Outreach
July 22 | World Brain Day
The World Federation of Neurology, a non-governmental organization was established on July 22th 1957. It was suggested by the Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee that 22th July 2014 should be celebrated as “World Brain Day”. The Board of Trustees meeting in February 2014 endorsed this proposal as an annual activity. The objective is to improve awareness and advocacy for brain health globally. On World Brain Day, we advocate for health care, education, and research into neurological disorders.
The theme for 2022 campaign is “our brain, our future”.
- What are the challenges and progress in the development of drugs for the brain?
Activa magazine (Health)
“In response to the challenge of developing new drugs to treat diseases associated with the brain, we and other researchers have focused on strategies that use the natural transporters or receptors of the barrier cells. There are already some therapeutic antibodies modified to recognize and take advantage of the “ride” of a blood-brain barrier receptor that is involved in iron transport, for example.
These antibodies, which are in advanced stages of development, are intended to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Hunter syndrome. At iMM, our research group, led by Professor Miguel Castanho, is using compounds derived from a natural protein, which work like a key (i.e. recognizes an attribute in the cells of the barrier, which works like a lock, and manages to have “permission” to enter the brain).
Our compound has been shown to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier, and is therefore being used to modify advanced drugs, such as antibodies and nanoparticles, with therapeutic potential in the brain. We have a special focus on viral infections in the central nervous system, brain metastases from breast cancer and early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Please read the full article (in Portuguese) here.
Opinion article by Vera Neves, PhD. Researcher at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM).
May 28 | International Day of Action for Women’s Health
In 1987, during a reunion of members of WGNRR in Costa Rica, May 28 was declared as International Day of Action for Women’s Health (also known as International Women’s Health Day). Since then, May 28 has been internationally renowned and activities are held worldwide by women’s and health organizations globally to educate people about women’s rights to their bodies and to health, as well as to equality and non-discrimination.
- Focused on the most fearsome breast cancer
Lux Woman magazine (Health)
Despite some advances, breast cancer remains one of the biggest challenges in this modern medicine. An international consortium, led by Prof. Miguel Castanho, is making efforts to give answers to one of the most aggressive forms of this disease – the triple negative breast cancer. The ambition is to create a more effective and safer drug, not only against the tumor itself, but also against its fearsome brain metastases.
Please read the full article (in Portuguese) here.
- Fight against breast cancer: contribution of Portuguese Science
Saúde e Bem Estar (Health and Wellness)
INNOVATIVE DRUG UNDER DEVELOPMENT
It is important to reflect on the research effort of Portuguese scientists in the area of women’s health. At Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM), we are working on the development of an innovative drug that combines antitumor activity (i.e capable of destroying triple negative breast tumor cells) with the ability to enter the brain and thus eliminate brain metastases. The goal is to create a new drug that can, in the future, be used in the treatment of breast cancer, without severe adverse effects, and capable of preventing the progression of brain metastases. With this work, we intend to contribute with an effective solution to a problem that persists and affects many women, despite advances in the fight against other types of cancer. Please read the full article (in Portuguese) here.
Opinion article by Prof. Dr. Miguel Castanho. Principal Investigator at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM) and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon. He leads several international projects, among them the project “Protecting the Brain from Metastatic Breast Cancer”, financed by the “la Caixa” Foundation and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).
February 4 | World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day aims to prevent millions of deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to act against the disease.
Marco Cavaco explains our project “Protecting the brain from metastatic breast cancer” in Saúde Mais channel. Please watch here.
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