My research project will examine and compare the relations of the Papacy with Portugal and Aragon from the pontificate of Alexander II (1061-1073) to that of Innocent III (1198-1216). Portugal and Aragon have been chosen because were the only political realities in the Iberian Peninsula to enjoy the protection of St Peter in these centuries. These relationships have been interpreted as a feudal bond, but recent studies have started to challenge this image. This analysis will fit into and expand recent discussions of the relations between centre (Rome) and periphery, focusing on an ecclesiological perspective. To whom was the Apostolic See writing? And who was writing to Rome? Why? Did the letters concern practical or theoretical matters? What language and images were adopted by Rome to assert its primacy over Portugal and Aragon and what ecclesiological ideas? Was there ever a feudal bond between these political institutions and Rome? Or was the papacy only reacting to events, claiming a role that it could not play? Was there a particular style in use when writing to the pope? Did ecclesiastics and lay powers adopt similar or distinct formulas when writing to the Apostolic See? These are some of the questions the project aims to answer. Letters issued by the papal chancery are the main source for this kind of analysis because they always entailed the official view of the Roman church on a specific matter, showing the communication strategies and the ecclesiological ideas adopted by the Apostolic See to assert Roman primacy. Missives sent to the popes also played a decisive role in the creation of papal images. This project will shed light not only on the papacy and on the strategies adopted to support its claims of primacy, but also on views of the Roman church from a frontier of Christianity, which may (or may not) have been shared by the papacy itself.

The objective of the project is to increase awareness of the latest technological discoveries among key stakeholders in the context of social media and convergence. The dissemination will be based on key areas that impact the convergence of social media. This includes scientific, political, cultural, legal, economic and technical areas, to name but a few. This is particularly essential to provide knowledge support, but also stimulate an appropriate debate among the various stakeholders (the public, the researchers, scientific and other policy makers and regulators) on the desirable future policies and frameworks that are required and lacking in the state of the art concerning media and content convergence. Additionally, the project seeks to provide research on and experience-exchange of policy and regulation strategies. The aim is to support the R&D digital programs by spreading the innovative ideas and also the innovated outcomes in convergence. To achieve this, the project will offer analyses and road maps of related initiatives. In addition, extensive research on policies and regulatory frameworks in media and content will be developed, integrating crucial topics such as: the types of regulation that are possible, sensible, and currently implemented, joined with contextual analysis of the corresponding issues; court case study on the types of cases that are brought before domestic courts and their implications on fundamental rights, the ways in which domestic courts review interference with fundamental rights in the pursuit of public interests, and the impact of court decisions on national laws and policies concerning social media and convergence; and future trends and recommendations in the policies and regulatory frameworks in media and content convergence. All of the EU countries will be included, although the involvement of additional countries is not excluded.

With progress in globalization, expansion of human populations into natural habitats, and aggravation of climate change comes an increased risk of viral outbreaks. As demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic, not being prepared for such events has devastating consequences on public health, society and the economy. EvaMobs will improve preparedness of the European Union (EU) for the next viral outbreak(s) of pandemic potential by developing a platform for the discovery, development, production and validation of evolvable and rapidly adaptable antivirals. These innovative medicines will be based on small human-derived proteins called monobodies (Mobs). As Mobs can be engineered to have high binding affinity for virtually any viral protein, this platform can be easily adapted to a broad range of viruses, including newly emerging viruses and viral variants. To demonstrate the capacity of this platform it will first be applied to four pathogenic viruses with epidemic and/or pandemic potential: Influenza A, SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, and Zika virus. Deep-learning and computational design tools will allow generation of tailor-made Mobs with cryo-EM elucidating the molecular details of their binding interaction. Simple bacterial expression of Mobs, the development of a semi-automated high-throughput screening platform for evaluation of the Mobs’ stability and target affinity and streamlined in vitro and in vivo preclinical validation, will allow rapid development and selection of stable and potently neutralizing candidates. The Mob with the best preclinical indicators will then be tested in a phase I clinical trial after implementing a stable formulation and GMP production. The optimized platform can then be adapted to other viruses. Therefore, EvaMobs provides an innovative, robust and flexible platform for antiviral biologics development as well as a diverse portfolio of validated drugs, strengthening the EU’s pandemic preparedness.