MIRRI-ERIC present at ECCO XLII

Ana Portugal Melo, Executive Director of the Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure- European Research Infrastructure Consortium (MIRRI-ERIC), participated as an invited speaker at the European Culture Collections’ Organisation (ECCO) annual meeting held in Bari (Italy).

In the session themed "Networking, Services, Quality, and Data Management of Microbial Culture Collections", Portugal Melo shared insights on the pivotal role of microbial culture collections in advancing scientific research through effective collaboration, data management, and quality control.

Portugal Melo's presentation, titled "MIRRI-ERIC as a Microbial, Genetics, and Data Resources Hub to Advance Scientific Discovery", emphasised the transformative potential of MIRRI-ERIC’s integrated approach. The organisation serves as a centralised hub for microbial resources and genetic data, promoting scientific advancements by providing access to a diverse array of high-quality bioresources.

As a European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Landmark, MIRRI-ERIC fosters collaboration among its members and partners, contributing to the advancement of bioscience and bioindustry sectors.

The presentation highlighted the ongoing efforts to develop and implement FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) within microbial culture collections, ensuring efficient and innovative data management that supports research reproducibility. She also stressed the importance of international collaboration and infrastructure synergy in driving scientific discovery and safeguarding microbial biodiversity for future generations.

Other key representatives from the MIRRI-ERIC community were also in attendance at the ECCO meeting, including members from MIRRI-PT (Portugal), MIRRI-ES (Spain), MIRRI-FR (France), MIRRI-BE (Belgium) and MIRRI-GR (Greece). Their collective presence reinforced MIRRI-ERIC’s commitment to fostering global cooperation in microbial research and resource management. Through these efforts, MIRRI-ERIC continues to solidify its position as a leader in microbial and genetic resource management, contributing to the advancement of scientific research and innovation across Europe and beyond.