Protocol between FCT and the Directorate-General of Health to fund Research Programs in Cardiovascular Diseases

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Directorate-General of Health (DGS)/National Programmefor Brain and Cardiovascular Diseases (PNDCCV) signed a protocol in early December with a view to integrating national participation in the ERA-NET Cofund ERA-CVD network - Research Programmes in Cardiovascular Diseases, under the scope of the Horizon 2020 Programme.

Cardiovascular Diseases, namely Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) or Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), are the main causes of death in Portugal, and are currently one of the main public health problems in the country. As such, the fight against these diseases is considered a priority by the Ministry of Health through the PNDCCV, run by the DGS.

The impact on public health and, consequently, the social and economic impact that Brain and Cardiovascular Diseases represent for Portugal, justify special attention and investment in the discovery of new therapies and technologies that improve efficiency in combating these diseases. In this sense, it is expected that this institutional cooperation between FCT and DGS will contribute to better support the national scientific community that develops research in the area of cardiovascular diseases, resulting in the promotion and advancement of scientific knowledge and technological development.

This partnership will be implemented through joint funding of projects with Portuguese coordination or participation, selected under the joint transnational Calls launched by ERA-CVD, the European network that aims to fund transnational Research and Development (R&D) projects in cardiovascular research. It should be noted that the first Call of the ERA-CVD network, in 2016, opened this January, with a view to selecting research projects in the area of Heart Failure.