Discovering newest and enhanced forms to analyse and treat cancer is among the top national and international priorities (e.g. HEurope’s Mission on Cancer; Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan). PREDICTOS focus on the enhancement of the scientific and innovation excellence of CDRSP-PL (widening partner, PT) aiming at the exploration and development of innovative solutions for an improved treatment of osteosarcoma (OS) (the tumour that most affects the youngest, with lower cure success). By cooperating with three leading institutions (CNR, IT; MERLN, NL; ULIEGE, BE), this project will encompass various knowledge sharing and capacity building activities (e.g., short staff exchanges for researchers and management/ administrative staff; networking events and meetings; training sessions; organization of workshops, summer/winter schools; coaching and mentoring sessions gathering senior and junior researchers; publication of scientific articles, and participation in conferences and general public’s events. Also, the consortium will collaborate in an exploratory research project for develop and test 3D in vitro and in silico models to mimic OS, generating knowledge on novel therapeutic strategies to eliminate cancer cells. PREDICTOS expects to benefit directly +400 senior and junior researchers and administrative staff from partners’ institutions, to involve +80 relevant stakeholders from Academia, Industry and Policy-Making in networking activities and to reach +10.000 individuals through dissemination and communication activities. PREDICTOS is, in this way, aligned with the expected outcomes and impacts from Twinning Call and Destination, contributing to bridge the research and innovation gap between the European entities, improve research management and administrative skills, raise entities reputation and research excellence, and stimulate institutions to join efforts and co-innovate and establish more strategic research approaches and cooperation.

Farmed seafood is an important source of protein for food and feeds with a low-carbon footprint which has an important role to play in helping to build a sustainable food system. A strategic and long-term approach for the sustainable growth of a resilient EU aquaculture is, therefore, more relevant today than ever. However, the efficient and cost-effective control of pathogens remains among the main challenges for the sector, particularly relevant for Europe, where there is a great variety of species and production systems, which hinders the implementation of good husbandry practices tailored to each aquatic species. Through active engagement with key stakeholders, Cure4Aqua aims to jointly improve the resilience of EU aquaculture under environmental, biological, and socio-economic stress, by improving aquatic animal health and welfare and supporting the environmentally friendly, inclusive, safe, and healthy production of seafood. Cure4Aqua will do so by 1) developing cost-effective vaccines to prevent disease caused by 5 pathogens of economic significance to EU aquaculture; 2) Identifying markers with diagnostic capacity to be integrated to selective breeding programs to improve stress and disease management; 3) Developing innovative, bio-based and sustainable solutions as an alternative to antibiotics for controlling fish pathogens at various life stages and alleviate the pressure of global antimicrobial resistance; 4) Developing new tools and technology to improve health and welfare monitoring at the fish farm level and diagnostics of fish pathogens both at the laboratory and the fish farm levels; 5) Placing fish welfare at the foreground of aquaculture production, through the development of high welfare standards that consider different life-stages, production systems, and knowledge of welfare needs, and 6) Ensuring effective external communication, dissemination and exploitation of project activities and results to all relevant target groups.