Rheumatology Research Unit, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon
The Rheumatology Research Unit stems from a partnership between the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM)/Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon and the Department of Rheumatology of Santa Maria Hospital. In this context, laboratory researchers and clinicians work side by side with the mission of promoting the teaching of rheumatology, translational research and clinical excellence in the field of rheumatology.
Currently, the following people work at the Rheumatology Research Unit: seven doctors (three physicians, three biologists and a biomedical engineer), nine PhD students (a biologist, a pathologist, a biochemist, two biomedical engineers and four physicians), a variable number of master degree students (between 4 and 10), a unit manager, five rheumatology interns, an orthopaedist and a variable number of rheumatologists (depending on the interaction between research projects and the clinical activity of the service).
Our specific research objectives are the study of the pathogenesis of inflammatory joint diseases (Rheumatoid Arthritis – RA – and other rheumatic diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis), spondyloarthritis, and systemic erythematosus lupus – SEL) focusing particularly on the early stage of these diseases and their effects on the bone and vessel, with the ultimate purpose of identifying instruments for early diagnosis, prognosis and the detection of new therapeutic targets.
In partnership with the Higher Technical Institute, we are also involved in the study of bone biomechanics, with particular emphasis on the evaluation of the impact of inflammation on bone structure. Most of this research activity involves human samples and animal models, but we are also involved in clinical trials, epidemiological studies and in providing expert advice to government and private institutions. Finally, through the permanent integration of students from different levels and of rheumatology interns, we have maintained undergraduate and postgraduate teaching activity in this research area, which, in practical terms, has enabled the presence of interns conducting PhD studies in rheumatology. The group has established itself over the past eight years as the main reference in national research in the field of rheumatology and its long-term goal is to be recognized as a Centre of Excellence in Rheumatology by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).
Since its onset, the Rheumatology Research Unit has been a translational research centre integrating non-medical researchers (mostly biologists and biomedical engineers) and clinicians. In order to strengthen the institutional concept connecting the clinical component to the laboratory, a cooperation protocol between the board of the Institute of Molecular Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon and the board of the Santa Maria Hospital was established, which defined the Rheumatology Research Unit in the context of a partnership between the Rheumatology Department of Santa Maria Hospital and the Institute of Molecular Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon.
Between 2008 and 2012 the Unit has published 30 articles in journals with an impact factor greater than 5 and 86 publications in journals with an impact factor lower than 5. It has presented over 200 papers at national and international scientific conferences. As the Unit grew and developed, it was possible to bring together various national projects, such as the creation of Portugal’s first Rheumatology Biobank, part of the Biobank of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and developing and implementing the National Register of Rheumatic Patients (Reuma.pt). Receiving the Bial Award in Clinical Medicine in 2008 was an important recognition of the work conducted by the Unit in the last decade in support of biomedical research in the field of rheumatology.
João Eurico Cabral da Fonseca
Director of the Rheumatology Research Unit
The Rheumatology Research Unit stems from a partnership between the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM)/Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon and the Department of Rheumatology of Santa Maria Hospital. In this context, laboratory researchers and clinicians work side by side with the mission of promoting the teaching of rheumatology, translational research and clinical excellence in the field of rheumatology.
Currently, the following people work at the Rheumatology Research Unit: seven doctors (three physicians, three biologists and a biomedical engineer), nine PhD students (a biologist, a pathologist, a biochemist, two biomedical engineers and four physicians), a variable number of master degree students (between 4 and 10), a unit manager, five rheumatology interns, an orthopaedist and a variable number of rheumatologists (depending on the interaction between research projects and the clinical activity of the service).
Our specific research objectives are the study of the pathogenesis of inflammatory joint diseases (Rheumatoid Arthritis – RA – and other rheumatic diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis), spondyloarthritis, and systemic erythematosus lupus – SEL) focusing particularly on the early stage of these diseases and their effects on the bone and vessel, with the ultimate purpose of identifying instruments for early diagnosis, prognosis and the detection of new therapeutic targets.
In partnership with the Higher Technical Institute, we are also involved in the study of bone biomechanics, with particular emphasis on the evaluation of the impact of inflammation on bone structure. Most of this research activity involves human samples and animal models, but we are also involved in clinical trials, epidemiological studies and in providing expert advice to government and private institutions. Finally, through the permanent integration of students from different levels and of rheumatology interns, we have maintained undergraduate and postgraduate teaching activity in this research area, which, in practical terms, has enabled the presence of interns conducting PhD studies in rheumatology. The group has established itself over the past eight years as the main reference in national research in the field of rheumatology and its long-term goal is to be recognized as a Centre of Excellence in Rheumatology by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).
Since its onset, the Rheumatology Research Unit has been a translational research centre integrating non-medical researchers (mostly biologists and biomedical engineers) and clinicians. In order to strengthen the institutional concept connecting the clinical component to the laboratory, a cooperation protocol between the board of the Institute of Molecular Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon and the board of the Santa Maria Hospital was established, which defined the Rheumatology Research Unit in the context of a partnership between the Rheumatology Department of Santa Maria Hospital and the Institute of Molecular Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon.
Between 2008 and 2012 the Unit has published 30 articles in journals with an impact factor greater than 5 and 86 publications in journals with an impact factor lower than 5. It has presented over 200 papers at national and international scientific conferences. As the Unit grew and developed, it was possible to bring together various national projects, such as the creation of Portugal’s first Rheumatology Biobank, part of the Biobank of the Institute of Molecular Medicine and developing and implementing the National Register of Rheumatic Patients (Reuma.pt). Receiving the Bial Award in Clinical Medicine in 2008 was an important recognition of the work conducted by the Unit in the last decade in support of biomedical research in the field of rheumatology.
João Eurico Cabral da Fonseca
Director of the Rheumatology Research Unit
