Public Presentation Session of PLICIB

Last Wednesday, June 26th, the Public Presentation Session of the Portuguese-Speaking Platform on Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (PLICIB) took place. PLICIB is a program of the Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB), supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and co-financed by EDCTP3, aiming to proactively engage the Portuguese scientific community in Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) and neighboring countries.

The event was held at the campus of IHMT NOVA, the institution assuming the scientific coordination of PLICIB. During the session, topics related to the establishment of EDCTP, its journey to the current phase «Global Health EDCTP3», research in sub-Saharan Africa, and projects within these areas were discussed. The objectives and scientific plan of PLICIB were presented, and a Roundtable was organized featuring the Scientific Council of the Platform, where current and future perspectives were debated.

The event included contributions from: Nuno Sousa (President of AICIB), Filomeno Fortes (Director of IHMT NOVA), Marta Norton (Representative of FCT), Lara Pandya (Representative of EDCTP Association), José Bonfim (FCT), Paulo Ferrinho (IHMT NOVA), Hélder Mota Filipe (Bastonário da Ordem dos Farmacêuticos), and Carlos Almeida Pereira (Science Officer at AICIB and Executive Coordinator of PLICIB).

As a mobilizing and symbolic moment, a Commitment Declaration was signed by participants of the Scientific Council and Executive Coordination: Filomeno Fortes (IHMT – NOVA), Jorge Pedrosa (EM – U. Minho), Altamiro Costa Pereira (FMUP), Fernando Regateiro (FMUC), Luís Taborda Barata (FCS – UBI), Emília Valadas (FMUL), Inês Araújo/Isabel Palmeirim (FMCB – U. Alg), Baltazar Cá (INASA – Guinea-Bissau), Sérgio Chicumbe (INS – Mozambique), Francisco Saúte (Manhiça Foundation – Mozambique), and Anabela Isidro (AICIB).

The Public Presentation Session of PLICIB was attended by approximately 70 people in the auditorium (representatives from the academic sector, institutional and political decision-makers, and diplomatic corps), in addition to numerous online participants, including representatives from Angolan and Cape Verdean institutions, countries in the process of joining the EDCTP Association.