Maria de Sousa Award 2025 honours young Portuguese researchers in health sciences

Young Portuguese researchers were honoured with the Maria de Sousa Award 2025 for their research projects in cellular aging, Parkinson’s disease, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer.

The award ceremony for the fifth edition of the Maria de Sousa Award took place on November 4, at the Portuguese Medical Association in Lisbon, and distinguished five winners, all young researchers in the health sciences: Neuza Domingues (MIA Portugal, University of Coimbra), Bruna Meira (Neuropsychiatry Unit, Champalimaud Foundation), Ângela Fernandes (i3S, University of Porto), Diogo Reis Carneiro (ICNAS, CNC-UC, FMUC, University of Coimbra), Catarina Lopes (IPO-Porto).

The awarded projects in the 2025 edition focus on cellular aging, Parkinson’s disease, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer. They were selected from 45 applications submitted by researchers affiliated with 29 higher education institutions and research centres.

In an exclusive partnership of the Portuguese Medical Association and the Bial Foundation, this award pays tribute to the leading Portuguese immunologist and great researcher, Maria de Sousa, who will always be remembered as a unique personality in science worldwide.

In the opening speech of the ceremony, the President of the Portuguese Medical Association recalled that this event “evokes Maria de Sousa as a leading figure in science and citizenship, and reaffirms the path that medicine, science, research, and ethics trace when they move forward side by side”. Carlos Cortes also emphasised that “the Maria de Sousa Award does not merely celebrate a distinction, it celebrates a vision of community that believes in intelligence, in the courage to think deeply, and in the value of human care”.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Bial Foundation paid tribute to Maria de Sousa, recalling that those who knew her are aware of “the immense pleasure she took in supporting young people with a vocation for scientific research, helping them build a career focused on the highest standards of quality, with personal fulfilment, without taboos or borders”. Luís Portela also emphasised that Maria de Sousa wished “for young Portuguese scientists to prepare themselves to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best, in a global context”.

The President of the Jury emphasised that this Award “brings science and medicine together as inseparable parts of knowledge, something that is more important than ever to reaffirm today”. Rui Costa welcomed the continuity of the award, now in its fifth edition. “It takes generations to shape the scientists and physicians of tomorrow. Maria de Sousa was both a scientist and a physician, and when continuity is broken, it takes generations again. That is why continuity, being present and doing, is so vital for Portuguese science”.

The Jury for the 2025 edition is once again chaired by neuroscientist Rui Costa (Allen Institute, USA), and includes renowned scientists who were very close Maria de Sousa: Maria do Carmo Fonseca (Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon), Miguel Castelo-Branco (Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research Center, University of Coimbra), Joana Palha (School of Medicine, University of Minho), and João Relvas (Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto).

The Award, first launched in 2021, is awarded annually to five young researchers, each receiving up to €30,000, including a mandatory internship at an international centre of excellence.

Awarded projects:

Neuza Domingues | “Lysosomes going nuclear: tracing lysosome-nucleus communication”

Cellular aging results from a dynamic process of deterioration affecting organelles, their intercommunication, and stress response. Among the most impacted organelles during cellular aging is the lysosome, whose dysfunction is a key event. This leads to the degradation of macromolecules and organelles. This project aims to demonstrate that dysfunctions in both lysosomes and the nucleus are associated with the loss of inter-organelle communication, leading to molecular alterations in membrane composition and increased genomic instability. In the future, characterising these interactions may open therapeutic opportunities for age-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders and muscular dystrophy.

Bruna Meira | “FOSI: Uncovering causal mechanisms of freezing of gait using deep brain stimulation”

One of the most disabling motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is freezing of gait (FOG), defined as sudden and temporary episodes of walking blockage, which compromise autonomy and increase the risk of falls. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus is a well-established treatment for PD; however, its effects on gait and FOG are heterogeneous and may interfere with cognitive functions. This study aims to clarify the mechanisms underlying FOG and the effects of DBS, as well as the relationship between cognition and gait changes. The results may guide more precise and personalised stimulation strategies, with direct impact on clinical practice and the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s.

Ângela Fernandes | “Sweetening the tumour attack: neoantigen glycoengineering to boost CD8+ T cell response against colorectal cancer”

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common and deadly cancers worldwide, and currently, there is no effective treatment for all patients. One of the biggest challenges in clinical treatment is the heterogeneity and genetic complexity of CRC, as well as its ability to evade the immune system, making existing therapies ineffective for many. This project explores whether the glycan profile (complex sugars) on the surface of CRC cells can modulate the immune response. The ultimate goal is to develop a new vaccine based on GlycoNeoantigens to fight this type of cancer.

Diogo Reis Carneiro | “CaInPark - Cardiovascular interoception: from neuroanatomical foundations to impairment in Parkinson’s disease”

Interoception is the ability to perceive the functioning of our internal organs (e.g., feeling the heartbeat or a full bladder). This project aims to deepen the understanding of cardiovascular interoception, investigating its alterations in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although PD is commonly associated with motor symptoms (slowness and tremor), it also affects the connection between the brain and internal organs. The project hypothesises that this brain-body connection is dysfunctional in PD. To investigate this, participants will be assessed using scales that evaluate interoceptive, emotional, and multisystem symptoms.

Catarina Lopes | “SNIFF: Saliva-based non-invasive volatile organic compounds for gastric cancer detection”

Gastric cancer remains a public health challenge, with poor prognosis mainly due to late diagnosis, which limits the effectiveness of curative treatment. This project seeks a simple and rapid method for early detection through volatile compounds released by the body, which can be found in easily collected samples such as saliva, urine, or exhaled air. By studying these “invisible clues,” the aim is to develop a non-invasive, low-cost, and scalable solution that works like an “electronic nose” to identify individuals at higher risk of developing gastric cancer and refer them for diagnostic testing.