Smoke from forest fires and biomass burning can remain in the atmosphere for weeks, traveling thousands of kilometers and affecting climate, public health and ecosystems far away from its source. The climate crisis is increasing the frequency, intensity and impacts from fires globally, which further accelerates climate change and creates crises in public health and ecosystems. The Weather Channel scientific editor Ally Hirschlag wrote an article in BBC and discussed with the affiliated researcher of ICE-HT/FORTH prof. Athanasios Nenes on the effects of wilfires, including results from his ERC project PyroTRACH hosted by the Institute and C-STACC.

The findings of the study, published yesterday in the premier international scientific journal Nature Communications, reveal a novel molecular mechanism underlying the detrimental effects of uncontrolled mitophagy on neuronal survival that contributes to the development and progression of Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA).

The European project NANOPOLY (FETOPEN 2019 – 2022) that runs in the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) of the Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH) has been awarded a “Key innovator” distinction by the European “Innovation Radar” https://www.innoradar.eu/resultbykeyword/nanopoly)

Supercomputers and large Datacenters constitute basic infrastructure of strategic importance in modern society. Among the many sectors that they support, it suffices to mention the search for drugs against covid-19, and the fact that applications like gov.gr and global-scale teleconferencing, teleworking, and on-line education all run on large Datacenters. Recognizing the strategic importance of these High Performance Computing (HPC) technologies, the European Union has been funding related research, and has recently created the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (JU) with a 1 billion Euro budget.

In July 1st 2020, the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) was officially accepted as an Associate Member of EU-LIFE. EU-LIFE is an alliance of leading European research institutes in the life sciences with a mission to promote excellence in research, by implementing and disseminating best practices in the organization and operation of scientific establishments. Its members operate with similar principles of excellence, external reviews, independence, competitiveness and internationality.

Nektarios Tavernarakis, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), and Professor at the Medical School of the University of Crete, was elected Member of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Governing Board.

A pioneering research study by researchers at the Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology of FORTH and the University of Crete suggests the development of neuroimplants for the regeneration of nerve tissue in cases of spinal cord injury. The materials and cells used are non-toxic for humans, and approved from FDA for their immediate translation in humans.

A new emblematic initiative, the National Network for Neurodegenerative Disease Research towards Precision Medicine, commences its operation in Greece. This flagship initiative positions Greece at the forefront of neurodegeneration and ageing research, with initial funding of € 2.2 million, over a two-year implementation period, provided by the Ministry of Development and Investments, through the General Secretariat for Research and Technology. The pioneering Network comprises leading National Research Centers and Universities, and is coordinated by the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) as co-coordinator.

Dr. Spiros H. Anastasiadis, professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Crete and Director of the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, was elected a Member of the Evaluation and Accreditation Council of the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE, www.ethaae.gr).

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, still grows rapidly. A recent study published as a preprint manuscript in BioRxiv by researchers from FORTH-ICS, FORTH-IMBB and the University of Western Attica, provides new insights into the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus.