January is often the month in which we plan to make changes. It is the month used as a starting point to put plans into practice and to set goals.

Our Newsletter has new features and relies on a team committed to providing information about what we do, but above all, to spreading the sense of belonging we should all have and feel.

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, together with the Institute of Molecular Medicine and the Lisboa Norte Hospital Centre and keeping with the spirit of the CAML, has the best professionals in the scientific area, as well as demanding students, who are willing to reach the same excellent quality standards. These people have a face and a career, which needs to be shared to inspire others and make them feel proud.

That is why we decided to give our Newsletter a different theme each month, gradually trying to reach the various agents and sectors that make up this institution.

Given that Scientific Research is one of the growth pillars of advanced countries and given that in this range of researchers and doctors, there are many names from this institution, we decided to show our country’s greatest achievements in the field of Research, namely the ones related to our institution.

Bruno Silva Santos, Vice-President of the iMM and Professor of Immunology at our Faculty, has found that, by injecting millions of white blood cells of a special type – T lymphocytes –, it was possible to slow down leukaemia in animal models.

Another group of researchers, coordinated by the Professor of Oncobiology and President of the iMM Carmo Fonseca and by Bruno de Jesus, have discovered a genethat reverses the ageing process.

Research is always on the agenda when the GAPIC honours the best students presenting theses in Scientific fields. The student Diogo Maia e Silva has raised the bar a few notches, defending his thesis on intra-tumour heterogeneity and receiving the GAPIC David-Ferreira award.

But since I’m talking about targets to be achieved, the Activity Plan, already available for 2018, is worth a read.

The loneliness and frustration of not always being the best student, can cause emotional problems. Espaço S, a project strongly supported by the Faculty, was designed thinking about these students who need answers.

Following the publication of a law prohibiting the sale of sweets at public health facilities, the Newsletter team spoke with Professor and Endocrinologist Isabel do Carmo and Psychiatrist at the Santa Maria Hospital, Manuel de Carvalho, to find out more about the sweetest enemy in the world.

Did you find reasons to read what our team has prepared for you this month?

And did you realise that they are all from our institution? This institution is also yours.

These are good reasons for you to feel proud and willing to keep following us.

I wish you all a Fantastic, Healthy and Scientific 2018.

Fausto J. Pinto

Director of FMUL