With the aim of promoting the development of local clinical research groups in Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), NOVA Medical School (NMS), in collaboration with two other schools from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP) and the Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), launched a Clinical Research Training Course. Funded by the Gulbenkian Foundation, this course, which started with 27 students, aims to equip healthcare professionals from PALOP with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct excellent clinical research with a high-impact for society.
The course presentation ceremony took place on October 16th, with the presence of Helena Canhão, Dean of NMS, who coordinates the first module, and delivered the opening speech. The event alspo featured presentations by Hélder Dores, professor and researcher at our School, and Lúcia Domingues, coordinator of NOVA Clinical Research Unit - NOVA-CRU.
The course program consists of various multifaceted modules, among which we highlight “Clinical research topics in non-communicable diseases", coordinated by Hélder Dores and featuring a team of experienced NMS professors who are experts in clinical research.
The Clinical Research Training course was designed to broaden the impact of clinical research among medical doctors and healthcare professionals. Hélder Dores revealed that "the selection process for the course was very rigorous to choose students from among more than 500 applicants, with the class is now composed of highly motivated students." Many participants are already actively involved in clinical research and aim to deepen their knowledge in the field to enhance their ongoing research, while others aspire to begin their journey in clinical research to conduct high-quality work.
The joint effort of NMS, ENSP and IHMT, supported by the Gulbenkian Foundation, exemplifies the commitment to sharing knowledge and developing the capabilities of health practices in the PALOP region. Moreover, it positions these institutions as examples of a significant and impactful contribution for regions.