital tools. We also acknowledge the transformational potential of artificial intelligence and data science in healthcare, emphasizing the need for research and training in computational methods to unlock novel insights from large-scale biological and healthcare datasets.
• Digital Health: We continue to embrace digital health initiatives, highlighted by the recent establishment of a FRQS-funded network in Digital Health led by FMHS researchers. This underscores the commitment to spearheading initiatives that leverage digital solutions for improved patient care and research methodologies.
• Interdisciplinary Bioengineering Translational Efforts: The FMHS will focus on developing novel therapeutics and biomedical devices, including advancements in person-specific stem cell engineering and bioengineering, with encouragements towards commercialization and clinical translation.
• Funding for Research Infrastructure: We continue to advocate for and secure increased funding from the University's central administration to ensure the long-term sustainability of core facilities.
• Restructuring for Efficiency: We plan to evaluate the current organization of core facilities to identify potential efficiencies across disciplines and technologies to optimize resources and services. For instance:
  • Imaging & Microscopy
  • Genomics & Bioinformatics
  • Disease and Other in-vivo Models
  • Cellular & Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology & Biochemistry
  • Data repositories & Biobanks
• Career Development for Platform Staff: The FMHS plans to implement career development programs for core facility staff, offering clear career paths and professional growth opportunities. This could include training programs, leadership development, and pathways to permanent positions, underscoring the value of their expertise to the institution.