The new board of the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology at the University of Coimbra (from left to right): the coordinator of the Metabolism, Ageing and Disease research area, Maria Teresa Cruz; the president of the CNC-UC and coordinator of the Neuroscience and Disease research area, Ana Cristina Rego; and the coordinator of the Innovative Therapies research area, Bruno Manadas

The Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology at the University of Coimbra (CNC-UC) has a new board, elected for the 2026–2028 term. This is the first election in the institution’s history in which all full members holding a PhD have taken part, in accordance with the regulations approved by the University of Coimbra following the center’s integration into the university.

Researcher and leader of the Mitochondria and Neurodegenerative Diseases group, Ana Cristina Rego, assumes the position of President of CNC-UC, succeeding Luís Pereira de Almeida, as well as the coordination of the Neuroscience and Disease research area. Ana Cristina Rego will be joined in the leadership team by researchers Maria Teresa Cruz and Bruno Manadas.

In her new role, Ana Cristina Rego aims to foster synergies not only among the various research groups across the three areas that make up CNC-UC, but also with international partners; strengthen internal communication within CNC-UC and coordination with other entities; encourage researcher training and development; and promote the diversification of opportunities for competitive European and international projects and funding.

“The guiding principles of my programme for CNC-UC are based on three fundamental pillars: sustained scientific excellence, translating science into societal impact, and valuing the people who make up CNC-UC. I am committed to serving as President of CNC-UC with openness, transparency, integrity and determination, placing my experience at the service of a collective, inclusive and ambitious vision for the center, focused on scientific excellence, innovation and societal impact”, says Ana Cristina Rego.

As for her leadership of the Neuroscience and Disease area, the researcher’s programme is based “on close engagement with researchers, the promotion of scientific collaboration, and coordination with the CNC-UC leadership and clinical partners. I intend to strengthen a more cohesive and competitive scientific area, associated with the promotion of development opportunities and funding acquisition, as well as greater international visibility, consolidating the area’s role as a structuring pillar of CNC-UC and CiBB”, states Ana Cristina Rego.

Researcher and leader of the Innate Immunity in Inflammatory Pathologies subgroup, Maria Teresa Cruz, will coordinate the Metabolism, Ageing and Disease (MAD) research area. In this role, she aims to foster an environment of greater collaboration and internal communication among research groups; promote translational integration between basic and clinical research; and drive internationalisation, turning the scientific diversity of the groups into a more competitive and cohesive area.

“The action plan I am proposing for the area is based on three pillars: collaboration between groups, translational integration between basic and clinical research, and internationalisation. My goal is to contribute to a more cohesive, visible and competitive MAD, translating its scientific diversity into collaboration, funding, innovation, advanced training and impact on health”, says Maria Teresa Cruz.

Researcher and leader of the Functional Proteomics in Health and Disease group, Bruno Manadas, assumes the coordination of the Innovative Therapies scientific area. His proposals include continuing the flagship project focused on cellular senescence; placing a stronger emphasis on clinical validation; promoting cross-training of researchers between groups and the involvement of PhD students in industry; encouraging clinical research; and assessing the resumption of ISO 9001 certification, among other initiatives.

“The programme I am proposing is based on the conviction that the strength of the Innovative Therapies area lies in the combined efforts of its 16 groups. The coordinator’s role will be to facilitate this collective effort: organising the groups into sub-clusters, continuing the flagship cellular senescence project, promoting joint applications, and internationalising training,” says Bruno Manadas.

These elections marked a pivotal moment in the governance of the institution, enabling members of the CNC-UC community to participate in the selection of its scientific and administrative leadership.