Ministry of Health awards Distinguished Service Medal to FCT President

On the occasion of World Health Day (celebrated on April 7), the Ministry of Health awarded the Distinguished Service Medal to personalities or institutions that have performed acts of selflessness, charity, altruism or beneficence or have rendered relevant services to Public Health or Social Assistance.

The gold medal awarded to Miguel Seabra, President of the FCT, recognizes his contribution to scientific research, particularly in identifying the genetic and cellular basis of choroideremia, a hereditary retinal disease that leads to progressive blindness. The work led by Miguel Seabra over 20 years led directly to the first gene therapy for choroideremia. The clinical trial (1st phase) produced surprising and very positive results in the patients involved: several patients showed real improvements in their vision in dim conditions, and two of these patients showed the ability to read more lines on the optometric chart. The results of this study were published in the journal Lancet in January this year.

In addition to the President, two members of FCT's Scientific Councils also received Silver Distinguished Service Medals: António Jacinto (Director of CEDOC - Center for Chronic Diseases, Faculty of Medical Sciences, New University of Lisbon) and Rui Reis (Director of the Associate Laboratory ICVS/3Bs, University of Minho).

World Health Day is celebrated annually on the initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year the WHO is warning about the risks of vector-borne diseases (mosquitoes, flies, ticks, etc.) such as dengue, malaria and yellow fever.