LATEST NEWS

Joana Cruz leads workshop at the first Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation Conference of ULS São José

24 June 2026

Joana Cruz, an integrated member of ciTechCare, participated in the First Cardiorespiratory Rehabilitation Conference of the São José Local Health Unit (ULS São José), held on May 26 and 27 at Santa Marta Hospital, where she led the workshop “Physical Activity Assessment and Prescription.” The initiative reinforced the link between scientific evidence, clinical practice, and the training of healthcare professionals. The workshop focused on the importance of assessing physical activity in individuals with respiratory and cardiac conditions, exploring the different methods available and incorporating practical components related to the assessment and promotion of physical activity. It also provided an opportunity

ciTechCare Research Presented at the Nutrition and Food Congress 2026

24 June 2026

Several researchers, research fellows and undergraduate students from the Dietetics and Nutrition programme at the School of Health Sciences of the Polytechnic of Leiria participated in the 25th edition of the Nutrition and Food Congress (CNA), organised by the Portuguese Nutrition Association. The event took place on 28–29 May at the Porto Customs House Congress Centre, under the theme “25 Years Sharing Science.” One ot the posters presented was “Determinants of Nutritional Status in School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Study in the District of Cantagalo, São Tomé and Príncipe,” co-authored by researchers Cátia Braga-Pontes and Sara Simões Dias and shared

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