Title of the project: INANTRO_Connect – Building Bridges for Excellence in Multi-Omics

Principal investigator: Ass. Prof. Mario Lovrić, PhD

Duration: 15 March 2026 – 14 March 2027

Project team:
Andrijana Meščić Macan
Nina Karlović
Iva Šunić
Anja Bošnjaković
Jelena Šarac
Dubravka Havaš Auguštin
Morana Jarec
Irena Polić
Lana Žoldoš

Summary:

INANTRO_Connect has three main objectives. The first objective is to use networking activities to build two international consortia, co-create two strong project proposals, and apply for funding under Horizon Europe. The second objective (OB2) is to enhance the capacity of researchers at the Institute for Anthropological Research (INANTRO) to submit future international projects. The third objective is to increase the visibility and utilization of INANTRO’s research infrastructure both nationally and internationally. These objectives will be achieved through the implementation of five project activities: A1. Building two consortia and co-creating two project proposals for Horizon Europe calls; A2. Preliminary research to boost competitiveness in OMICS analysis and bioinformatics; A3. Institutional capacity building and skills development; A4. Showcasing research infrastructure potential, and A5. Project management. The expected results of INANTRO_Connect include the use of networking activities (3 conferences, brokerage events, organized events) to build two international consortia. To ensure that scientific excellence is combined with real-world relevance, at least one SMEs and one public health organization will be included in the first consortium. The project proposals for the Horizon Europe call will be strengthened by preliminary multi-omics research (metabolome/microbiome) and external expert review. Through participation in workshops, two secondments, and the organization of four workshops at INANTRO, INANTRO_Connect will build the capacity of researchers in project acquisition, proposal writing, budgeting, project management, open science practices in Horizon Europe, and translation of research into innovation and value .The organization of events (INANTRO_OpenDay, Demonstration Sessions, Lab Tours), together with project and infrastructure promotion on social media (LinkedIn, INANTRO website), as well as the development of promotional materials and a promotional video highlighting INANTRO’s facilities, researchers, and projects, will help attract external researchers to conduct their work using INANTRO’s infrastructure. This will also attract students and postdocs to carry out their research and diploma theses at INANTRO. INANTRO researchers will strengthen their skills in getting funding and project management, expand network of partners for future projects, and increase scientific excellence. Outside institutions will benefit from joint research, access to INANTRO facilities, knowledge exchange, and opportunities for collaboration. Future academics and students will benefit from the opportunity to conduct their thesis work and research on INANTRO infrastructure, while trained INANTRO researchers will contribute to academic teaching and mentorship, integrating their knowledge into educational programs. If the project proposals submitted to the Horizon Europe calls are granted, research on innovative multi-omics and digital tools to prevent NCDs and support long-term health will have a positive impact on society. Policymakers will receive evidence-based strategies for better planning and NCD prevention. Altogether, through these results, INANTRO_Connect will generate outcomes that will positively impact institutional capacity, build collaborations, better position INANTRO for successful participation in future Horizon Europe calls, increase the number of projects in which the Institute is a coordinator or participant, enhance the utilization of research infrastructure, and increase the visibility of INANTRO’s capabilities at both national and international levels. By boosting INANTRO’s participation and leadership in Horizon Europe proposals, the project will help reduce the RDI gap between Croatia and more research-intensive EU countries. Better use of advanced research infrastructure and increased visibility will support Croatia’s Smart Specialization Strategy and align with Horizon Europe priorities in health, innovation, and capacity building.