“I didn’t have a telescope when I was three years old and I wasn’t even sure I had made the right choice when I signed up for Biochemistry at the Faculty. I am really sorry I can’t offer that far-fetched explanation that I was already into cell manipulation when I was a child.” Things came naturally to Miguel Prudêncio, a researcher at the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), who leads a $1218 million research project for the development of a malaria vaccine sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “This is a crucial stage as we are trying to get authorisation to begin clinical trials of the vaccine in humans.”

The sponsorship offered by the Gates Foundation for the project led by Miguel Prudêncio made headlines. In his view, this was one of the scarce pieces of good news in Portugal, and most of the good news comes from the science area, which means that science ought to be made a national priority. Prudêncio will attend the 6th edition of the iMed Conference to be held in Lisbon on 10-12 October where he will address the threat of a malaria resurgence in Portugal brought about by global warming.”

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Source: Jornal de Negócios