• Newsletter
  • Search
  • Contacto
  • Home (next newsletter)
  • Home
  • News # 80 | Jun. 2018
  • News # 81 | Jul. 2018
  • News # 82 | Set. 2018
  • News # 83 | Oct. 2018
  • News # 84 | Nov. 2018
  • News # 85 | Dec. 2018
  • News # 86 | Jan. 2019
  • News # 87 | Feb. 2019
  • News # 88 | Mar. 2019
  • News # 89 | Apr. 2019
  • News # 90 | May. 2019
  • News # 91 | Jun. 2019
  • News # 92 | Jul. 2019
  • News # 93 | sep. 2019
  • Newsletters
    • 2008 – 2009
      • News # 1 | nov. 2008
      • News # 10 | nov/dez. 2009
      • News # 2 | dec. 2008
      • News # 3 | jan/fev. 2009
      • News # 4 | mar. 2009
      • News # 5 | abr. 2009
      • News # 6 | mai/jun. 2009
      • News # 7 | jul. 2009
      • News # 8 | ago/set. 2009
      • News # 9 | out. 2009
    • 2010 – 2011
      • News # 11 | jan/fev. 2010
      • News # 12 | mar. 2010
      • News # 13 | abr. 2010
      • News # 14 | mai. 2010
      • News # 15 | jun/jul. 2010
      • News # 16 | ago/set. 2010
      • News # 17 | out/nov. 2010
      • News # 18 | dez. 2010
      • News # 19 | jan/fev. 2011
      • News # 20 | mar/abr. 2011
      • News # 21 | mai/jun. 2011
      • News # 22 | jul/ago. 2011
      • News # 23 | set/out. 2011
      • News # 24 | nov/dez. 2011
    • 2012 – 2013
      • News # 25 | jan. 2012
      • News # 26 | fev/mar. 2012
      • News # 27 | jun. 2012
      • News # 28 | ago. 2012
      • News # 29 | set/out. 2012
      • News # 30 | nov/dez. 2012
      • News # 31 | jan. 2013
      • News # 32 | mar. 2013
      • News # 33 | abr. 2013
      • News # 34 | mai. 2013
      • News # 35 | jun. 2013
      • News # 36 | set. 2013
      •  News # 37 | out. 2013
      • News # 38 | nov/dez. 2013
    • 2014 – 2015
      • News # 39 | jan/fev. 2014
      • News # 40 | mar. 2014
      • News # 41 | abr/mai. 2014
      • News # 42 | jun/jul. 2014
      • News # 43 | set. 2014
      • News # 44 | out/nov. 2014
      • News # 45 | dez. 2014
      • News # 46 | jan. 2015
      • News # 47 | fev. 2015
      • News # 48 | abr. 2015
      • News # 49 | mai. 2015
      • News # 50 | jun. 2015
      • News # 51 | set. 2015
      • News # 52 | out. 2015
      • News # 53 | dez. 2015
    • 2016 – 2017
      • News # 54 | jan. 2016
      • News # 55 | fev. 2016
      • News # 56 | mar. 2016
      • News # 57 | abr. 2016
      • News nº 58 | may 2016
      • News # 59 | jun. 2016
      • News # 60 | jul. 2016
      • News # 61 | set. 2016
      • News # 62 | out. 2016
      • News # 63 | nov/dez. 2016
      • News # 64 | jan. 2017
      • News # 65 | fev. 2017
      • News # 66 | mar. 2017
      • News # 67 | apr. 2017
      • News # 68 | may 2017
      • News # 69 | jun. 2017
      • News # 70 | jul. 2017
      • News # 71 | set. 2017
      • News # 72 | out. 2017
      • News # 73 | nov. 2017
      • News # 74 | dez. 2017
    • 2018
      • News # 75 | jan. 2018
      • News # 76 | fev. 2018
      • News # 77 | mar. 2018
      • News # 78 | abr. 2018
      • News #79 | May 2018
  • Subscribe Newsletter
My Company
  • Home
  • Newsletters
    • 2018 – 2019
