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EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
José Luis Ayuso Mateos (G03) European Programmes and International Relations Area Coordinator
Description
The European Programmes and International Relations Area of CIBER works closely with other areas and programmes to promote the participation of its researchers in international projects and initiatives and in the development of specific actions for exposing and promoting the international presence of CIBERSAM .
In recent years, the CIBER has already reached a leadership position in the filed of psychiatry both in Spain and abroad . In 2014, the main objective has been to establish and maintain contacts with institutions of the European Commission, not only by submitting proposals and collaborating in international consortiums, but also by advocating for international calls for proposals in the CIBERSAM priority research areas . Furthermore, and as a result of the international recognition achieved by CIBERSAM, the attempt has been made to increase participation of the CIBER in outside of Europe programmes .
Objectives
• To enhance CIBERSAM group participation in calls for proposals for European and international projects, offering support to groups that want to embark on such initiatives .
• To encourage CIBERSAM researchers to coordinate European projects . • To establish contacts with the authorities involved in funding mental health research in Europe
and abroad to stimulate the creation of calls for proposals in the CIBERSAM priority research areas .
Summary of 2014 Activities
In 2014, the Mental Health CIBER has reinforced its participation in the international research community of excellence . In 2014 the first proposals were submitted for the new European programme, Horizon 2020 . Furthermore, the participation in calls for proposals outside of Europe, particularly in the USA has been in- creased, and by means of its calls for proposals in intramural projects, the CIBER has funded in 2014 the par- ticipation of 4 groups in a non-commercial European clinical trial on new intervention strategies in bipolar disorder - MEMAP - aimed at proving the efficacy of methylphenidate (stimulant) in the control of the acute mania symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder . Four CIBERSAM groups participated in collaboration with groups from Germany and Belgium .
Even more worth highlighting is the increase in synergies with international reference institutions in the field of health, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the United States, which is an indication of the international positioning that has been achieved .
The main results of these actions obtained in 2014 were:
28 CIBERSAM » Annual report 2014