10.2 Summary in English for general dissemination purposes CIBIT is based at ICNAS, University of Coimbra which hosts an infrastructure of the National Roadmap, implemented after international evaluation. Our Research Unit – previously integrated in CNC.IBILI with international panel evaluation of Excellent - features a fully translational biomedical research effort, from design of new molecular probes to human imaging of structure, chemistry and function with a focus on the human brain and biomarker research. ICNAS integrates multimodal facilities from Molecular Imaging using locally produced (in-house Cyclotron) probes to MR Imaging. We represent the Medical Imaging Branch of EU funded EuroBioimaging Network. Our mission includes basic, translational research and development and exploitation of new imaging Technologies driving development of and/or access to state-of-the-art imaging and physiological instrumentation (MRI, EEG, TMS, PET, CT, fNIR (and combined modalities). Our leadership of initiatives such as the Brain Imaging Network are instrumental for the national scientific development and we focus on Clinical Neuroscience and Biomarker development approaches.. Our participation in the National Roadmap, approved after international evaluation, is justified by the large set of modalities involved (Cyclotron with 11C Radiochemistry for Molecular Imaging, PET/CT, SPECT, 3T MR, TMS, fNIR) all centralized at our central facility at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. The range of our activities cover all the Medical Imaging workpackages of Eurobioimaging, from translational research using Molecular and Functional Imaging techniques to basic and clinical research in neuroscience, including clinical trials in areas where functional and molecular imaging biomarkers are criticial (in neuroscience, cardiology and oncology). The level of complementarity is very high also because of our specialized radiochemistry Unit that can synthesize new compounds for molecular imaging in humans (and animals), using several tracers including 11C. Moreover we have also the possibility of programming new MR imaging approaches taking advantage of the research collaboration with Siemens and interactions with centres such as John Hopkins Hospital, The Martinos Centre at Harvard Medical School and others. We share patient databases of a few hundred subjects (including Neurodevelopmental disorders and Alzheimer’s Disease, with several imaging modalities). We do have several running clinical trial contracts, investigator driven trials and have research agreements with the industry. 10.3 Summary in English for evaluation Our Research Unit represents the largest medical imaging center in Portugal and has technical and scientific relevance at the European scale. Our Program focuses on the scientific and technical strengths of the team, and is built on three main pillars, which are justified by the productivity that was already achieved in the first years of operation of this infrastructure and previous integration of the Unit CNC.IBILI. These pillars include Molecular and Functional Imaging, Neuroscience and Radiomics/Medical Imaging. The Neurosciences thematic line will aim at scientific production along 5 Themes: 1. Normal Ageing: Cognitive Models and Neuroimaging 2. Neurodegenerative Disorders with a focus of mechanisms of disease, impaired neurotransmission and neurophysiology 3. Neurodevelopmental Disorders with a similar focus on multimodal explanatory approaches 4. Cortical plasticity in the maturing and adult brain: implications for neurorehabilitation 5. Neuropsychiatric disorders, with a focus on decision making and cognitive control. The Radiomics Pillar will contribute with data integration, modelling and classification. This expertise crosses several disciplines in biomarker development, given its generality. Two obvious fields of application beyond clinical neuroscience are cardiovascular science (because of its common links with functional imaging) and oncologic imaging (given its multimodal nature). The Functional and Molecular Imaging Pillar serves as the base anchor for the other 2 pillars. By leading the National Imaging infrastructure of the National Roadmap, implemented after international evaluation our Research Unit iniquely features a fully translational biomedical research effort, from design of new molecular probes to human imaging of structure, chemistry and function. We have mainly addressed the human brain, and more recently also the cardiovascular system and areas related to radiomics and biomarker research where molecule to man and functional approaches are mostly needed. We integrate multimodal facilities from Molecular Imaging using locally produced (in-house Cyclotron) probes to MR Imaging and represent the Medical Imaging Branch of EU funded EuroBioimaging Network. Our mission includes developing and exploiting new imaging Technologies driving development of and access to state-of-the-art imaging and physiological instrumentation. Our strategy is justified by the large set of modalities involved (Cyclotron with 11C Radiochemistry for Molecular Imaging, PET/CT, SPECT, 3T MR, EEG, TMS, fNIR) all centralized at our central facility at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. The range of our activities cover all the Medical Imaging workpackages of Eurobioimaging, from translational research using Molecular and Functional Imaging techniques to basic and clinical research in neuroscience, including clinical trials. The level of complementarity is very high also because of our specialized radiochemistry Unit that can synthesize new compounds for molecular