RISE-Health is officially the largest research unit in the country. This is confirmed by the provisional results of the evaluation carried out within the scope of the Multiannual Funding Programme for R&D Units 2023/2024 of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), released today, April 15. Fernando Schmitt, director of RISE-Health, sees the result of the evaluation of the research unit as a ‘remarkable achievement’.

‘The panel assessed RISE-Health with a “Very Good” rating, which is an excellent result for a new Unit,’ says Altamiro da Costa Pereira, director of FMUP, the institution that assumes the role of Main Management Unit and headquarters of the R&D Unit.

In this Evaluation, RISE-Health was awarded funding of 12.4 M€. This is the third largest amount of funding awarded to a U&D in Portugal in this edition. “Among the 313 approved applications, RISE-Health stood out as the third with the highest total funding and the most funded under the equipment heading. A remarkable achievement that demonstrates the clear recognition of the relevance and potential of our proposal”, emphasises Fernando Schmitt.

The director of RISE-Health emphasises that “the significant investment in equipment under the RRP positions us as the unit with the best conditions to boost clinical and translational research in Portugal”.

For Fernando Schmitt, “our strategic vision, our firm commitment to multidisciplinarity and our collective commitment to innovative management were clearly recognised. Scientific research in health has been strengthened”.

António Soares, RISE-Health’s executive director, adds: “The amount allocated is remarkable, but it also reflects our need to strengthen the scientific infrastructure, especially in terms of equipment. Around 60% of the €12 million is earmarked for this purpose, and the panel itself recognises that programme funding may not be enough to meet all needs. This emphasises the need to continue looking for ways to obtain their own funding to achieve their scientific goals.”

The results we are now seeing are the public recognition of this Research Unit, with 637 integrated members, as a ‘network prepared to carry out high-quality interdisciplinary biomedical research in various scientific and clinical areas, from cardiovascular sciences to neurosciences, metabolism and clinical pharmacology’, with a special focus on cardiology and strong groups in pre-clinical research.

When the evaluation panel awarded the funding, several criteria were taken into account, such as the recognised merit of eminent scientists, the quality and relevance of the research carried out, the level of collaboration and internationalisation. The evaluators also recognised the Unit’s high level of dedication to improving the quality of healthcare and translating basic research into clinical practice, scientific productivity and involvement in teaching and training activities.

It is worth remembering that RISE-Health is the result of the merger of CINTESIS – Centre for Health Technology and Services Research, UnIC – Cardiovascular Research and Development Unit, MedInUP – Centre for Pharmacological Research and Drug Innovation and CICS-UBI – Health Sciences Research Centre.

Based at the FMUP, this new research unit will have management institutions in five organic units of the U. Porto (School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Faculties of Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, Sciences, 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), 3 Nursing Schools (Nursing School of Porto, School of Health of Santa Maria and Nursing School of the Polytechnic of Santarém ) and the Porto Polytechnic Higher Health School.