Two projects from the Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (ISPUP) were approved under the “Call for SR&TD projects in all scientific domains”, from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
The study coordinated by Vítor Tedim Cruz aims to assess the long-term neurological effects of infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The project, entitled Complicações neurodegenerativas pós COVID-19, will assess the occurrence of neurological symptoms, namely, loss of smell and taste, sleep disorders and cognitive decline, as well as new cases of Parkinson’s disease and dementia in the population covered by the Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos and the Centro Hospitalar Entre o Douro e Vouga, in Santa Maria da Feira.
The research will compare the incidence of cognitive decline in COVID-19 survivors and in individuals without evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, over a period of two years, beginning in January 2020.
As the researcher explains, “the longitudinal design with monitoring for at least two years will allow us to assess the temporal evolution of these complications and the potential long-term neurological effects of the SARS-CoV-2 infection”.
Gentrification, relocation and residential insecurity in cities: what is the impact on the population’s health?
The other approved ISPUP project explores a different theme. The study, coordinated by Ana Isabel Ribeiro, will measure the levels of gentrification – a concept that describes the process through which more privileged individuals occupy previously disadvantaged neighborhoods – residential insecurity and change in the socioeconomic structure of neighborhoods in the Porto Metropolitan Area, over the past two decades.
As the researcher explains, “after the financial crisis of 2008, many European cities started to face an unprecedented housing crisis, characterized by the increase in house prices and the lack of public investment in the housing stock, which has triggered urban transformation processes such as gentrification, residential insecurity and relocation”.
These urban transformation processes have an impact on health, but there are few studies on the subject.
The project entitled Os efeitos na saúde da gentrificação, da relocalização e da insegurança residencial nas cidades: um estudo multi-coorte quase-experimental will assess the health impacts of these urban transformation processes, using data from two population cohorts in the Porto Metropolitan Area – EPIPorto and Geração XXI – which cover various stages of life (childhood, adulthood and old age).
Since the participants in these cohorts are geo-referenced, and the researchers have data on physical and mental health, an individual can be compared before and after a residential move, and following changes in the socioeconomic structure of their place of residence.
About the SR&TD projects in all scientific domains
As part of the Call for Projects for Scientific Research and Technological Development in all Scientific Domains – 2020, 312 projects were selected for funding.
According to information available on the FCT website, “this call has a budget allocation of 75 million euros, in an investment supported by national funds, through the FCT budget”. This financing “contributes to the consolidation and strengthening of the National Scientific and Technological System, as a priority of the national science and technology policy, in a transversal manner to all scientific areas”.
