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Raquel Seruca (1963 - 2022)

The Board of Directors of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) is deeply saddened by the death of Raquel Seruca, deputy director of the Institute of Pathology and Molecular Immunology(Ipatimup) and researcher in the field of gastric and colon cancer.

The researcher Raquel Seruca has collaborated with FCT on numerous occasions, having participated in the evaluation processes of applications to Studentships of research, in the evaluation panels of reports of the funding of R&D Units, integrated the Monitoring Committee of the Research Infrastructures constituted in 2019, and was jury of the Pulido Valente Science Award. She has participated and developed more than 20 projects funded at Calls of FCT, in most of which she was responsible researcher.

Raquel Seruca received her medical doctorate from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, and has been involved for several years in determining the frequency and type of CDH1 germline alterations in hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) in early pregnancy and familial diffuse gastric cancer, having established a national network of clinical assistance in screening families with HDGC criteria. He was a member of the scientific advisory board of the US association No Stomach for Cancer, which supports families with gastric cancer.

In 2005, Raquel Seruca received from FCT the distinction Stimulus to Excellence; in 2009, she was awarded the insignia of Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique by the then President of the Republic, Cavaco Silva; she was awarded the Gold Medal of Scientific Merit by the City Council of Porto, in 2014; and she was twice awarded the Labmed prize (2002 and 2003) and twice the Benjamim Castelman USCAP award (2001 and 2012).

The FCT Board of Directors conveys to his family and friends, and to all the Ipatimup and i3S staff, its heartfelt condolences at this difficult time.

Photo courtesy of i3S