      • News nº 92 | jul. 2019
      • News nº 91 | jun. 2019
      • News nº 90 | Mai. 2019
      • News nº 89 | Abr. 2019
      • News nº 88 | Mar. 2019
      • News nº 87 | Fev. 2019
      • News nº 86 | Jan. 2019
      • News nº 85 | Dez. 2018
      • News nº 84 | Nov. 2018
      • News nº 83 | Out. 2018
      • News nº 82 | Set. 2018
      • News nº 81 | Jul. 2018
      • News nº 80 | Jun. 2018
      • News Nº 79 | Mai. 2018
      • News nº 78 | abr. 2018
      • News nº 77 | mar. 2018
      • News nº 76 | fev. 2018
      • News nº 75 | jan. 2018
    • 2016 – 2017
      • News nº 74 | dez. 2017
      • News # 73 | nov. 2017
      • News # 72 | out. 2017
      • News # 70 | set. 2017
      • News nº 70 | jul. 2017
      • News nº 69 | jun. 2017
      • News nº 68 | mai. 2017
      • News nº 67 | abr. 2017
      • News nº 66 | mar. 2017
      • News nº 65 | fev. 2017
      • News nº 64 | jan. 2017
      • News nº 63 | nov/dez. 2016
      • News nº 62 | out. 2016
      • News nº 61 | set. 2016
      • News nº 60 | jul. 2016
      • News nº 59 | jun. 2016
      • News nº 58 | mai. 2016
      • News nº 57 | abr. 2016
      • News nº 56 | mar. 2016
      • News nº 55 | fev. 2016
      • News nº 54 | jan. 2016
    • 2014 – 2015
      • News nº 53 | dez. 2015
      • News nº 52 | out. 2015
      • News nº 51 | set. 2015
      • News nº 50 | jun. 2015
      • News nº 49 | mai. 2015
      • News nº 48 | abr. 2015
      • News nº 47 | fev. 2015
      • News nº 46 | jan. 2015
      • News nº 45 | dez. 2014
      • News nº 44 | out/nov. 2014
      • News nº 43 | set. 2014
      • News nº 42 | jun/jul. 2014
      • News nº 41 | abr/mai. 2014
      • News nº 40 | mar. 2014
      • News nº 39 | jan/fev. 2014
    • 2012 – 2013
      • News nº 38 | nov/dez. 2013
      • News nº 37 | out. 2013
      • News nº 36 | set. 2013
      • News nº 35 | jun. 2013
      • News nº 34 | mai. 2013
      • News nº 33 | abr. 2013
      • News nº 32 | mar. 2013
      • News nº 31 | jan. 2013
      • News nº 30 | nov/dez. 2012
      • News nº 29 | set/out. 2012
      • News nº 28 | ago. 2012
      • News nº 27 | jun. 2012
      • News nº 26 | fev/mar. 2012
      • News nº 25 | jan. 2012
    • 2010 – 2011
      • News nº 24 | nov/dez. 2011
      • News nº 23 | set/out. 2011
      • News nº 22 | jul/ago. 2011
      • News nº 21 | mai/jun. 2011
      • News nº 20 | mar/abr. 2011
      • News nº 19 | jan/fev. 2011
      • News nº 18 | dez. 2010
      • News nº 17 | out/nov. 2010
      • News nº 16 | ago/set. 2010
      • News nº 15 | jun/jul. 2010
      • News nº 14 | mai. 2010
      • News nº 13 | abr. 2010
      • News nº 12 | mar. 2010
      • News nº 11 | jan/fev. 2010
    • 2008 – 2009
      • News nº 10 | nov/dez. 2009
      • News nº 9 | out. 2009
      • News nº 8 | ago/set. 2009
      • News nº 7 | jul. 2009
      • News nº 6 | mai/jun. 2009
      • News nº 5 | abr. 2009
      • News nº 4 | mar. 2009
      • News nº 3 | jan/fev. 2009
      • News nº 2 | dez. 2008
      • News nº 1 | nov. 2008
  • Subscrever Newsletter
  • Contacto
Main Menu
  • Home
  • Newsletters
    • 2018 – 2019
      • News nº 92 | jul. 2019
      • News nº 91 | jun. 2019
      • News nº 90 | Mai. 2019
      • News nº 89 | Abr. 2019
      • News nº 88 | Mar. 2019
      • News nº 87 | Fev. 2019
      • News nº 86 | Jan. 2019
      • News nº 85 | Dez. 2018
      • News nº 84 | Nov. 2018
      • News nº 83 | Out. 2018
      • News nº 82 | Set. 2018
      • News nº 81 | Jul. 2018
      • News nº 80 | Jun. 2018
      • News Nº 79 | Mai. 2018
      • News nº 78 | abr. 2018
      • News nº 77 | mar. 2018
      • News nº 76 | fev. 2018
      • News nº 75 | jan. 2018
    • 2016 – 2017
      • News nº 74 | dez. 2017
      • News # 73 | nov. 2017
      • News # 72 | out. 2017
      • News # 70 | set. 2017
      • News nº 70 | jul. 2017
      • News nº 69 | jun. 2017
      • News nº 68 | mai. 2017
      • News nº 67 | abr. 2017
      • News nº 66 | mar. 2017
      • News nº 65 | fev. 2017
      • News nº 64 | jan. 2017
      • News nº 63 | nov/dez. 2016
      • News nº 62 | out. 2016
      • News nº 61 | set. 2016
      • News nº 60 | jul. 2016
      • News nº 59 | jun. 2016
      • News nº 58 | mai. 2016
      • News nº 57 | abr. 2016
      • News nº 56 | mar. 2016
      • News nº 55 | fev. 2016
      • News nº 54 | jan. 2016
    • 2014 – 2015
      • News nº 53 | dez. 2015
      • News nº 52 | out. 2015
      • News nº 51 | set. 2015
      • News nº 50 | jun. 2015
      • News nº 49 | mai. 2015
      • News nº 48 | abr. 2015
      • News nº 47 | fev. 2015
      • News nº 46 | jan. 2015
      • News nº 45 | dez. 2014
      • News nº 44 | out/nov. 2014
      • News nº 43 | set. 2014
      • News nº 42 | jun/jul. 2014
      • News nº 41 | abr/mai. 2014
      • News nº 40 | mar. 2014
      • News nº 39 | jan/fev. 2014
    • 2012 – 2013
      • News nº 38 | nov/dez. 2013
      • News nº 37 | out. 2013
      • News nº 36 | set. 2013
      • News nº 35 | jun. 2013
      • News nº 34 | mai. 2013
      • News nº 33 | abr. 2013
      • News nº 32 | mar. 2013
      • News nº 31 | jan. 2013
      • News nº 30 | nov/dez. 2012
      • News nº 29 | set/out. 2012
      • News nº 28 | ago. 2012
      • News nº 27 | jun. 2012
      • News nº 26 | fev/mar. 2012
      • News nº 25 | jan. 2012
    • 2010 – 2011
      • News nº 24 | nov/dez. 2011
      • News nº 23 | set/out. 2011
      • News nº 22 | jul/ago. 2011
      • News nº 21 | mai/jun. 2011
      • News nº 20 | mar/abr. 2011
      • News nº 19 | jan/fev. 2011
      • News nº 18 | dez. 2010
      • News nº 17 | out/nov. 2010
      • News nº 16 | ago/set. 2010
      • News nº 15 | jun/jul. 2010
      • News nº 14 | mai. 2010
      • News nº 13 | abr. 2010
      • News nº 12 | mar. 2010
      • News nº 11 | jan/fev. 2010
    • 2008 – 2009
      • News nº 10 | nov/dez. 2009
      • News nº 9 | out. 2009
      • News nº 8 | ago/set. 2009
      • News nº 7 | jul. 2009
      • News nº 6 | mai/jun. 2009
      • News nº 5 | abr. 2009
      • News nº 4 | mar. 2009
      • News nº 3 | jan/fev. 2009
      • News nº 2 | dez. 2008
      • News nº 1 | nov. 2008
  • Subscrever Newsletter
  • Contacto

Perspectives for GAPIC – The View of the New Coordinator

By etavares On 31 December, 2009 Research and Advanced Education | 2009 Comments Off on Perspectives for GAPIC – The View of the New Coordinator No tags

The idea of promoting and supporting the scientific research carried out by undergraduates in research units in our faculty was the result of masterful foresight by Professor David Ferreira, mine and our Master, in 1989. Thus was born the GAPIC – Office for Scientific, Technological and Innovation Research Support. The GAPIC Project, even today, over two decades later, is considered innovative both in Portugal and internationally. It resulted from the foresight that scientific research, in particular in its most basic aspect, would play an increasing role in advanced in modern medicine, and that doctors should have not only Professional training, but also a more and more demanding scientific training, with the risk of their profession rapidly becoming a craft.
The relationship between scientific advance and its consequences on medical practice is difficult to gauge. However, there is a consensus as to the existence of a great hiatus between the quantity and sophistication of the basic knowledge that already exists in biological and biomedical areas and their transformation into real benefits for patients. Put simply, one might say that most of the most fascinating fundamental knowledge is, still, clinically useless. A lot of the reflection on the issue was and is promoted by the NIH, in the United States (USA). Over time, several directives have been followed within the scope of this reflection, with a tendency to close the gap. There have been alterations in the focus of investment, for example from cancer to diabetes, or in the type of research, i.e. more basic/fundamental or more applied. The results have been less than what was hoped for, always. The identification of the factor that is nowadays considered to be the most relevant one was thus late; that factor – the decline of the doctor-scientist. It would be interesting to meditate on this, as for so long it was a factor that is intrinsically human, a figure – the doctor-scientist – confused with other factors with an essentially contingent or circumstantial nature (e.g. financing, type and focus of research)! Given the human nature of the main factor it is no surprise that the most important contingent factor identified was that of time, or rather lack of it.
A sensitive analysis of history has identified the figure of the doctor-scientist as the major promoter of the real advances in medical practice over recent decades, with the exception of the last one. In these decades good, purely clinical research consolidated medical knowledge and set out its ranges and limits, refining it from useless detail. This type of research continues, and with increasing professionalism. Like good traditions, it comes from way back, is here to stay and improves with age. It is essential to have a good medical practice, it is indispensable and necessary; but it is not enough. Also over those decades, good basic/fundamental research revealed new, unsuspected universes, it amazed us, provoked enchantment and raised up hopes; and for a long time it did not let us doctors down. For the younger doctors there were signs that the times of the new sciences were coming, and the old ones being rejuvenated, an interpreter, who was a doctor and practised science that was fundamental or very close to it, and was a scientifically as learned as his peers with other academic training. But he also possessed depth, knowing full well the medical range that many of the new discoveries involved. And he brought them into the clinical domain, he knew the pertinent issues in the area, as he was either a practicing doctor or frequented clinical circuits. He spoke with his peers as an equal, without preconceived ideas or subservience; he understood and made himself understood. The doctor-scientist gained public recognition, won Nobel prizes, filled medical schools with pride and, above all, greatly benefited those who were suffering. Now he remains in a residual manner, like a solitary but often merited example. The doctor-scientist has gone into decline, and for that reason so has the capacity to bring what is being discovered in the most basic sciences into clinical practice as well as the capacity to bring the best questions raised during clinical activity into the laboratory. The doctor-scientist has almost become extinct, almost because he didn’t have time to practice two activities that had both become excessively competitive, professionalised and absorbing. He became the victim of the greatest human lack – that we can make almost anything, except time.
For over a decade there has been the promoting of a change in strategy, so that the enormous successes and experimental resources of modern fundamental science may more rapidly and more widespread become benefits for patients. For this, special attention is being granted to more direct focus on experimental/laboratorial research into problems with great clinical relevance, taking the starting point in issues emerged from clinical practice and, whenever possible, also clinical material obtained directly from patients. This is one of the fundamental pillars, but not the only one, of modern translational medicine. But if one did not meditate deeply on the characteristics of the human agent, i.e., what is the central figure capable of leading this strategy successfully, one would fall into an old mistake. Fortunately that analysis has already begun. And so the figure of the scientifically educated doctor has emerged. This doctor will combine excellent clinical training and scientific training that is also excellent. Ideally he will have carried out more fundamental research, but for a limited time of his academic training, for example during PhD work. His scientific training will be modern and solid from the theoretical point of view. It will be broad. Necessarily broader than that of the doctor-scientist. It will have to be acquired quickly, but be coherent and very demanding. It will allow him to know the local and international scientific medium It will give him the capacity to identify competences and dialogue with them, without hidden subservience. The new doctor will be capable of identifying relevant issues in his clinical practice, because he will also know what can be dealt with through experiments. He will also be able to participate in multidisciplinary teams, or to lead them; he will be a key element, because as a scientifically informed doctor he will be a valuable member. Besides this, he will be capable of interacting with industry, namely the pharmaceutical industry, and companies, more aware of the needs of society and of the economy. He will make scientific questioning an element of his daily practice. Because after the training period in science, his predominant or exclusive activity will be clinical practice. He will not be absorbed by the laboratory like the doctor-scientist; that will be the task of those who collaborate with him or who he leads. Thus, the contribution of the doctor-scientist will not be the time factor. He will be more useful to his patients and will dominate the time factor.
The idea of participating in the scientific training of doctors attracted me from the outset. That scientific training obviously goes beyond the teaching-learning inherent to undergraduate training. I personally think that in the current context the figure of the scientifically educated doctor is the most adequate one to establish continuity between cutting-edge, truly innovative research and clinical practice. In Portugal there have recently been pioneering and excellent private initiatives in order to adapt the advanced scientific training of doctors to the new reality. I can highlight the initiatives of the Calouste Gulbenkian and Champalimaud Foundations, with ministerial support. In order for these kinds of initiatives can be continued, so as to generate in Portugal the critical mass of doctors motivated towards scientific activity, it will be important for contact with it to start during the undergraduate period. Preferably through the practice of science in units of excellence, independently of their more clinical or more Basic/fundamental tendencies, as the type of medical research they will practice will be a continuum between those two stereotypes. In fact, there must only be one type of research: excellence. GAPIC’s aim is to promote this research among medical students. It will certainly contribute towards the training of the new doctor, who will once again be the leading figure in the advancing of the medical sciences. The environment of our faculty is now particularly propitious; it is one of contagious enthusiasm! Signs of this are the formation of the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), the growing involvement of the doctors from the Santa Maria Hospital (HSM) in joint projects with the FMUL-IMM, and the recent creation of the Academic Medical Centre.
Out of all this, the current GAPIC team will take its lines of action as:
1) To maintain the promotion of the scientific activity practised by students in units of excellence, in order to stimulate, without short cuts, the perception of the influence of scientific culture on medical culture;
2) To integrate, whenever possible and desirable, the actions promoted by GAPIC with actions promoted by the students themselves;
3) To promote students’ contact with living forces in our society, coming from other areas of knowledge and businesses, so as to become aware of the context of their future action.
I can guarantee that the current GAPIC team, made up by Professors Ana Espada de Sousa, João Forjaz de Lacerda and João Eurico da Fonseca, besides myself, assisted by Sónia Barroso, is particularly committed to fulfilling these aims.
I must thank the GAPIC coordinators who came before me and with whom I have had closer contact, namely Professors David Ferreira, Leonor Parreira and Ana Sebastião, for how much I owe them for their cultural legacy.

