Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing - Portugal

Project Information

MIA-Portugal

Grant agreement ID: 857524

DOI

10.3030/857524

EC signature date 8 July 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• Teaming of excellent research institutions and low performing RDI regions

Total cost

€ 15 043 051,25

EU contribution

€ 15 000 000,00

Coordinated by

COMISSAO DE COORDENACAO E DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL DO CENTRO
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - MIA-Portugal (Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing - Portugal)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

European societies are increasingly caught in a ‘longevity trap’: while people are living longer, the incidence of age-related diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative conditions is rising. At the same time, the onset of frailty and disability is not being delayed in line with the increase in lifespan. As a result, individuals are spending a growing portion of their lives in poor health, leading to a significant decline in quality of life during the later years.
At the societal level, this longevity trap results in an ever-growing proportion of the population living with multiple chronic diseases, disabilities, and frailty, despite ever-increasing investment in health and social care systems. This is because the underlying ageing process is the primary risk factor and most probably the root cause of most age-related conditions. Current treatments, which typically target individual diseases, have a limited impact on the broader ageing process itself. This is largely due to our still incomplete understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive ageing.
MIA-Portugal is the first Centre of Excellence devoted to fundamental and translational ageing research in Southern Europe. It aims to gather a critical mass of excellent researchers to unravel the key biological processes underlying the ageing process. This new generated knowledge will support the development of predictive and preventive medicine and advanced therapeutics in ageing and age-related diseases. In turn, promotion and transfer of innovative practices and services will ensure the long-term sustainability of MIA-Portugal. MIA-Portugal will foster the emergence of talent (human capital) through advanced PhD and postdoctoral training in ageing research, building on the established structure at the University of Coimbra and its unique biomedical environment. Profiting from its position as a scientific leader of Ageing@Coimbra and the collaboration with academic and industry partners, and business incubators, ultimately MIA-Portugal will promote economic growth and highly qualified jobs in the center region of Portugal. Overall, these activities are expected to contribute to the extension of healthspan among European citizens and to a reduction in the economic burden on national health and social care systems.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The research teams have now been established, consisting of ten distinct groups. Recruitment was guided by scientific excellence, with each group bringing distinct expertise and perspectives to ageing research, that together contribute to the multidisciplinary profile and scientific identity of our research institute.
We also established the management team to oversee the operations of MIA-Portugal. This team operates with its distinct leadership and governance structure, ensuring a significant level of autonomy and decision-making capability. Additionally, MIA-Portugal benefits from the guidance of its International Advisory Board, Ethics Advisory Board, and the Advocacy Committee, further enhancing its strategic direction and ethical framework.
Building on the strengths and complementarities of the recruited teams, we have defined our scientific strategy as well as a long-term sustainability plan that integrates both research priorities and institutional development goals.
As for the building that will host MIA-Portugal, construction has been completed, and essential technical and safety tests are currently underway. The installation of furniture and scientific equipment is planned to continue until the first quarter of 2026. Relocation of researchers to the new building is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026
Meanwhile, MIA-Portugal groups have made significant advances in producing high-quality publications and generating new knowledge aimed at understanding ageing and age-associated diseases. They have actively participated in conferences and fostered collaborations both within the Ageing Coimbra ecosystem and with our leading international partners. Their efforts in securing complementary funding have yielded a notably high success rate.
MIA‑Portugal has adopted a multi‑sectoral collaboration strategy to accelerate the translation of research into real‑world impact. On one hand, we are actively partnering with industry (providing specialized services, formalizing partnership agreements, and coordinating jointly funded projects) to turn scientific discoveries into innovative products and processes. On the other hand, we have established agreements with Coimbra‑based research institutes and clinicians at ULS‑Coimbra to implement translational and clinical studies to characterize ageing populations and develop predictive and preventive interventions. Together, these integrated partnerships drive both market‑ready innovations and evidence‑based approaches to extend healthspan.
The training of the next generation of ageing researchers has been actively promoted through multiple initiatives. These include the establishment of courses focused on ageing-related topics for the EIT Health Ageing PhD School; the organization of a seminar series in ageing research (Ageing Seminars); and the delivery of Spring Schools and advanced training courses on ageing. In addition, joint supervision of master’s and PhD students has been implemented between teams at MIA-Portugal, University of Coimbra and partnering institutions. MIA-Portugal researchers and their partners are also working together to develop a dedicated PhD program in the field of Ageing.
In addition, MIA-Portugal is collaborating with the CHAngeing Excellence Hub, expanding access to multidisciplinary expertise and stakeholders across the quadruple-helix (academia, industry, government and civil society), and creating new opportunities for joint training of students and collaborative scientific activities.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

MIA‑Portugal successfully recruited group leaders with outstanding track records and international experience to establish their research groups in Coimbra.
Furthermore, MIA‑Portugal is delivering significant scientific and societal impact, as demonstrated by the growing number of publications authored by MIA-Portugal researchers, the rise in competitive funding acquisition, and the extensive dissemination and communication initiatives we have undertaken.
Organizing, promoting, and energizing societal activities has been a primary objective for MIA-Portugal, including initiatives such as the MIA-Portugal Ageing Spring Schools, the European Researchers' Night, and the International Brain Awareness Week. MIA-Portugal is also developing a training and development program to help our researchers develop their careers as research leaders.
By the end of the project, we aim to establish a financially sustainable, internationally recognized Centre of Excellence in ageing research. The Centre will feature state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure and equipment, be staffed by leading researchers, and offer comprehensive training programmes. Through active partnerships with industry and close integration with clinical services, the CoE will drive innovation in preventive geroscience to extend healthspan and reduce healthcare costs. It will also train a new generation of ageing researchers, engage societal stakeholders, and provide evidence‑based insights to inform policymaking on healthy ageing.

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