Large-scale Collaborative Research Projects Research Articles

Introduction to the Special Collection on The new roles of women and men and implications for families and societies

This is the introduction to a special collection of articles produced within a large-scale collaborative research project, FamiliesAndSocieties, funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme in 2013‒2017.

“Conspiracy theory”: The case for being critically receptive

“Conspiracy theory”: The case for being critically receptive

Large-Scale Collaborative Research Projects in Theatre and Performance Studies: Resources, Politics, and Ethics in the Margins of Europe during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Staging National Abjection: Theatre and Politics in Turkey and Its Diasporas is a research project funded by the European Research Council's Starting Grants program. Building on the initial insights of the project, the authors study collaboration as a performative process. They analyze the promises and risks involved in large-scale collaborative research projects and how they unfold in the context of Turkish academia and the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors examine how they manage their responsibilities to fellow members of their research team, to other members of Turkish academia, to the minoritarian communities they work with, and to the broader public who funds their research. Finally, they discuss how they work toward collective care and empowerment while negotiating the demands of globalized neoliberal academia as well as the oppressive sociopolitical environment in Turkey and explore the limits of their scholarly and ethical endeavors.

Buddhist Sculpture Studies of Hwang Su-young and Chin Hong-sup

When we look back on the accomplishments of Hwang Su-young and Chin Hong-sup on the 100th anniversary of their births, their achievements show where Korean art history began and how it arrived to the present. This study examines their works on Buddhist sculptures. Hwang and Chin’s early researches were mainly centred on excavation and analysis of primary sources, but their academic achievements thereafter are mesmerizing. They planned large-scale collaborative research projects, for example on the Silla Five Sacred Mountains and the Three Mountains of Gyeongju, to obtain more specific and specialized information on Buddhist sculptures, and continued further research. They also paid attention to inscriptions and written documents, collecting them for studies of sculptures. Their preliminary research were published into introductory surveys and catalogues that provided foundations for Buddhist sculpture studies. However, they recognized their limitations by stating that, “though we have written a history of sculptures, its main focus is on works from Three Kingdoms Dynasty and Unified Silla, and offers only brief introductions to major works. Research on Korea sculptures must begin from these preliminary writings and make progress over a long period of time.” Their works did not include dating by comparison with Chinese Buddhist sculptures or iconographical analysis, and though some interests were expressed about the sculptures of Goryeo and Joseon, they were not developed into full-depth research. This, of course, originates from the academic limitations of the time. They also took responsibilities in administrations for cultural heritage that includes Buddhist sculptures. In the 1960s, as the Korean society became more stable, Hwang and Chin took active parts in various works that were related to cultural heritages. Designated surveys for preservation, consultations for repair work, administrative works for museums, and improving public awareness of cultural heritage are some examples of their extensive endeavours. It is apparent that they felt a sense of duty towards their roles and worked with dedication. Moreover, these administrative works likely supported their academic competence as well. Two scholars’ area of expertise encompassed not only individual research but also publication, administrative works that contributed to the fast improvement of social understanding of cultural heritage-related studies. They were devoted scholars who carried out their duties that the era had put before them, the best they can, in their capacity and position. Their extensive field research is an example that today’s scholars must learn from above all else. Buddhist sculpture studies have made great progress and became specialized into specific fields, but tends to depend too heavily on historiography. Individual field research is vital but there are also opportunities such as designated surveys, catalogue compilation of National Treasure and Treasures, and research projects. As the age of major excavation or discovery are past, and as few Buddhist sculptures are designated for research, there are only few opportunities for first-hand experience for researchers. Today, national-scale compilation works are only made by some national institutions such as museums, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, and Buddhism-related research institutions. These projects are important processes through which young scholars can enhance their learning, meaning that more prolific research or compilation projects are needed.

Barriers and facilitators experienced in collaborative prospective research in orthopaedic oncology: A qualitative study.

ObjectivesAs tumours of bone and soft tissue are rare, multicentre prospective collaboration is essential for meaningful research and evidence-based advances in patient care. The aim of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators encountered in large-scale collaborative research by orthopaedic oncological surgeons involved or interested in prospective multicentre collaboration.MethodsAll surgeons who were involved, or had expressed an interest, in the ongoing Prophylactic Antibiotic Regimens in Tumour Surgery (PARITY) trial were invited to participate in a focus group to discuss their experiences with collaborative research in this area. The discussion was digitally recorded, transcribed and anonymised. The transcript was analysed qualitatively, using an analytic approach which aims to organise the data in the language of the participants with little theoretical interpretation.ResultsThe 13 surgeons who participated in the discussion represented orthopaedic oncology practices from seven countries (Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Denmark, United States and Canada). Four categories and associated themes emerged from the discussion: the need for collaboration in the field of orthopaedic oncology due to the rarity of the tumours and the need for high level evidence to guide treatment; motivational factors for participating in collaborative research including establishing proof of principle, learning opportunity, answering a relevant research question and being part of a collaborative research community; barriers to participation including funding, personal barriers, institutional barriers, trial barriers, and administrative barriers and facilitators for participation including institutional facilitators, leadership, authorship, trial set-up, and the support of centralised study coordination.ConclusionsOrthopaedic surgeons involved in an ongoing international randomised controlled trial (RCT) were motivated by many factors to participate. There were a number of barriers to and facilitators for their participation. There was a collective sense of fatigue experienced in overcoming these barriers, which was mirrored by a strong collective sense of the importance of, and need for, collaborative research in this field. The experiences were described as essential educational first steps to advance collaborative studies in this area. Knowledge gained from this study will inform the development of future large-scale collaborative research projects in orthopaedic oncology.Cite this article: J. S. Rendon, M. Swinton, N. Bernthal, M. Boffano, T. Damron, N. Evaniew, P. Ferguson, M. Galli Serra, W. Hettwer, P. McKay, B. Miller, L. Nystrom, W. Parizzia, P. Schneider, A. Spiguel, R. Vélez, K. Weiss, J. P. Zumárraga, M. Ghert. Barriers and facilitators experienced in collaborative prospective research in orthopaedic oncology: A qualitative study. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:–314. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.65.BJR-2016-0192.R1.

