GIMM is pleased to announce the three projects selected in the latest edition of the Junior Clinician Grants call, an initiative aimed at early-career clinicians that seeks to promote the development of high-quality clinical research through a strong model of mentorship and research training.

The selected projects address priority areas in health, with direct impact on clinical practice and patients’ quality of life, and are based on close collaborations between clinicians and GIMM researchers.

Selected Projects

Ana Araújo, mentored by Joana Neves and Pedro Sousa-Vitor (GIMM), in collaboration with Mariana Alves from the Orthogeriatrics Unit at ULS Santa Maria, will develop a project focused on recovery and rehabilitation of geriatric patients after hip fracture. The study will investigate muscle function and immune alterations in skeletal muscle associated with post-surgical recovery.

Diana Alves, mentored by Ana Almeida (GIMM-CARE) and Catarina Reis-de-Carvalho, MD, from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at ULS Santa Maria, leads a project dedicated to the investigation of the biological mechanisms underlying menopausal symptoms. This research integrates hormonal, inflammatory, and gut microbiome data, with the goal of developing personalized precision medicine approaches in women’s health.

João Melão, mentored by João Lacerda (GIMM) and Francisco Azevedo Coutinho from the Department of Stomatology at ULS Santa Maria, will evaluate the impact of mandibular advancement devices in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The project aims to assess reductions in inflammatory and pro-tumoral biomarkers, as well as improvements in sleep quality and overall quality of life.

About the Junior Clinician Grants Call

The Junior Clinician Grants call is designed for early-career clinicians interested in developing research projects, fostering close links with GIMM and its scientific ecosystem. Each selected project receives €20,000 in funding, access to GIMM platforms for 18 months, and benefits from a co-mentorship model involving both a GIMM researcher and a senior clinician with experience in clinical research.

The kick-off of the projects is scheduled for March, marking the beginning of a new phase of collaboration and training that reinforces GIMM’s mission to bridge scientific research and clinical practice.