Two research projects from NOVA Medical School were recently awarded grants by the Portuguese Diabetes Society (SPD). These grants will enable the teams to advance new discoveries in the field of diabetology, based on fundamental, clinical, and technological research.
Researcher Fátima Martins, from the Neural Control of Metabolic Disturbances research group led by Sílvia Conde, won the M. M. Almeida Ruas Grant with the project: “Modulation of adenosine signalling in the adipose tissue as a potential therapeutical approach for the treatment of dysmetabolism.” This study, conducted in partnership with the University of Coimbra, aims to identify new strategies for the early evaluation and treatment of metabolic disorder progression.
PhD student Luís Sousa, from the Dysmetabolism in Brain Diseases research group led by Hugo Vicente Miranda, received the José Luís Medina Grant for the project: “Insulin-Degrading Enzyme as a Target for the Prevention and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease.” This project aims to study an enzyme that degrades insulin, with potential impact on the prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
The SPD Awards and Grants annually recognize projects for their significant impact, originality, and contribution to advancing scientific knowledge in the field of diabetes. This year, two of the four grants were awarded to research from NOVA Medical School. The award ceremony took place on December 3, 2024, in the Senate Hall of the University of Coimbra’s Rectory.