Three projects of the Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (ISPUP) were approved in the scope of the special support “Research 4 COVID-19”, granted by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), in collaboration with the Agência de Investigação Clínica Biomédica (AICIB).
In line with the objectives defined by this special support, the project financed in ISPUP aim to contribute for improving health systems’ response to the impact of COVID-19.
One of the projects falls within the area of therapeutic development for the disease caused by the new coronavirus and the other two studies are clinical and epidemiological focusing on the area of cancer and pregnancy, as explained below.
Therapeutic development funding for COVID-19
Assessing the effectiveness and safety of Montelukast (a medicine used in asthma therapy) as a complement for the treatment of COVID-19 is the objective of the project coordinated by André Moreira, in partnership with the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João.
Entitled “An open labeled randomized controlled pragmatic trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Montelukast as add on treatment to the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19)”, the study received the funding of 30 thousand euros (the maximum amount allocated to each project).
Proving the efficacy of the medicine has the potential of improving the prognosis of the patients, helping to improve lung and respiratory injuries resulting from COVID-19 and contribute to the reduction in the length of hospital stays.
Clinical and epidemiological studies in the area of cancer and pregnancy financed
The researcher Nuno Lunet received funding for the project “Impacto da pandemia COVID-19 nos cuidados prestados a doentes oncológicos”.
The project, developed in partnership with the IPO-Porto, aims to “measure the impact of the epidemic of COVID-19 in the provision of healthcare to patients in the IPO-Porto, by comparing the diagnosed cases in the 4 months since the beginning of the outbreak with those of the same period in 2019”, refers the researcher who is the coordinator of the project.
The study, financed at around 22,000 euros, will show the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 on provision of healthcare to patients treated in IPO-Porto, with potential generalization to other IPOs/hospitals with activity in oncology.
The researcher Carina Rodrigues received founding for the project entitled “COVID-19 na gravidez: desfechos obstétricos e neonatais”
The clinical and epidemiological study aims to “determine the adverse effects of COVID-19 in pregnant women and new-born babies, as well as identify the practices adopted by health units in the management of disease in pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, relating them to health outcomes.”, explains.
The project, financed at around 15,000 euros, wants to identify the priority areas for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in pregnant women and new-born babies, and develop clinical recommendations based on evidence, adjusted to the Portuguese reality, which will support the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS).
It should be underlined that the researchers Paula Meireles e Niza Ribeiro, from ISPUP, are part of the project “FollowMyHealth” team, which also received funding from RESEARCH 4 COVID-19. The project is coordinated by Ana Aguiar and the promoter organization is the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP).
About “RESEARCH 4 COVID-19”
The special support “RESEARCH 4 COVID-19”, attributed by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), in collaboration with the Agência de Investigação Clínica Biomédica (AICIB), rewards projects and initiatives of I&D that answers to the needs of the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) in responding to this and future pandemics within a very short timeframe.
