Who has never heard that lightning does not strike twice in the same place? The phenomenon repeated itself and reached everything and everyone with maximum intensity. The beginning of the new year was marked by a return to an unwanted past. We are, once again, locked down in our homes, physically separated from those we love most, in an inevitable distance to control a virus that has taken over our lives, as well as the will of the world for over a year.
Between the dismay of some and the anguish of others, we risk our lives when realizing how much we still have to build, because, as they say, "Life goes on". And it continues to demand from everyone creativity, resilience and emotional stability to reinvent ourselves every moment, even from home.
Because it doesn’t matter where, but rather what we manage to create in it, we present a new issue of News@FMUL, the first of 2021, and look at current events and scientific research.
We repeated a success formula and invited Professor Fausto Pinto to the latest episode of the podcast "Not subject to prescription”, where we talked about the vaccine, the only light at the end of a long tunnel to control the pandemic.
Upon the return of the FMUL Talks, we understand why everyone should be vaccinated against Covid-19 and we deepened the discussion of the today’s most popular topic, accepting that “Nothing in life is zero risk!” in a talk about vaccines with Professor Cristina Sampaio.
And because, in fact, vaccines have been on the agenda, we take a global look at the status of vaccination against Covid-19 in the country and the world.
How is the path of someone who has started his internship and gets to the end of his Integrated Master Degree? Afonso Schönenberger Braz answers and shares the motivations, challenges and professional goals in the area that faces the strongest obstacles with the pandemic.
We also recalled the best of January and took stock of the event that put Science on the main stage, revealing the backstage and the highlights of Research Day, organized by our Office for Support to Scientific Research.
And since this new issue of News@FMUL is not just about the pandemic, we also reflect on the impact of the winter cold on the health of our skin. How to protect and care for what is the largest organ in the human body was the motto of the conversation with Professor and Dermatologist Paulo Filipe.
We consider new possibilities for the future of Medicine and we look at the evolution that is reflected in the present time, with the interview with Neuro-paediatrician Teresa Moreno on the use of gene therapy for the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which is currently the main genetic cause of death.
In another Memory Roadmap , we distinguished the life and work of the doctor and humanist Ricardo Jorge, precursor of Public Health in Portugal.
Risking stillness and happiness these days is almost an illusion, but that is precisely the challenge we propose to you.
Despite the current lockdown, we maintain our activities in a quick and appropriate adaptation to the reality we live in, in order to ensure the continuity of our mission as a reference medical teaching institution, because "we believe that the maintenance of clinical cycles will be an educational, humanistic and supportive act that will contribute to the health of the country".
Knowledge and education are our responsibility and News@FMUL renews this commitment to the academic community with each new issue.
We have an appointment next month. Until then, enjoy our company, safely!
Sofia Tavares
Editorial Team
