Bringing together around 200 participants, the congress welcomed distinguished national and international speakers for two days of scientific discussion, knowledge exchange, and celebration of the University's achievements in health education and research.

The opening ceremony featured addresses from several institutional leaders.

Professor Paulo Jorge Ferreira, Rector of the University of Aveiro, reflected on the remarkable progress achieved over the past 25 years in the field of health and wished participants a successful congress.

Professor Artur Silva, Vice-Rector of the University of Aveiro and President of EMHA, reaffirmed the University's strategic commitment to health sciences, highlighting the creation of the Egas Moniz Health Alliance as a key milestone in strengthening healthcare education, research, and innovation.

Professor Francisco Amado, Director of the Department of Medical Sciences, revisited some of the University's most significant milestones over the past quarter-century. From the ambitious vision that began in 1999, through the establishment of health education programmes in 2000, the launch of two undergraduate degrees in 2006, the creation of iBiMED in 2015, and the establishment of the EMHA Academic Clinical Centre, he emphasised that the University has built a unique health ecosystem in Portugal—one that "allows us to dream that the University of Aveiro will become an important institution in health, both nationally and internationally." He also thanked the organising committee for successfully delivering the inaugural congress.

Professor Rui Costa, Director of the School of Health Sciences, highlighted the School's contribution to improving access to healthcare in Portugal and acknowledged the considerable effort required to organise such an interdisciplinary event. He stressed the importance of maintaining this collaborative spirit beyond the congress itself and paid tribute to the successive Directors of both the School of Health Sciences and the Department of Medical Sciences.

Finally, Professor Ana Gabriela Henriques, Chair of the Organising Committee, expressed her gratitude to the organising and scientific committees, sponsors, speakers, and participants whose commitment made the congress possible.

Scientific Programme

Day One – Research in Health

The congress opened with a plenary lecture by Professor Paulo Jorge Ferreira, entitled "Milestones in AI: From Early Models to Modern Breakthroughs."

The programme continued with a highly attended poster session, followed by oral communications and research pitches showcasing advances in basic, clinical, and translational health research.

The day concluded with a networking dinner during which prizes were awarded to the best scientific contributions presented throughout the congress.

Day Two – Innovation and Future Directions

The second day began with a plenary lecture by Professor Gustavo Tato Borges, Regional Public Health Director for Northern Portugal, entitled "Research for Action: How Can We Move It Faster and Further?"

The afternoon sessions explored New Frontiers in Diagnosis and Treatment across the four strategic research priorities of EMHA:

• Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases
• Bone and Muscle Disorders
• Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance
• Neurological Diseases

Congratulations on this successful event, which marked in a meaningful way 25 years of dedication and excellence in education and the promotion of research in biomedicine, medicine, rehabilitation and healthcare at the University of Aveiro!

Awards

BEST POSTERS BY AREA

Cardiovascular & Respiratory Diseases

When Rheumatoid Arthritis Coughs, the Cilia Speak: Unmasking a Ciliopathy Behind Lifelong Bronchiectasis

André Veloso; Eduarda Paiva; Sara Freitas; Jessica Jones

Bone & Muscle Disorders

Altered Calcium Channel Expression and Its Implications in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

Ana Cruz; Filipa Martins; Jana Sanchéz; Javier Muñoz; Mário Gomes-Pereira; Geneviéve Gourdon; Sandra Rebelo

Neurological Diseases

Identifying Early Regeneration-Associated Genes by Comparing Transcriptomic Responses to Central and Peripheral Nerve Injury

Bruna C. da Cruz; Patrícia D. Correia; Ana Rita Guimarães; Gabriela Moura; Frank Bosse; Sandra I. Vieira

Infection and Resistance & Others

Targeting Peroxisomes for Host-Directed Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Strategies

Jéssica Sarabando; Vanessa Ferreira; Bruno Ramos; Mariana Marques; Daniela Ribeiro

New Frontiers in Health

Mercury Exposure and Reproductive Health: Insights from 150 Women of Childbearing Age

Madalena Cabral; Margarida Fardilha; Susana Loureiro

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Portugal: Bridging the Gaps in the One Health Puzzle

Inês Campos Freitas; Rita De Sousa; Manuela Oliveira; Nuno Rodrigues Faria; Anna Papa; Líbia Zé-Zé

BEST ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

1st Prize

Prevalence of Sentinel Fragility Vertebral Fracture in Patients with Hip Fracture – A Retrospective Study

Inês Genrinho; Cátia Machado; Alina Humenyuk; Nuno Pais; Anabela Barcelos

2nd Prize

Decoding pDC-Mediated Fibrosis: ER Stress and Mechanosensing as Dual Drivers in Systemic Sclerosis

Mariana D. Machado; Carolina Mazeda; Catarina R. Silva; Philippe Pierre; Eduardo Dourado; Catarina R. Almeida

3rd Prize

Aging Promotes the Pathoadaptive Evolution of Gut Bacteria

Ana Sousa; Rita Melo-Miranda; Ana Pinto; Hugo Barreto; Catarina Jesus; Isabel Gordo; Iola Duarte

BEST RESEARCH PITCHES

1st Prize

Development of a New Oxygen Flowmeter and Its Application in Respiratory Rehabilitation Programmes

Rui Carvalho Santos; Cátia Caneiras; João Carlos Winck; Bruno Gago

2nd Prize

Systemic Lipids and Obesogenic Memory Influence Mouse iPSC Reprogramming and Cardiac Differentiation

Carlota Tavares-Marcos; Rafaela Dias; Júlia Tavares e Silva; Carolina Claro; Magda Correia; Bruno Bernardes de Jesus; Sandrina Nóbrega-Pereira

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