Table 1 Summary of main findings and suggestions for possible priority actions to increase societal impact of biomedical research

Temporal dimension plays an important role in the generation of long-term societal impact. In particular:

1. Most respondents feel their research will have an impact and time is an important factor in the generation of societal impact;

2. Obtaining follow-up funding to continue research is often an issue

To funding bodies:

 Accelerate the implementation of calls for proposals to support follow-up research activities aimed at implementing results derived from exploratory research projects, promoting research results using e.g., SME instruments, Horizon Results Platform, EIC, etc

3. The design of the overall research strategy, positive collaboration with project partners, the international dimension and the multidisciplinary nature of the project are considered as the major ingredients for success

To funding bodies and projects’ reviewers:

 Prioritise projects with a well-thought research strategy and with project partnerships ensuring a broad coverage of multidisciplinary techniques and range of expertise

 Enable the possibility to look for and hunt for synergies and complementary partnerships to create community networks, overcoming isolation or established reserve due to (funding) competition

4. Research on epidemiology may contribute to generate impact in the long term

To funding bodies:

 Prioritise calls for proposals focused on epidemiology, prevention, and disease risk prediction. Follow-on funding to continue with these activities should be envisaged

5. Research aimed at designing novel diagnostic or prognostic tools has high chance to generate impact in the short-to-medium term

To funding bodies:

 Prioritise calls for proposals focused on improvement or implementation of diagnostic or prognostic strategies or tools

6. The use of complex in vitro models and in silico/computational models could contribute to future impact generation

To funding bodies:

 Design calls for proposals focused on the development, implementation and standardisation of complex in vitro models or in silico/computational models

7. Despite their use is still considered as unavoidable or mandatory, the use of animal models could contribute to translational failures, as commented by some interviewees

To funding bodies:

 Design calls for proposals incentivising the application of integrated, multidisciplinary human-relevant innovative approaches/ methodologies, downgrading the reliance on the use of animal models

8. Human cohorts and population studies and the use of human specimens are considered as relevant to reply to biomedical research questions

To funding bodies and clinical research institutions:

 Allocate more resources on multidisciplinary research projects focused on human cohorts and population studies

To funding bodies, research institutions, biobanks:

Subsidise the creation, better use, and transparent sharing of human biobanks (cell and tissue banks) (e.g., as done in the context of rare diseases)

Consider multidisciplinary and the important role played by digitalisation for the creation of significant cohorts

9. In the field of AD and other dementias, the difficulty to enrol participants is higher than in the cancer field

To projects’ proponents, research institutions, patients’ associations:

Implement strategies to better inform AD patients associations and care givers about the importance to participate in clinical studies

10. Disseminating science to the lay public is important, but communication can be misleading

To projects’ proponents, research institutions:

Coordinate and incentivise dissemination activities, e.g. accounting for multidisciplinary, considering involving science communicators in research projects, and training community representatives