Professor Jaime da Cunha Branco, Director of NOVA Medical School and Director of the Rheumatology Service at Centro Hospital Lisboa Ocidental and his collaborators were awarded on April 21 the Grande Prémio BIAL 2016, totalling two hundred thousand Euros, for their work on the impact of rheumatic diseases among Portuguese individuals.
The winning initiative is promoted by the Health General Directorate and results of a collaborative work between the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology (Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia) and NOVA Medical School. The study concluded that more than 50% of the Portuguese adult population suffers from some type of rheumatic disease, but only 22% had it previously diagnosed.
The award ceremony took place at the Rectorate of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa with the presence of the President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and other relevant entities in the area of health.
The jury has also awarded a second prize, Prémio BIAL de Medicina Clínica which totalls one hundred thousand Euros, to the project "Diabetic foot - solutions for a big problem".
In the 17th edition of this award two other research works were distinguished with honorable mentions and a ten thousand Euros prize each.