Following a series of editions of News@FMUL dedicated to Institutes, Clinics and Laboratories of FMUL, now it was the turn of the Institute of Biochemistry. News@FMUL publishes articles on the scientific activity, pedagogical innovation and internationalization of this Institute. In addition, I was invited to write this editorial note. Despite this context, I choose to deviate from the Institute of Biochemistry as a topic to reflect instead about FMUL as a whole in its multiple fronts: science, pedagogical innovation, clinical activity and internationalization.

It is a timely reflection because the 2013 Activity Report of FMUL’s Director and the Action Programme for 2014 were disclosed in March. The analysis of the current situation of FMUL in the report is rich and detailed, anchored on very objective data. The increasing difficulties are clear (+ 47% of students and less 7% in budget since 2005), and the effort to carefully adapt the management and orientation of the faculty to this reality is also clear: the support given to the scientific activity of the research units has remained intact without any cuts, and experimental and clinical practice teaching has also remained unchanged. Everything was rationally done to protect the essential at the expense of everything else, with good results. Just as well!

 

Professor Miguel Castanho
Sub-Director of the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon