Research in the health sector in Portugal is going through moments of great challenges, mainly due to the lack of investment, incentives for professionals and lack of organization, says Paulo Teixeira, general director of Pfizer Portugal, adding that clinical research in Portugal has seen the its potential “constantly postponed”. “We are a country with excellent professionals and scientific and academic production that takes place in a remarkable way, but there is a lack of translation for its applicability. There is a lack of investment in the state, but also in other types of sectors”.
The official admits, however, that, despite the constraints, research has grown in the country. “Hospitals and hospital centers have managed to find a way to develop and create research centers in their own hospitals. Coimbra, Santa Maria, Braga… there are very good examples. It gives hope for Portugal to develop this potential and become a center of excellence”, he says.
is the total value that will be attributed to the awarded projects. €15 thousand for each basic research project and €30 thousand for the clinical research project
Sandra Morais Cardoso, a researcher at the University of Coimbra, states that in Portugal, funding for health research “is modest” compared to other European countries, and adds that support comes mainly from government subsidies, European Union programs and some “ few” private foundations. “Insufficient funding limits the ability of researchers to develop long-term projects, acquire modern equipment and compete at an international level, which conditions national scientific production and its global relevance”, says the also leader of the Group “O Eixo Intestino-Cérebro ” from the Center for Neuroscience and Cellular Biology who, together with researcher Nuno Empadinhas, was distinguished last year with the Pfizer Prize for basic research, for the study that demonstrated a direct relationship between the intestine and Parkinson’s disease
Reach international financing
The need for greater internationalization of health research as a way of accessing external financing is a path highlighted by Luís Graça, researcher at the João Lobo Antunes Institute of Molecular Medicine, distinguished last year by the Pfizer awards for his contribution to understanding Covid 19, with a study that made it possible to understand the degree of immunity acquired after contamination with different variants of the disease and which also made it possible to understand the most appropriate time to proceed with booster doses.
“There is a great need to create these incentive conditions so that researchers can make this qualitative leap and put Portugal on the map in clinical trials”, Paulo Teixeira
“Right now we are faced with the challenge of making existing support in our country effective to enable research with a global impact. To this end, it will be necessary for researchers to have the conditions to dedicate themselves to projects and the resources to enable them to obtain significant results that can, in particular, be used to access additional international funding”, he states.
Recognizing the best health research work, with the distinction of a clinical research project and a basic research project, has been common practice at the Pfizer Awards but this year, due to the “good quality of the projects” that entered, there will be another prize to be awarded. “Normally it is one of each but, this year, due to the good quality of the projects that came to us, we were unable to differentiate so, exceptionally, we will have three awards, one for clinical research and two for basic research”, says Paulo Teixeira, general director of Pfizer Portugal
The award, which is the oldest in the area of health research, recognizes the best research work in health sciences, prepared by national or foreign researchers, wholly or partially carried out in Portuguese institutions, and is stated as an incentive for young researchers, projecting your scientific career. The total amount awarded to the winners will be €60,000, which this year will be distributed with a value of €15,000 for each basic research project and €30,000 for the clinical research project.
The 2024 winners will join the group of more than 800 researchers recognized, between 1956 and 2023, by the Pfizer Awards which, in partnership with the Society of Medical Sciences of Lisbon (SCMED), have annually highlighted the contributions of the Portuguese to medical science , with the aim of contributing to the dynamization of research in Health Sciences in Portugal.
What is it?
The Pfizer Awards — to which Expresso is associated as media partner — have been distinguishing the best basic and clinical research works for 68 years. More than 800 researchers have already been honored and more than 250 works have been awarded. It is the oldest award in the area of biomedical research in Portugal and is the result of a partnership between the Society of Medical Sciences of Lisbon (SCMED) and the pharmaceutical company.
When, where and at what time?
The Pfizer awards ceremony will take place on November 13th, at 6pm, at the Centro Cultural de Belém, in Lisbon.
Who are the speakers?
- Paulo Teixeira, General Director of Pfizer Portugal
- Maria do Céu Machado, President of the Lisbon Society of Medical Sciences
- Luísa Lopes, Group Leader at GIMM – Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine
- Filipe Pereira, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra
- Caren Norden, Gulbenkian Institute of Molecular Medicine
- Ana Magalhães, i3S – Institute of Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto
- Ana Povo, Secretary of State for Health
Why is this topic central?
Research in the health area is fundamental to the current and future well-being of society, contributing to significant discoveries for the benefit of humanity. In addition to promoting the dynamism of research in Health Sciences in Portugal, the Pfizer Awards have marked the research carried out in the country and are an incentive for young researchers, contributing to technological advances with an impact on the economy.
How can I participate?
The event is open to the public but anyone who wants to watch it live must register at this link. It is also possible to follow online via Expresso Facebook.
This project is supported by sponsors, with all content created, edited and produced by Expresso (see Code of Conduct), without external interference.
Source: expresso.pt
