In January, when the creation of the new RISE-Health Unit was publicly announced, the number of integrated researchers was 297 at CINTESIS, 70 at UnIC, 24 at MedInUP, and 59 at CICS-UBI, for a total of 450. However, surpassing all expectations, RISE-Health managed to “seal” the record with 637 integrated researchers, a 42% increase on the target set – to reach the 500 integrated researchers mark before the end of 2024.

A total of 1,349 researchers have been registered (637 integrated researchers and 712 collaborators), who will work mainly on the development of clinical and translational research, digital health and artificial intelligence, biotechnologies and biomedical innovation, community health and nursing research.

It should be remembered that this new research unit, based at the FMUP, will have management centers in 5 organic units of the U.Porto (Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences and Faculty of Sciences), in addition to others outside this perimeter, namely 5 public universities (University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, University of Algarve, University of Aveiro, University of Madeira and Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Beira Interior), 2 private higher education institutions (Fernando Pessoa University and Portucalense University) and 4 public or private polytechnic institutions, (Nursing School of Porto, School of Health of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Santa Maria Health School and Nursing School of the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém). 

The scientific facilities and equipment at the multiple management centers of what is already one of the country’s largest research units will be available to all RISE-Health researchers, “thus promoting a better link between research and teaching, as well as between clinical practice and biomedical innovation”.

As part of the current evaluation process for the Multiannual Funding Program for R&D Units of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the next stage is the submission of applications, which will take place from March 7 to April 11, 2024, until 17:00 (Lisbon time).