LATEST NEWS

ciTechCare researchers participate in the Erasmus RACINE+ project through a workshop developed within the FRUIGU project

15 June 2026

On June 3rd, several ciTechCare researchers were invited to participate in a workshop integrated into the activities of the Erasmus RACinE+ project, organized by Pinhal do Rei Secondary School in Marinha Grande. The workshop, led by Marisa Gaspar, principal investigator of the FRUIGU project – Fruit-based Innovative Gummies: A Health-Promoting and Sustainable Approach – aimed to raise awareness about food waste and the development and benefits of new food products using sustainable approaches, in this case through the valorization of regional fruit waste. These objectives are also aligned with those of the RACinE+ project, which focuses on promoting sustainable development

Marlene Lages attended the 32nd National Congress of Internal Medicine as an invited speaker on Obesity Treatment

10 June 2026

The 32nd National Congress of Internal Medicine took place in Lagoa from May 21 to 23, where Marlene Lages, a research fellow and PhD holder in Food Consumption Sciences and Nutrition, participated as a speaker in the roundtable session “Back to Basics – Lifestyle in the Treatment of Obesity.” Her presentation focused on chrononutrition and the impact of meal timing on metabolic health, exploring how meal schedules—often irregular or delayed—interact with the body’s internal biological clock, and how misaligned eating patterns may contribute to weight gain and insulin resistance. During her presentation, preliminary findings from the NutriClock project, developed at

Event dedicated to the future of talent and work features panel on the role of human resources in healthcare

10 June 2026

On May 21, the Municipal Market of Leiria hosted the 3rd edition of the Talent Summit, an event organized by Start-up Leiria, a ciTechCare partner, in collaboration with Clan and Editora RH. The event aimed to bring together professionals, companies, and experts to discuss the future of talent and work, fostering knowledge sharing, team development, and networking opportunities. One of the discussion panels, dedicated to the theme “Caring for Those Who Care: The Role of Human Resources in Healthcare,” included Teresa Kraus, researcher at ciTechCare and lecturer at the School of Health Sciences of the Polytechnic University of Leiria in

RUN-EU Innovation Meets Regions brought together research, innovation and sustainability in Peniche

6 June 2026

From 26 to 29 May, the Peniche Multi-purpose Pavilion hosted the RUN-EU Innovation Meets Regions event—an initiative of RUN-EU – Regional University Network – European University, organised by the Polytechnic University of Leiria, with the participation of ciTechCare, showcasing the research work recently developed at the centre. Throughout the week, ciTechCare presented its activities and displayed several of its projects through a series of posters and a dedicated stand on “Innovation in Healthcare.” The event also provided a valuable opportunity to engage with fellow researchers, policymakers and business representatives. Nutrition, physical activity promotion, pharmaceutical dosage form innovation, heart failure, hand

ciTechCare joins UDSBE of PL to celebrate World Health Day

28 May 2026

On April 7th, World Health Day, the Sports, Health and Well-Being Unit (UDSBE) of Polytechnic of Leiria invited ciTechCare to jointly celebrate several health promotion activities, particularly a workshop dedicated to Chrononutrition. The session, led by ciTechCare Research Fellows Marlene Lages and Neuza Barros, aimed to answer the questions “What should we eat?” and “When should we eat?”, bringing together research, education, and community engagement. The workshop also included the active participation of ESSLei undergraduate students in Dietetics and Nutrition, Camila Gualotuña, Adrian Pasquel, and Ana Gonçalves, who were undertaking a curricular internship at ciTechCare. Throughout the session, the principles

ciTechCare celebrates 7 years

15 May 2026

After 7 years, ciTechCare’s mission to develop innovative solutions for health promotion, disease prevention, early diagnosis, and the improvement of quality of life for patients and caregivers has gained increasing recognition among partners, researchers, and healthcare professionals. Throughout this journey marked by determination, dedication, resilience, and talent, ciTechCare has stood out through its scientific output, the establishment of national and international partnerships, the development of new laboratories, and the implementation of projects with a direct impact on the community and healthcare professionals. In this way, ciTechCare has reinforced its role as a leading research unit of the Polytechnic of Leiria