HDHL-INTIMIC

HDHL-INTIMIC (INtesTInal MICrobiomics) is the 2nd ERA-Net Cofund dedicated to the JPI-HDHL. It aims to coordinate national and regional programmes in the area of diet, intestinal microbiomics and health as well as nutrition and health in general, thereby contributing to the implementation of JPI HDHL objectives.

HDHL-INTIMIC builds further on the Joint Action Intestinal Microbiomics (IM) and aims to combine and strengthen efforts to support research and implement a transnational Knowledge Platform on the interrelation of the intestinal microbiome, diet and health. There is increasing scientific evidence that the intestinal microbiome and its composition greatly influence metabolic processes and thereby affecting the onset and development of lifestyle-related diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms of these interrelations are still largely unknown.

Fourteen funding organisations from nine JPI HDHL partner countries therefore combine their efforts to fund excellent research projects and support the establishment of a transnational and transdisciplinary Knowledge Platform. The overall aim of HDHL-INTIMIC is to build a solid knowledge base for the development of new strategies and products for health promotion and prevention of chronic diseases through diet-dependent modulation of the intestinal microbiome. A joint transnational call on the "Interrelation of the Intestinal Microbiome, Diet and Health" cofunded by the European Union was launched on the 26th of January 2017. This call aimed on gaining knowledge on the basic understanding of the gut microbiome and it's causal relation to health, the impact of dietary components and strategies for preventive and therapeutic applications.

Complementary to this research call, a comprehensive "Knowledge Platform for Intestinal Microbiomics, Diet and Health" will be implemented as an additional networking action. It is aimed to support networking between research consortia funded under HDHL-INTIMIC as well as the ones funded through previous joint actions such as "Intestional Microbiomics" (IM) or other relevant initiatives. It will be open to scientists from all relevant disciplines as well as stakeholders and will aim at fostering cooperation in order to facilitate knowledge sharing and method standardisation.

In addition, the INTIMIC coordination unit at DLR-PT, Germany, represents JPI HDHL in the CSA “MicrobiomeSupport - Towards coordinated microbiome R&I activities in the food system to support (EU and) international bioeconomy goals” that runs from November 2018 until October 2022.
In the MicrobiomeSupport consortium, JPI HDHL is a member of the “Funding & Policy Advisory Group” and DLR-PT is task leader for task 3.1 “Exploration of existing tools (Knowledge Platforms etc.) to foster transnational and multidisciplinary collaborations and networking on microbiomes research”.

HDHL-INTIMIC runs for a period of five years from December 2016 to November 2021, HDHL-INTIMIC factsheet can be downloaded here.

NCU: Network Coordination Unit

The NCU is the intermediary between the Consortium and the EC and is responsible for the overall coordination of the HDHL-INTIMIC Action. It is composed of the coordinating officer, two project managers and a financial and administrative project officer , located at the Project Management Agency of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR-PT).

NSC: Network Steering Committee

The NSC is the highest body responsible for the execution of the HDHL-INTIMIC Action. It is composed of one representative from each HDHL-INTIMIC partner organisation.

EB: Executive Board

It is composed of one representative from each ERA-HDHL partner organization.

EB: Executive Board

The EB is the general executive body of the consortium and oversees the timely execution of all work packages. It is composed of the work package leaders and the NCU.

CSC: Call steering committee

It is formed for each joint call and composed of those NSC members taking part in the joint call ("variable geometry" principle), and additional partners outside the consortium which may join the calls. The CSC makes all decisions related to the implementation of the calls, including the scoping of the call, the evaluation process and monitoring of funded projects.

JCS: Joint Call Secretariat / JFAS: Joint Funding Action secretariat

The JCS/JFAS serves as a central contact point for applicants, evaluators and funders for the cofunded call or for the additional Joint Funding Activities. The JCS/JFAS is the central contact point for all joint call activities.

SEC: Scientific evaluation committee

The SEC is a panel of internationally recognised scientific experts without conflict of interest, who are responsible for the evaluation of submitted proposals.

Cofunded call

• HDHL-INTIMIC (2017)

Additional call

• HDHL-INTIMIC (2019)

• HDHL-INTIMIC (2018)

General documents

• Factsheet ‘ERA-NET Cofund HDHL-INTIMIC’
• Factsheet ‘HDHL-INTIMIC: Cofunded call on intestinal microbiomics’
• Factsheet ‘HDHL-INTIMIC Knowledge Platform’ (JFA1)
• Factsheet ‘HDHL-INTIMIC METADIS’ (JFA2)
• MicrobiomeSupport: Harmonising Microbiome Research Methods & Funding Worldwide

Public Deliverables to EC

• Deliverable 4.1 ‘Statistical analysis report of the cofunded call results’
• Deliverable 7.3 ‘Report on participation in the additional JFAs’