Bárbara Caetano da Mota, a researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of Porto (FMUP), won this Wednesday the Pepe Scholarship, sponsored by the former soccer player, valued at 18 thousand euros, to develop a research project in the area of Health.
Over the course of a year, the winner of this scholarship, promoted by the Associated Laboratory RISE — Health Research Network in collaboration with former Portuguese international Pepewill try to understand the effects of diabetes treatment on the changes caused by diets high in fat and sugar in the brains of adolescents.
The Pepe Scholarship, awarded this Wednesday at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO) in Porto, will have a “significant and positive impact” in this research project, stated Bárbara Caetano da Mota, quoted in a statement sent to Lusa.
Reacting with “surprise, joy and pride” to the award of this scholarship, the researcher explained that, in this way, she will be able to overcome obstacles already identified and that turned out to be an obstacle to the advancement of the research.
“As a researcher, I consider that these initiatives culminate in the desire to continue, since they highlight the value of research work, promoting medical advance and improvement in the health and quality of life of the general population“, he defended.
The work, which derives from research on neuronal degeneration and regeneration developed at CINTESIS — Center for Research in Health Technologies and Services, It is “a very relevant, current and very well presented work”considered the coordinator of the Bolsa Pepe jury and leader of the RISE Associated Laboratory, Fernando Schmitt, also mentioned in the statement.
“Now we have, from a pharmacological point of view, the ability to prevent the absorption of this type of fats and sugars at the intestinal level, something that is, in fact, the basis of a new treatment for diabetes and that is also associated with weight loss. The winning research project will investigate whether reducing the absorption of this type of compounds influences adolescents on a cognitive and emotional level,” specified the FMUP professor.
Bárbara Caetano Mota has a degree in Biology from the University of Aveiro and a master’s degree in Neurobiology from FMUP. He is currently studying the Doctoral Program in Neurosciences at the FMUP.
Launched in 2023, the Pepe Scholarship aims to attract scientific talent to contribute to scientific production and research results.
Based at the FMUP, the The RISE Associated Laboratory has more than 460 integrated researchers with doctorates.
Source: Observadora