 

João A. A. Ferreira
Unidade de Biologia da Cromatina (UBCR) | Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM)
Faculdade de Medicina – Edifício Egas Moniz Piso3A – sala5
Tel: 21 7999 519 | Fax: 21 7999 418 | Ext. (IMM): 47359/47305
e-mail: hjoao@fm.ul.pt

Share

Search

Index - News # 10 | nov/dez. 2009
 Congratulations news@fmul!
 Evaluation of the news@fmul Newsletter – Main Results
 Swearing-in of the Coordinating Secretary of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (FMUL)
 New@FMUL New Editorial Team
 Opening of the 2009/2010 Academic Year with Appeals for Greater Projection of the University of Lisbon
 Interview with Professor Fernandes e Fernandes for RCM Pharmagazine
 Appended terms of Academic Cooperation between the FMUL and FMUFRJ and FMUFMG
 8 December 2009 – Anniversary of the Santa Maria Hospital (HSM)
 Interview with Isabel Jonet – President of the Portuguese Federation of Food Banks
 News@FMUL – First year testimonies
 First Year of news@fmul – The Faculty to Remember
 12th “EDUCATION THROUGH SCIENCE” WORKSHOP
 2nd Endovascular Panamerican Congress – ENDOPAN
 Going onto the Stage and sharing the Adventure of Research
 ENJOY Med (National Encounter of Young Medicine Students)
 Food Bank Against Hunger: FMUL’s participation
 Social Responsibility at the FMUL
 Perspectives for GAPIC – The View of the New Coordinator
 6th AstraZeneca Foundation / Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon
 Bruno Silva-Santos wins Pfizer Clinical Research Prize
 About the Advanced Training Course in Metabolic Diseases and Disturbances in Dietary Behaviour
 About Masters Course in Bioethics
 Participation by Teachers on Juries for Academic Examinations in Other Institutions
 Rural and Autumnal Breviary of the Chestnut and the Chestnut Tree
 Christmas Lights in Lisbon
 Comments and Suggestions
 Christmas Message
 Characterisation of First Year Students
 DEBATE CYCLE BY THE FMUL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (AAAFML)
 RESEARCH PROGRAMME ON THE FRONTIER OF LIFE SCIENCES
 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM “STATE OF ART IN CARDIOLOGY”
My Company

100 AnosPropriedade e Edição: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa NIPC: 502662875  Periodicidade: Mensal  Diretor: Prof. Doutor Fausto J. Pinto Conselho Editorial: Prof. Doutor Fausto J. Pinto, Profª. Doutora Ana Sebastião, Prof. Doutor Mamede de Carvalho, Prof. Doutor António Vaz Carneiro, Prof. Doutor Miguel Castanho, Dr. Luís Pereira  Equipa Editorial:  Ana Raquel Moreira, Cristina Bastos, Isabel Varela, Joana Sousa, Maria de Lurdes Barata, Rui Gomes, Sónia Teixeira  Colaboração:  Gabinete de Relações Públicas, Internacionais e Comunicação  Versão Inglesa: AP|PORTUGAL- Language Services  Conceção: Metatexto, Lda. e-mail: news@medicina.ulisboa.pt  Sede do Editor e Sede da Redação: Avenida Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa Estatuto Editorial Anotado na ERC 

  • Increase Font
  • Decrease Font
  • Black & White
  • Inverse Colors
  • Highlight Links
  • Regular Font
  • Reset
Real Accessability