imaging in humans (and animals), using several tracers including 11C. Moreover we have also the possibility of programming new MR imaging approaches taking advantage of the research collaboration with Siemens and interactions with centres such as John Hopkins Hospital, The Martinos Centre at Harvard Medical School and others. We share patient databases of a few hundred subjects (including Neurodevelopmental disorders and Alzheimer’s Disease, with several imaging modalities). In the case of other diffuse multi-organ processes such as inflammation the approach using advanced textural analysis and new metabolic imaging (collaboration with U. of Oxford) is being developed in order to achieve earlier detection and quantification. We do already have several running clinical trial contracts, multiple investigator initiated trials and have research agreements with the industry and plan to further develop this translational strategy in the next 5 years. Given the already established scientific and technological expertise and infrastructure necessary for operation of the PhD training program and the number of peer reviewed articles within the scope of national and international collaborations, we believe that we have a solid strategy with clearcut goals. This program is supported by collaborations with top International Research Centres some of the most important World Companies in the fields of medical and molecular imaging and we will continue promoting qualified job opportunities through adequate scientific and technical training. The potential for incorporating generated knowledge in companies and other institutions is substantial, as also substantiated by the several achieved patents (in the areas of algorithm development, medical devices and radiopharmaceuticals). Based on human imaging we aim to implement solid data-mining biomedical approaches that will have a sizable impact in the development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets. We hold and aim to extend already existing clinical trial contracts and investigator own trials. This ensures sustainability and broadening of the scientific scope. We have expertise in radiological protection, safety and dosimetric issues in the medical applications of ionizing radiation. We also hold all the regulatory expertise for the clinical and pre-clinical use of radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals and medical imaging procedures. Aside from hosting the national core infrastructure of the brain imaging network we began distribution our own formulations in 2012 and quickly became the market leader supplying 80% of the country's active PET scanners in 2012. We now started also with clinical research molecular imaging probes. This provides tight coupling between research and services to the community and promotes sustainability. O CIBIT, é uma unidade de investigação sediada no Instituto de Ciências Nucleares Aplicadas à Saúde (ICNAS), Universidade de Coimbra, onde está localizada uma infraestrutura central de investigação e que obteve financiamento no âmbito do programa Nacional de Reequipamento Científico após avaliação internacional. Constitui um eixo de liderança nacional na Imagem Médica, que nos exercícios de avaliação anteriores em que os seus membros estão integrados obteve a classificação de Excelente nas três últimas avaliações por painel internacional nomeado pela FCT. Representa ainda Portugal na Área de Medical Imaging do Eurobioimaging. Desenvolve investigação translacional, “da molécula ao homem” desde as vertentes de produção de novas moléculas (ciclotrão e radiofarmácia) de imagem molecular e multimodal, em combinação com técnicas fisiológicas. O CIBIT pretende focar a sua massa crítica na investigação de translação incluindo imagiologia animal e humana in vivo, tanto nas vertentes de imagem molecular e metabólica (PET, SPECT, Ressonância Magnética de Espectroscopia, Imagiologia óptica de Fluorescência e Bioluminescência), como nas vertentes estrutural (Ressonância Magnética) e funcional (PET, SPECT, FNRI, fMRI, EEG). As áreas científicas chave de aplicação são as neurociências humanas, e aquelas áreas da biomedicina que envolvem desenvolvimento e validação de biomarcadores funcionais e/ou moleculares. Estas envolvem “know-how” em áreas como a Física, Química, Farmácia, Biomedicina, Instrumentação (com ênfase no desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias de imagem médica) e ainda Bioestatística. Dado a forte ênfase nas técnicas de imagem molecular e functional, a validação de biomarcadores inclui as neurociências clínicas mas outras a vertentes associadas à imagem médica, como os estudos funcionais em cardiologia, moleculares em oncologia e doenças sistémicas como a diabetes, que envolve o cérebro e o sistema cardiovascular, e em que os estudos centrados no acoplamento neurovascular e na permeabilidade da barreira hematoencefálica têm muito relevo. Pretendemos ainda continuar a desenvolver investigação e desenvolvimento em relação com o tecido empresarial (investigação relacionada com o desenvolvimento de novas moléculas de diagnóstico, descoberta de alvos terapêuticos e novos fármacos). Continuaremos a promover a capacidade instalada de realizar investigação que vai desde o desenvolvimento de novas moléculas para estudos multimodais de imagem molecular e funcional e os ensaios terapêuticos em doentes. Todo este ciclo de Investigação translacional é bem indicativo da importância deste centro e da infraestrutura em que se ancora para o programa Europeu EuroBioimaging, de que representa o pilar de Imagem Médica e as Redes Europeias de Investigação Clínica de que somos membros.