Maya phytomedicine in Guatemala – Can cooperative research change ethnopharmacological paradigms?

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThis paper presents one of the first large-scale collaborative research projects in ethnopharmacology, to bring together indigenous stakeholders and scientists both in project design and execution. This approach has often been recommended but rarely put into practice. The study was carried out in two key indigenous areas of Guatemala, for which very little ethnopharmacological fieldwork has been published. Aim of the studyTo document and characterize the ethno-pharmacopoeias of the Kaqchikel (highlands) and Q’eqchi’ (lowlands) Maya in a transdisciplinary collaboration with the two groups Councils of Elders. Materials and methodsThe project is embedded in a larger collaboration with five Councils of Elders representing important indigenous groups in Guatemala, two of which participated in this study. These suggested healing experts reputed for their phytotherapeutic knowledge and skills. Ethnobotanical fieldwork was carried out over 20 months, accompanied by a joint steering process and validation workshops. The field data were complemented by literature research and were aggregated using a modified version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and Trotter & Logan's consensus index. ResultsSimilar numbers of species were collected in the two areas, with a combined total of 530 species. This total does not represent all of the species used for medicinal purposes. Remedies for the digestive system, the central nervous system & behavioral syndromes, and general tissue problems & infections were most frequent in both areas. Furthermore, remedies for the blood, immune & endocrine system are frequent in the Kaqchikel area, and remedies for the reproductive system are frequent in the Q’eqchi’ area. Consensus factors are however low. The Kaqchikel, in contrast to the Q’eqchi’, report more remedies for non-communicable illnesses. They also rely heavily on introduced species. Discussion and conclusionsThe transdisciplinary research design facilitated scientifically rigorous and societally relevant large-scale fieldwork, which is clearly beneficial to indigenous collaborators. It provided access and built trust as prerequisites for assembling the largest comparative ethnopharmacological collection, vastly extending knowledge on Maya phytotherapy. The collection represents knowledge of the two groups’ most reputed herbalists and is a representative selection of the Guatemalan medicinal flora.ICD-10 proved useful for making broad comparisons between the groups, but more refined approaches would be necessary for other research objectives. Knowledge in the two areas is highly diverse and seems fragmented. New approaches are required to assess how coherent Maya phytotherapy is. The documented ‘traditional’ ethno-pharmacopoeias demonstrate dynamic change and acculturation, reflecting the two linguistic groups’ sociocultural history and context. This highlights the adaptive potential of phyto-therapeutic knowledge and calls the equation of local indigenous pharmacopoeias with ‘traditional’ medicine into question. We suggest using the term ‘local’ pharmacopoeias, and reserving the term ‘traditional’ for the study of indigenous pharmacopoeias with a clear delineation of ancient knowledge.

Unconventional animal models: a booster for new advances in host-pathogen interactions.

OPINION article Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol., 08 October 2014Sec. Clinical Microbiology Volume 4 - 2014 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2014.00142

SEMANTIC BIM AND GIS MODELLING FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS INTEGRATED IN A HEALTHCARE DISTRICT

Abstract. The subject of energy-efficient buildings (EeB) is among the most urgent research priorities in the European Union (EU). In order to achieve the broadest impact, innovative approaches to EeB need to resolve challenges at the neighbourhood level, instead of only focusing on improvements of individual buildings. For this purpose, the design phase of new building projects as well as building retrofitting projects is the crucial moment for integrating multi-scale EeB solutions. In EeB design process, clients, architects, technical designers, contractors, and end-users altogether need new methods and tools for designing energy-efficiency buildings integrated in their neighbourhoods. Since the scope of designing covers multiple dimensions, the new design methodology relies on the inter-operability between Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Geospatial Information Systems (GIS). Design for EeB optimisation needs to put attention on the inter-connections between the architectural systems and the MEP/HVAC systems, as well as on the relation of Product Lifecycle Modelling (PLM), Building Management Systems (BMS), BIM and GIS. This paper is descriptive and it presents an actual EU FP7 large-scale collaborative research project titled STREAMER. The research on the inter-operability between BIM and GIS for holistic design of energy-efficient buildings in neighbourhood scale is supported by real case studies of mixed-use healthcare districts. The new design methodology encompasses all scales and all lifecycle phases of the built environment, as well as the whole lifecycle of the information models that comprises: Building Information Model (BIM), Building Assembly Model (BAM), Building Energy Model (BEM), and Building Operation Optimisation Model (BOOM).