This institute encompasses the whole spectrum of expertise at USF, including the College of Arts and Science, the College of Engineering and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and others to be determined, in addition to USF Health. It will be based on close academic-industry partnerships. It will also be part of a wider effort in the State of Florida through partnerships with other universities such as the Universities of Florida and Miami, and it will establish a network of international partnerships. The strategy will be based on eight interlinked objectives:
1. Determining a strategy for USF and Moffitt Cancer Center and identifying research areas where we can be competitive
2. Recruitment of High-level scientists
3. Engaging the community and sharing expertise and projects; developing a scientific and medical strategy: we created the Microbiome Club as a first step of the USF Microbiomes Institute in identifying, engaging and pooling the work of talented investigators in this area and enabling them to share their viewpoints and needs. This is also the aim of the Microbiome Award (Annex x), which will provide seed funding for the early phases of novel, interdisciplinary projects involving several departments. The Microbiomes Initiative will also offer mentoring for junior investigators. It will work closely with the colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing as well as with undergraduate programs to provide effective training for early career scientists. The USF Microbiome Initiative will develop an effective strategy for communication and data sharing, with an online forum, joint workshops, mentoring and support for grant applications.
4. Strengthening technologies, infrastructure, expertise and coordination mechanisms.
5. Fostering entrepreneurship and partnerships with industry.
6. Fundraising.
7. Partnerships with universities in Florida.
8. International collaboration.
This microbiota and microbiome institute represents a major opportunity for USF, fully aligned with the USF System Research (2017-2021) Strategic Plan, ensuring that the university and the Moffitt Cancer Center play a key part in one of the most promising scientific and medical revolutions in recent times. It will also enable USF and Moffitt to pool the expertise of their colleges and departments, which will provide a solid basis for tackling other research challenges to come; it will strengthen cooperation between universities in Florida; and finally it will offer an excellent topic to help foster entrepreneurship and academic-industry partnerships in Tampa and Florida. This web site will allow to foster this initiative by providing all necessary information on its diff
DCU Number: 40.1750
