On November 25, Liliana Sousa, President of the Order of Nutritionists (ON), attended ciTechCare to meet some of the researchers, research fellows, and scientific and innovative projects currently underway in the fields of nutrition and health promotion.
The visit began with a presentation of the Health Innovation Hub of the Polytechnic of Leiria, as well as its laboratories where the various ongoing projects take place, conducted by the coordinator, Maria Guarino. The main part of the visit occurred in the Hub’s auditorium, where several researchers, research fellows and students presented the projects they are involved in, in a session that lasted until the end of the afternoon.
Rita Novo and Maria João Batalha, PhD research fellows, presented their projects in the areas of Pediatric Feeding Disorders and Public Health in the school setting, respectively. Cátia Pontes, coordinator of the undergraduate degree in Dietetics and Nutrition at the School of Health Sciences of Leiria, also presented one of the ongoing projects in the field of pediatric nutrition.
The afternoon continued with the presentation of several projects in the area of nutritional innovation, featuring contributions from Carla Guimarães, PhD, Luana Brites, undergraduate student in Dietetics and Nutrition, and Solange Castanheira, research fellow who highlighted the FRUIGU project, which purpose is to develop sustainable food solutions, such as the creation of gummies made from food residues regionally produced.
Finally, in the field of Clinical Nutrition, Marlene Lages, who recently completed her PhD, presented the project she dedicated the last four years to, focusing on the relationship between dietary intake and the circadian system and its impact on the development of essential metabolic processes. Neuza Barros presented the project in which she is involved, D&D – Diabetes and COPD, which aims to assess the impact of the coexistence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on body composition, nutritional patterns, and functional status in people with both diseases, compared to individuals with T2DM without COPD.
“These visits are part of the Order of Nutritionists’ strategy to strengthen relationships with professionals, promote recognition of their contribution across different areas of practice, and deepen dialogue with entities that include nutritionists in their activities,” the President stated in a press release. “Being on the ground, listening to people, and understanding the reality of institutions is essential for us to maintain advocacy for the profession and address the needs of the population,” she added.
The President of the ON spent a week in Leiria, having begun her visit on November 18 at the Local Health Unit of the Leiria Region, an institutional partner of ciTechCare.
