Yesterday, 15 December, RISE-Health marked an important moment by formalising contracts with the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), which follow on from the new cycle of national funding for R&D units that began last July with the announcement of the final results of the 2023/2024 R&D Unit Evaluation and Funding Process.

The ceremony was attended by Fernando Schmitt, director of the RISE-Health Research Unit, Altamiro da Costa Pereira, director of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Francisco Cruz, deputy director of the same institution, Alberto Roncon Albuquerque, Principal Investigator at RISE-Health and president of the Pedagogical Council of FMUP, Adelino Leite-Moreira, Principal Investigator at RISE -Health and President of the Scientific Council of FMUP, Elsa Azevedo, Paulo Santos, Ricardo Correia and Inês Ribeiro Vaz, Principal Investigators at RISE-Health, Milaydis Sosa, Executive Manager at RISE-Health, Carlos Taquechel and Cecília Seabra, from the Research Unit’s management team, the ‘first step’ was taken in the implementation of this new funding.

‘The signing of this contract represents national recognition of the scientific excellence of RISE-Health and reinforces our commitment to producing research with a real impact on the health of populations,’ said Fernando Schmitt, director of RISE-Health.

By signing these documents, the largest Research Unit in the country has been officially awarded a grant of 12.4 million euros, the third largest funding granted to a U&D in Portugal in this edition, with around 60% of this amount being directed towards strengthening the scientific infrastructure of RISE-Health.

It should be noted that the RISE-Health Research Unit is the result of the merger of CINTESIS – Centre for Research in Health Technologies and Services, UnIC – Cardiovascular Research and Development Unit, MedInUP – Centre for Pharmacological Research and Innovation in Pharmaceuticals, and CICS-UBI – Centre for Research in Health Sciences.

Based at FMUP, this new research unit will have management centres in six organic units of the University of Porto (the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences-ICBAS, the School of Nursing of the University of Porto and the Faculties of Pharmacy, Dentistry, Science and Nutrition), in addition to 11 others, namely in 5 public universities (University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Algarve, Aveiro, Beira Interior and Madeira) and 2 private higher education institutions (Fernando Pessoa and Portucalense Universities), 2 Nursing Schools (Santa Maria Higher School of Health and IP Santarém Higher School of Nursing) and the Higher School of Health of the Polytechnic of Porto.