Venue

i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto
Address: Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qfLRdDpc86muhJRR6

Program

15:30 Opening Session
Porto Cancer Meeting & Ipatimup
Manuel Sobrinho Simões, Director of Ipatimup, PT

Porto Cancer Meeting & i3S
Cláudio Sunkel, Director of i3S, PT

The Preventable project - a real-world data opportunity
Carla Oliveira, Chair of the Porto Cancer Meeting & PREVENTABLE Coordinator

16:15 Rationale for Investing in Healthcare for Patients at High Risk of Cancer
Nicoline Hoogerbrugge, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen & ERN Genturis, former Coordinator, NL

17:15 Round table
From Health Research to Policy: closing the gap to enhance inherited cancer care

Moderator
Teresa Firmino, Science Editor of Jornal Público, Portugal

Panelists
Enrique Terol, Health Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU
Álvaro Santos Almeida, Executive Director of NHS, Portugal
Nicoline Hoogerbrugge, ERN Genturis former Coordinator, Netherlands
Carla Oliveira, PREVENTABLE Coordinator, i3S & Ipatimup, Portugal
Tamara Milagre, President of EVITA Patient Association, Portugal
Alexandre Quintanilha, Commissioner for the 10th i3S Anniversary

19:00 Porto D'Honra

Speakers

Teresa Firmino
Science Editor of Jornal Público, Portugal

Teresa Firmino is Science Editor at the Portuguese newspaper Público. She graduated in Social Communication from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa in 1992 and has worked at Público covering science ever since. In 2008–2009, she studied science journalism in the United States through the Knight Science Journalism Fellowships at MIT. Since 2012, she has been the editor of Público’s Science section. She has co-authored several books on science and everyday curiosity and received the Ciência Viva Montepio Media Prize in 2017 for her contributions to science communication.

Enrique Terol
Health Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU

Enrique Terol is a Health Counsellor at Spain’s Permanent Representation to the European Union, where he represents Spain’s interests in health policy. He is a medical doctor specialised in Family and Community Medicine, with a Master’s and PhD in Public Health, and training in healthcare management and quality.
He has worked in clinical practice and held leadership roles such as Medical Director and CEO in both private and public healthcare institutions, as well as in healthcare planning. From 2004 to 2008, he was Deputy General Director for Quality and Health Planning at Spain’s Ministry of Health, contributing to national strategies on issues including heart disease, diabetes, mental health, rare diseases, and patient safety. Between 2008 and 2011, he served as Health Attaché at Spain’s Permanent Representation to the EU and coordinated the health area during Spain’s EU Presidency. From 2011 to 2020, he worked at the European Commission’s DG SANTE as a Seconded National Expert and Policy Officer, helping to develop and implement the European Reference Networks for complex and rare diseases.
He later led a team in the European Commission’s Medical Service (2021–2022). Since 2022, he has again served as Health Counsellor at Spain’s Permanent Representation, coordinating the health area during Spain’s 2023 EU Presidency.

Álvaro Santos Almeida
Executive Director of NHS, PT

Álvaro Santos Almeida is the Executive Director of the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS). An economist by training, he has built his career in health policy, public administration, and academic research. He previously served as Secretary of State for Health and has held leadership roles in healthcare management and planning.
Alongside his public service work, he has been involved in teaching and research in health economics and health systems, contributing to debates on healthcare reform, efficiency, and access to care. As Executive Director, he focuses on strengthening the organisation, performance, and sustainability of the NHS.

Nicoline Hoogerbrugge
ERN Genturis former Coordinator, Netherlands

Nicoline Hoogerbrugge is a Professor in Hereditary Cancer at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Since 2017, she has chaired the European Reference Network on Genetic Tumour Risk Syndromes (ERN GENTURIS), a European initiative that supports patient care, education, guideline development, and research in hereditary cancer. She has also led the multidisciplinary expert centre in hereditary cancer at Radboudumc since 1999. She studied medicine at Erasmus University Rotterdam and specialised in Internal Medicine and Cancer Genetics. She has held academic positions as Associate Professor at Radboud University and Adjunct Professor at Haukeland University in Bergen, Norway. Her research focuses on cancer genetics, particularly on improving the identification, prevention, and treatment of hereditary cancers such as PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS). Her work is closely linked to clinical practice and aims to address the needs of patients. She has served on several international boards and committees, including the board of coordinators of the European Reference Networks in rare diseases and the International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumours (InSiGHT), as well as advisory roles with major European cancer research initiatives.

Carla Oliveira
PREVENTABLE Coordinator, i3S & Ipatimup, Portugal

C. Oliveira is an internationally recognised researcher in hereditary cancer, with a particular focus on E-cadherin/CDH1-related diseases and hereditary gastric cancer. Her work has identified new genetic causes of hereditary gastrointestinal cancers and contributed to improved patient management and targeted therapies.
Her research aims to uncover the missing heritability of hereditary gastric cancer through whole-genome studies and to develop biomarkers for earlier detection and prevention. She is Secretary General of the European Society of Human Genetics, President of the Portuguese Society of Human Genetics, and National Coordinator of the European Reference Network on Genetic Tumour Risk Syndromes (ERN GENTURIS). She currently leads the EU-funded PREVENTABLE project and is actively involved in international research collaborations, scientific committees, and postgraduate training.

Tamara Milagre
President of the EVITA Patient Association, Portugal

Tamara Milagre is the president of EVITA – Association for the Support of People with Genetic Mutations Linked to Hereditary Cancer. EVITA's mission is to save lives and improve the quality of life of individuals and families affected by hereditary cancer.

Alexandre Quintanilha
Commissioner for the 10th i3S Anniversary

Alexandre Quintanilha is a biophysicist, academic and former politician. He is an emeritus professor at the University of Porto and a former director of the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology. His scientific work has focused on ageing, oxidative stress and molecular biology, and he has played an important role in promoting science policy and developing research in Portugal. In addition to his academic career, he served as a member of the Portuguese Parliament, where he distinguished himself on issues relating to science, education and public health.
Alexandre Quintanilha has received several honours, including the Pessoa Prize (2004), the Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique and the Grand Officer of the Order of Public Instruction, in recognition of his contributions to science, higher education and public life.

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