The annual conference of the Department of Biomedical Sciences (DSB) was held on 26 January 2015 at the CNR Headquarters in Rome (Piazzale Aldo Moro, 7). The day’s programme included a morning session of interesting and authoritative presentations on “Frontiers in Cellular and Molecular Oncology” and an afternoon session dedicated to the work of the DSB. In particular, the evaluation of the progress of research programmes, the 2014-2015 evaluation of the Institutes, and possibilities for recruitment were discussed.

In the area of Translational activities and Technology Transfer carried out by the DSB, Dr Annamaria Kisslinger presented the qPMO – Quality and Project Management OpenLab – network, its objectives and the models and products it has realised. The developments of this network provide for the support, transfer and application of the models produced in other laboratories, training on Quality issues and the creation of a database of the expertise and results of CNR researchers via the quality4lab web platform. The aim is to stimulate interest in and discussion of issues related to “Quality in scientific research” and the importance of knowledge sharing within DSB institutes and the scientific community more generally. The quality4lab platform will thus have a link and dedicated space on the DSB website. A communication from the Director, Prof. Tullio Pozzan, to all institute directors and affiliated researchers will follow.