The first edition of the SeedCare internal funding programme, an initiative aimed at promoting and supporting the development of research projects with translational potential, received eight applications, two of which were selected as winning projects.

In the scientific area of Health Promotion and Care, the winning project was “CAREP@ll-CONNECT”, led by Carlos Laranjeira, principal investigator. The project aims to complement the care provided by healthcare professionals in the field of palliative care through the participation of specially trained volunteers who support people with advanced illness and their families. This approach seeks to reduce social isolation, alleviate the burden on family caregivers, and promote greater comfort. The project is carried out in partnership with the Local Health Unit of the Leiria Region and the Leiria Compassiva Association.

Marisa Gaspar is the principal researcher of the second funded project, “UP-APPLE4HEALTH“. This exploratory circular economy project aims to add value to apples from Alcobaça that do not meet retail specifications and transform them into an innovative fruit spread, with no added sugar and a low glycaemic index. By valorising regional resources and implementing nutritional strategies, the project seeks to contribute to the management of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

The project’s partners are RochaCenter, a business group with access to fruit waste, and Plásticos Futura, which contributes with technical expertise in the development of innovative plastic solutions.

SeedCare was launched on 13 May, as part of the celebrations marking ciTechCare’s 7th anniversary. The programme may fund each project up to a maximum of €10,000, with a maximum duration of 18 months.