CISM AND IHMT SIGN SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION AGREEMENT IN HEALTH

The agreement was signed by the Director-General of CISM and the Director of IHMT NOVA.

The Manhiça Foundation (FM), the entity that manages the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), and the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of NOVA University Lisbon (IHMT NOVA) recently signed a collaboration agreement. More than simply formalising an institutional partnership, the agreement paves the way for strategic collaboration that could strengthen scientific cooperation in health, at a time when the complexity of public health challenges requires increasingly integrated responses, underpinned by high-quality research, qualified training and cooperation between institutions.

According to CISM Director-General Francisco Saúte, the partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen the role of scientific research in addressing common public health challenges. “This collaboration reflects our vision that major health challenges require strong institutions, shared knowledge and sustained investment in the training of researchers,” he said.

Signed on 15 July in Maputo, the agreement establishes a framework for institutional cooperation aimed at jointly developing postgraduate training, technical capacity-building and scientific research activities in areas considered priorities by both institutions. These include global public health, epidemiology, applied health statistics, mathematical modelling, laboratory techniques, procedures and analyses, tropical diseases, biomedical sciences, communication and scientific writing.

At a time when Portuguese-speaking countries face similar challenges related to infectious diseases, health system strengthening, preparedness for future epidemics and the need to accelerate scientific innovation, closer collaboration between two leading health research institutions could provide an opportunity to expand knowledge sharing, foster research networks and create new training opportunities for researchers, health professionals and students.

The agreement was signed as part of the celebrations marking CISM’s 30th anniversary.

“We hope to improve surveillance and outbreak response.”

According to the Director of IHMT NOVA, Professor Filomeno Fortes, the agreement is expected to strengthen joint research, technical and academic capacity-building, and the transfer of knowledge and technology between the two institutions. “We also hope that this partnership will improve surveillance and outbreak response, increase joint scientific output, strengthen research infrastructure and make both institutions more competitive in mobilising international funding. It will also contribute to generating evidence to inform health policies and promoting greater ethical and regulatory harmonisation.”

Another strategic element of the agreement is the commitment by both institutions to develop joint applications for national and international funding. Collaboration in preparing competitive proposals could increase their capacity to mobilise resources for research, enabling the implementation of new projects, the expansion of training programmes and the consolidation of international scientific networks.

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that addressing major global challenges depends on international cooperation. Issues such as antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, climate change and health emergencies require multidisciplinary teams and institutions capable of working in networks, sharing knowledge, methodologies, infrastructure and experience.

“This collaboration could contribute to greater scientific integration within the CPLP.”

According to Filomeno Fortes, collaboration between CISM and IHMT NOVA could also act as a catalyst for greater scientific integration among Portuguese-speaking countries. “This agreement could serve as a replicable success story, promoting joint training programmes, doctoral programmes and internships, encouraging multicentre studies on tropical diseases, surveillance and vaccines, facilitating the creation of international consortia and contributing to the harmonisation of ethical standards, clinical trials and data management. We believe that this cooperation could strengthen the sharing of laboratories, diagnostic platforms, biobanks and scientific recommendations to support public health initiatives across the CPLP.”

Although the agreement has a bilateral scope, its potential reach could extend far beyond Mozambique and Portugal. The Portuguese language represents an important advantage in facilitating the circulation of knowledge, educational materials, training programmes and research teams among CPLP countries. By promoting joint initiatives in these areas, the agreement could serve as a platform for strengthening a more integrated Lusophone scientific community, capable of responding collaboratively to common public health challenges.