LATEST NEWS

ATIVA+SAÚDE project takes researchers to the 2026 European Congress of Epidemiology in London

26 September 2026

The presentation of research on health literacy among 5th and 6th Grade Students, together with participation in a business meeting of the International Epidemiological Association and national epidemiology societies, brought Sara Simões Dias, PhD, researcher, and Maria João Batalha, PhD fellow, to the European Congress of Epidemiology, held at Queen Mary University of London from 9 to 11 September. “Exploring Factors Associated with Health Literacy Among School-Aged Children: Insights from 5th and 6th Grade Students” was presented by Maria João Batalha and is part of her ATIVA+Saúde PhD project. The study aimed to characterise health literacy levels and identify associated

ciTechCare research fellows receive FCD PhD studentships

26 August 2026

The FCT recently announced the provisional results for the awarding of 1,600 PhD scholarships. The applications submitted by research fellows Solange Castanheira and Neuza Barros were accepted, giving both researchers the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in their respective fields over the next four years. In Solange Castanheira’s case, an FCT PhD scholarship in a non-academic environment was awarded in the field of Medical and Health Sciences, specifically Basic Medicine/Biomedicine. The aim of the study is to further investigate the relationship between circadian rhythms, chronotype and cardiometabolic risk among healthcare professionals working shifts, contributing to the development of more personalised

Between science, health and inclusion: children visit NutriLab and aTOPlab

14 July 2026

On July 6, a group of children from “O Recreio” School, aged between 4 and 12, had the opportunity to explore the world of science alongside researchers from a range of different fields, at ciTechCare. Divided into two sessions, the children took part in a hands-on activity where they learned how healthy gummies are developed as part of the FRUIGU project. Hosted at NutriLab, the activity was coordinated by researcher Marisa Gaspar and conducted by research fellow Solange Castanheira, with the support of student Miguel Colaço. The aim was to show younger generations how science and research can help shape

Research on sustainable gummies production presented at the 9th Symposium on Food Production and Processing in a Food Production

4 July 2026

Marisa Gaspar and Ana Cristina Rodrigues, researchers at ciTechCare, Solange Castanheira, research fellow, and Miguel Colaço, an undergraduate Biotechnology intern, attended the 9th Symposium on Food Production and Processing in a Sustainable Environment, held on 16 June at the School of Tourism and Maritime Technology (ESTM) of the Polytechnic of Leiria, in Peniche. Solange Castanheira presented the poster entitled “Sustainable Gummies from ‘Rocha’ Pear Residues: Consumer Perception Using Electroencephalography-Supported Sensory Analysis”, co-authored by Rafael Pinheiro, Miguel Colaço, Ana Cristina Rodrigues, Maria Guarino, and Marisa Gaspar. The researh work explores the valorization of Rocha pear by-products through the development of sustainable

Joana cruz is an invited speaker at the ERS Academy of Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Advanced course

4 July 2026

Joana Cruz, an integrated member of ciTechCare and a faculty member at the School of Health Sciences of the Polytechnic University of Leiria, participated in the online Academy of Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Advanced course, organised by the European Respiratory Society (ERS), on 3–4 June. During the session “Home-based Maintenance Programmes”, part of the main theme “Adapting Pulmonary Rehabilitation: From Hospital to Home and Beyond”, the researcher highlighted the importance of sustaining the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation through home-based maintenance programmes, emphasising the relevance of flexible, accessible, and person-centred models of care. As moderator of the session “Determinants of Functional and

ULS Lezíria Invites Joana Cruz to join the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Seminar as a guest speaker

24 June 2026

On May 29, the Lezíria Local Health Unit (ULS Lezíria) hosted the seminar “Pulmonary Rehabilitation – Challenges in the Integration of Care Levels and Models”, held at the Auditorium of Santarém District Hospital. Joana Cruz was invited as a speaker to address the topic “Current Challenges and Future Opportunities in Pulmonary Rehabilitation,” highlighting the need for more integrated approaches between primary and hospital care, as well as the importance of person-centred care models for individuals living with chronic respiratory diseases. The event brought together several healthcare professionals and helped reinforce the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, the sharing of scientific knowledge,