3rd MIA-Portugal Ageing Spring School Brings Together the Ageing Research Communit

From 13 to 15 May 2026, the 3rd MIA-Portugal Ageing Spring School took place at Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas, in Coimbra. Organized by the Multidisciplinary Institute for Ageing (MIA-Portugal), University of Coimbra, with the support of its scientific partners, the University Medical Center Groningen and the University of Newcastle, the event brought together graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and leading scientists from diverse backgrounds to explore the latest advances in ageing research and innovation.

The programme featured engaging lectures, hands-on sessions, interactive discussions, short talks, poster sessions, and one-to-one networking opportunities with internationally renowned experts. Covering topics such as cellular and molecular ageing, cellular senescence, systems ageing, age-associated diseases, and innovation in ageing research, the Spring School provided a dynamic environment for scientific exchange, collaboration, and professional development.

The ACT Lab was represented by Sandra Mimoso Pinhanços and Cláudia Deus, who presented two scientific posters showcasing the group's latest research in the fields of ageing, metabolism, and age-associated diseases. Their participation provided an excellent opportunity to discuss their work with researchers from different disciplines, receive valuable feedback, and establish new scientific collaborations.

Poster by Sandra Mimoso Pinhanços: miR-642a-3p confers dual protection to endothelial and β-cells under glucolipotoxicity stress.

The event featured keynote lectures by distinguished researchers, including Paula Pousinha (Université Côte d'Azur, France), Marta Kovatcheva (IFOM – Istituto Fondazione di Oncologia Molecolare, Italy), Eugenio Fornasiero (University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany), and Sir David Lane (Karolinska Institute, Sweden), offering participants valuable insights into the latest advances in the biology of ageing and healthy longevity.

The enthusiastic participation of attendees and the vibrant atmosphere for networking and informal exchange made this third edition of the MIA-Portugal Ageing Spring School particularly memorable, once again highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific training in advancing ageing research.

Link to the event website: https://www.uc.pt/mia/mia-portugal-ageing-spring-school-2026/

Participants of the 3rd MIA-Portugal Ageing Spring School at Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas, in Coimbra.