Today, 12 December, NOVA University Lisbon hosts NOVA Science & Innovation Day, an event dedicated to research and innovation, taking place at the NOVA Rectory.
In the 2025 edition, GHTM | IHMT NOVA – Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical is proudly represented by Carla Maia, Joana Marques, Ana Domingos and Henrique Silveira, from VBD-GHTM, Ricardo Abrantes from THOP-GHTM, and Miguel Viveiros, Scientific Coordinator of GHTM.
Early in the morning, Ricardo Macedo Abrantes presented a flashtalk on his PhD research during the “Research Highlights: R&D Projects led or co-led by NOVA Researchers PhD” session.
Next, Carla Maia presented the mission and goals of the EU-funded project EU CLIMOS, highlighting significant results from sand fly collections conducted in 2023–2024 across 12 countries. Notably, the first record of Ph. perfiliewi in Slovenia, a sand fly species capable of transmitting leishmaniasis. Pathogen analyses in blood-fed females are underway, and the data will support the development of sand fly distribution models in Europe in conjunction with climate data.
Later in the morning, the Re.Data network and the NOVA.ID-RDM-CC Competence Centre for Research Data Management were presented in the Open Science session. Key activities were highlighted, including the development of institutional guidelines and polici. Within the Re.Data consortium, the presentation focused on major achievements such as the policy framework development, the creation of a training, skills and capacity-building hub, and advances in research data curation and publishing. GHTM | IHMT is represented in this initiative by Salima Rehemtula.
Meanwhile, at the Innovation Fair, Joana Marques, Ana Domingos and Henrique Silveira showcased the groundbreaking bloodless mosquito diet. Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya affect millions every year. Yet mosquito research still depends on human or animal blood — a method that is outdated, logistically challenging, ethically questionable, and sensitive in terms of biosafety. BLOODLESS, developed and patented at IHMT NOVA in cooperation with Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, and initially funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, offers a transformative alternative. It supports mosquito development, reproduction, and vector-control research in a safer, more sustainable, and more ethical way.
GHTM | IHMT NOVA is delighted to contribute to this day dedicated to advancing science, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration for societal transformation.
More details about NOVA Science & Innovation Day and full programme here.