With nearly 30 presenters—including 4 keynote speakers—ranging from internationally renowned scientists to emerging researchers, the symposium was structured into eight thematic sessions, each exploring different dimensions, from the interplay between tumour cells and their microenvironment to the systemic impacts of cancer on the body.

“I’m exactly as I was 10 years ago”, says Kina García, a Spanish woman from the Granada region, as she addresses by Zoom, from her home, the audience of the International Conference on Neurodegenerative Diseases, gathered on a Saturday morning at the Champalimaud Foundation’s auditorium, in Lisbon. The date is appropriate: it is September 21 – World Alzheimer's Day. 

This 2-day conference organised by the Champalimaud Foundation, in partnership with Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, will provide an overview of the scientific landscape in the area of physical activity and cancer, from prevention to rehabilitation and survivorship.

These are exciting times for research in this space as physical activity becomes more widely recognised as a powerful partner in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Joining institutions such as the Max Planck Society, Germany (#1), the Allen Institute, USA (#6), and the Pasteur Institute, France (#13), the CF's ranking places it among the world’s top contributors to neuroscience, and as the only Portuguese institution to make the list. The ranking is based on its contribution to published research, which is measured by both the number of articles (“Count”) and the portion of authorship (“Share”).

The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a widely used model in neuroscience due to its relatively small brain, which is easier to study than those of larger animals. Despite its size, the Drosophila brain is capable of forming memories, learning, and engaging in sophisticated social behaviours. Remarkably, fruit flies perform calculations as complex as vertebrates, but with a brain that has far fewer neurons. They share about 60% of their genes with humans, and 75% of human genetic diseases have parallels in flies.

With fully functional inpatient and recovery units, as well as operating rooms, the Centre is now prepared to significantly expand the Champalimaud Foundation's capacity to treat pancreatic cancer patients. With a dedicated team of specialists in the treatment and research of this type of cancer, the Centre's mission is to deliver the highest standard of clinical care.

Host

Carlos Minutti, PhD, Immunoregulation Lab 

Venue

Seminar room

Offer Description

The Chiappe Lab at the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme (ChiappeLab.org) is seeking for a Research Assistant to join the team. The Research Assistant is responsible for supervising and executing both technical and administrative tasks on a day-to-day basis to support the lab's research and operational requirements.

This congress reaffirmed the collaboration between the two countries in the research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, a condition with a higher incidence in aging societies like those of Spain and Portugal, and with a profound economic and social impact.

Host

Carlos Minnutti, Group Leader at Champalimaud Research

Venue

Seminar room