Institution Description

Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto (ISPUP) aims to create and disseminate high quality information and knowledge in the broad field of Public Health as well as to provide related services such as a pioneering Occupational health clinic in the University of Porto. ISPUP activities are performed in straight collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine and the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences – both reference Medical Schools for Portuguese and international students pursuing a medical education in Porto University. The ISPUP hosts several postgraduate programs in cooperation with different units within and outside the University of Porto, which result in approximately 50 Master and 10 PhD graduates each year. ISPUP promotes strong interactions among highly experienced researchers from complementary fields, such as Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environment, Nutrition, Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences and Preventive Medicine. Researchers at ISPUP are involved in a large number of national and international projects with competitive funding obtained from national and international sources. ISPUP hosts scientists at several career levels (64 PhD graduates), who publish over 200 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals annually, placing the Institute among the most productive and competitive Portuguese institutions in health sciences research. ISPUP fosters cooperation between agents within the University of Porto as well as with other regional, national and international academic and health institutions. It maintains several collaborations with European, South American and African partners, ensuring a global and dynamic exchange of clinical and population-based scientific information, training and research skills. ISPUP has been involved in epidemiological research in the area of physical activity both as an explanatory exposure and as outcome using our population research structures. Data from the population-based cohorts, the leadership of the Portuguese National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey and an international project on Built Environment and Health originated several international scientific publications relating physical activity and public health and drove our interest towards a more in-depth approach to Sports and Fitness Sciences.

Project Team

Project Implementation

For VANGUARD project implementation ISPUP invited the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Porto (ICBAS).

A new curricular unit on “Physical Activity and Health” is being developed to be offered to the students of the Medicine course.

This collaboration has the involvement of the Medicine course Director and the Department of Undergraduate Education.

Follow this partner’s work in our blog.