Abstract:

International Clinical Research Center (ICRC) as an integral part of St. Anne´s University Hospital Brno (Czech Republic) represents a European center of excellence in medical research primary focused on cardiovascular and neurological diseases. It integrates four principle parts:

- science and research center of a new generation based on flexible laboratories and dynamic research teams,
- top quality health care facility providing diagnostics, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and neurological diseases,
- international educational center,
- technology transfer center, creating excellent conditions for collaboration with industry and facilitating transfer of research results to practice.

The center collaborates with strategic partner Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA, many international partners (University of Minnesota, University College London, etc.) and with variety of partners in the Czech Republic (Brno University of Technology, Technical University in Prague, Institute of Biophysics AS CR etc.). ICRC is currently employing more than 400 employees, approximately 350 specialists is operating in 17 international research teams.

In the Czech Republic the research is not the part of the formal education and there is a lack of scientific preparation of undergraduate students. ICRC provides accessible and continuous informal education in the field of research and research support. The main goal is to ensure quality human resources and perform a first-rate research to ensure strong position of ICRC in a global competition.

Performing the educational projects called ICRC Human Bridge - Young Talent Incubator I, II and III, is one of the tool, how to increase and support research activities of university students, junior and senior ICRC researchers.

Projects provide opportunities for the professional growth of young scientists by the way of high-quality research education. Each project lasts for 3 years in the period from 2011 till 2015 and is co-financed by the European Social Fund and the state budget of the Czech Republic through the Operational Programme Education for Competitiveness.

Key activities and outputs of the projects are: short and long-term study stay at ICRC partner institutions (participation in foreign research teams), organizing lectures conducted by world-known foreign experts (cardiovascular and neurological research topics, research skills), providing seminars, workshops and courses (eg. How to write a research paper, How to write research proposal, work with specific SW, biostatistical methods, How to apply for research grant, project management) and support of the participation in conferences (ensuring proof-reading, travel support, training in presentation skills).

Since 2011, 97 long and short term study stays were realized, 40 foreign experts visited ICRC and presented their research to students and researchers, 70 lectures and seminars were organized, and 24 employees of support team were trained in the project management according to International Project Management Association standards, 11 researchers participated in research conferences abroad and presented their results and the ICRC as a Center of excellence in the Central Europe.

These activities help the project participants to learn the new scientific methods, improve their research skills and to gain experience from being engaged in international research teams, and thus they increase the prestige of ICRC both at home and abroad.

Keywords:

Project, education, research, science, grants.