Today, in the majestic hall of the Council of Trustees, overlooking one of the most beautiful areas of the city of Lisbon, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon and the Champalimaud Foundation signed a Protocol of Collaboration.

In the presence of the Vice-President of the Foundation, o Dr. João Silveira Botelho, the Clinical Director of the Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Professor António Parreira, the Deputy Director of the Faculty, Professor Ana Sebastião, the Director of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Fausto J. Pinto and the President of the Champalimaud Foundation, Dr. Leonor Beleza, signed the document that formally reinforces the existing ties.

With the goal of enhancing the scientific, pedagogical and assistance capacities of both institutions, the agreement intends to reflect a framework of cooperation and mutual aids between clinical areas that can participate in medical and post-graduate education, research areas with joint hubs, promoting the professional and pedagogical training of both parties.

Visibly pleased with the conclusion of the agreement, the two top representatives of the institutions wanted to say a few personal words.

Fausto J. Pinto

“On behalf of the Faculty, I would like to thank everyone for having made it out this far. This type of affiliations and close relations with the Champalimaud Foundation are very important for us, for what it represents, being one of the most visible Institutions and with greater production in the scientific area, besides others. This is the kind of agreement that fits into our strategic vision, as we try to increasingly open the Faculty’s doors to Institutions that may complement and complete us. With this agreement I reassert the kind of relations we wish to establish in the future, in terms of research and post-graduate training, which may be of mutual interest. It’s a happy day for these two Portuguese Institutions, as we strengthen Portugal’s role in science, research, teaching and university education. It’s this type of agreement that allows us to work more for those we represent and for whom we work.”

Dr. Leonor Beleza

“This is a milestone in the Champalimaud Foundation’s integration into the Portuguese scientific and clinical community. It’s about our relationship with one of the most important academic units in the country and we see this protocol as a reinforcement of the cooperation that existed in the past and continues to exist. The Champalimaud Foundation would like to thank Professor Fausto Pinto for the openness with which he has been receiving our proposals to contribute to provide the best possible health care and do the best possible research. Signing this protocol is a solemn declaration of the terms under which this collaboration has existed and is expected to continue existing in the future. In the Champalimaud Foundation you will certainly find the utmost commitment and highest expectations that we can achieve more together than we were achieving separately, both in the clinical and in the scientific area, as well as the awareness and importance of the fact that the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon is part of the largest University in the country, with a track record of achievements that deserves our deepest respect and appreciation”.

Thus, May 16 is the first day of a journey we all hope will be a long-lasting one.