MediLS and the Institute of Biochemistry from Frankfurt Sign Cooperation Agreement

Today, a five-year scientific research cooperation agreement was signed at the Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences (MediLS) in Split between this institute and the Institute of Biochemistry “Johann Wolfgang Goethe” of the University of Frankfurt.

The purpose of the agreement, which aims to strengthen the scientific and technological foundations to encourage quality research activities at MediLS, was signed by the Vice President of the Frankfurt Institute, Werner Mueler-Esterl, and the Director of MediLS, Miroslav Radman.

Radman announced cooperation with the leading French public institute for health and medical research, INSERM, which has more than 350 laboratories across France. Representatives of this institute were present at today’s signing of the agreement, but they will sign the agreement later, although it was announced for today, as the institute is currently in the process of electing a new director.

MediLS and the Institute of Biochemistry “Johann Wolfgang Goethe” will establish scientific research cooperation through the exchange of university professors and scientists, other experts, and students, which will enable the science at the Split institute to be more competitive on a global scale, it was stated. The exchange of information and professional documentation, as well as the joint organization of scientific conferences and seminars, is also planned.

The signing of the agreement is a form of institutionalization of the previous cooperation between MediLS and the Frankfurt Institute, which opens numerous opportunities and funding for scientific work in Split, Radman said.

The Vice President of the Institute of Biochemistry in Frankfurt stated that the two institutes aim to establish a strong connection to pave the way for new scientific achievements through the exchange of people and ideas. This agreement allows Croatian scientists and students direct access to colleagues at the Medical Faculty in Frankfurt and other institutions that closely collaborate with the Institute of Biochemistry, the Max Planck Institute, and the Institute for Brain, Heart, and Lung Research.

During the previous cooperation with colleagues in Frankfurt, ten Croatian students had the opportunity to work and improve their skills in the laboratories there. Three of those students received job offers from prestigious European institutes based on their scientific work, which speaks volumes about the importance of this cooperation, as well as the talent of our young scientists who have the opportunity to continue working in Split, emphasized Ivan Đikić, head of the Tumor Molecular Biology Laboratory at MediLS and a professor at Goethe University.

He announced that next year his laboratory in Split will receive around half a million euros from international funding sources. “Our plan is for top scientists at MediLS to attract more than 70 percent of the funding needed for their work from competitive scientific funds,” he said.

Distinguished guests were also introduced to the work and results of MediLS’s laboratories, primarily focusing on two key projects – the genetics of death in yeast and life under extreme conditions, which form the basis of the cooperation between MediLS and INSERM. (Hina)