The Fernando Pessoa University (UFP) hosted, on October 23rd, in the Nobre Hall, the inaugural lecture of the Doctorate in Biomedical and Health Sciences, a cycle of studies developed in partnership with the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), which reinforces the collaboration between the two institutions in the field of biomedical research and health.
The session was attended by the President of the Fernando Pessoa Foundation and Emeritus Rector of UFP, Professor Dr. Salvato Trigo, the Rector of UFP, Professor Dr. Eugénio Ferreira, and Professor Dr. José Vilaça, President of the School of Life and Environmental Sciences (ECVA), representing the UTAD Rectorate.
The coordinators of the study cycle were also present: Professor Dr. Fátima Cerqueira (UFP), coordinator, and the deputy coordinators Professor Dr. Rúben Fernandes (UFP), Professor Dr. Raquel Chaves (UTAD) and Professor Dr. Bruno Magalhães (UTAD).
In her opening remarks, Professor Dr. Fátima Cerqueira highlighted the distinctive nature of this doctoral program, emphasizing the quality of the partner institutions and their International External Monitoring Commission, as well as the involvement of research and development units, industry, and patient associations.
The coordinator also highlighted the importance of this coordination between the academic and scientific community and society, with the aim of producing knowledge with an effective impact on improving the health and quality of care provided to patients.
In their interventions, the Rector of UFP and the President of ECVA reinforced the strategic importance of the partnership between the two higher education institutions, highlighting the role of responsible, transparent and independent research in responding to the current challenges of science and health.
The central moment of the session was the conference “From Scientific Questions to Health Impact: Challenges and Opportunities in Biomedical Research in the 21st Century – Insights from Obesity and Cancer”, delivered by Professor Dr. Raquel Soares, Full Professor of the Department of Biomedicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto.
Drawing on her research experience in the fields of obesity and cancer, the speaker presented new doctoral students with a reflection on the path of scientific research, from formulating relevant questions to producing results with impact on health. The conference thus provided an opportunity to address the challenges and opportunities of contemporary biomedical research, offering students a guiding perspective for the academic and scientific journey they are now embarking on.
The session ended with a symbolic moment of welcoming the new students, through the offering of a book authored by Professor Dr. Maria José Sá, Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences and the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the Fernando Pessoa University and an associate lecturer in the doctoral program.
The delivery of the publication was accompanied by a signing session with the author, providing a moment of closeness and sharing with the new doctoral students.
Thus, the inaugural class marked the beginning of a new stage of advanced training, reaffirming the commitment of UFP and UTAD to scientific excellence, collaborative research, and the production of knowledge capable of contributing to the improvement of society’s health and well-being.
