On June 30th, researchers, healthcare professionals and patient representatives came together in Lisbon for the GIMM CARE Research Symposium, an afternoon dedicated to showcasing how clinical and translational research is advancing patient care and improving health outcomes.
The symposium highlighted the work of GIMM CARE’s four Translational Labs, each addressing major healthcare challenges through close collaboration between researchers and clinicians, supported by the GIMM CARE Biobank.
The Oncology Translational Lab, led by Luís Costa, presented research spanning the full translational continuum—from biomarker discovery and early cancer detection to understanding treatment resistance and developing new clinical trials. The lab’s work demonstrates how integrating research and clinical care can accelerate precision oncology.
At the ADBCancer Translational Lab, led by Karine Serre and Sérgio Dias, researchers presented an integrated approach to understanding breast cancer progression and metastasis. By combining longitudinal patient cohorts with advanced technologies such as metabolomics, spatial imaging and microbiome analysis, the team is identifying biomarkers to predict therapeutic response, disease progression and metastatic risk.
The Microbiome in Health & Disease Translational Lab, led by Ana Almeida, showcased how the gut microbiome can contribute to colorectal cancer prevention and early detection. Through the integration of clinical cohorts, microbiome profiling, machine learning and lifestyle data, the lab is developing non-invasive biomarkers and personalised risk prediction tools to improve cancer screening and precision prevention.
Finally, the BrainCDT Translational Lab, led by Cláudia Faria, presented its work to better understand and combat brain metastasis, focusing on the discovery of biomarkers for earlier detection and the identification of novel therapeutic targets to prevent metastatic progression.
One of the highlights of the symposium was the inaugural International CARE Science Rounds, bringing together a clinician and a researcher to explore complementary perspectives on precision medicine. Inês Pires da Silva shared how clinical and multi-omics models are being used to predict immunotherapy response and recurrence risk in melanoma, while Roger Colobran demonstrated how advanced genomic technologies are uncovering the molecular causes of rare immune disorders and improving diagnostic precision.
Alongside the scientific sessions, the symposium featured a poster exhibition showcasing CARE research infrastructures, strategic initiatives and collaborative projects, creating valuable opportunities for networking and fostering new collaborations between researchers, clinicians and patient representatives.
The GIMM CARE Research Symposium reinforced GIMM CARE’s commitment to bridging scientific discovery and clinical practice, accelerating translational research that delivers meaningful benefits for patients and society.