NOVA Medical School officially inaugurated this Monday (16th) the Advanced Training building, the first phase of the new campus in Carcavelos, a strategic project that will profoundly transform teaching, research and innovation in health in Portugal.
With an overall investment of 50 million euros and a total area of 25,500 m², the NOVA Medical School Carcavelos campus will be developed in different phases until 2028, bringing together undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, biomedical research, entrepreneurship, care provision and community liaison activities. More than just a building, this inauguration represents the start of a new center for health in Portugal, anchored in the principles of scientific excellence, pedagogical innovation and social responsibility.
Ana Paula Martins, Minister of Health, emphasized the importance of the project for the country's development: "The doctors who train here will have a mission for the future, because they are the ones who will build it for the benefit of people and communities. The country needs these projects, which bring Portugal closer to what we all want. In this new chapter, may they write a good part of what will become of medical education and health teaching in Portugal."
For the Mayor of Cascais, Carlos Carreiras, this project is "another decisive step towards the future". "This new academic and scientific center represents the continuity of a clear strategy: to attract talent, knowledge and innovation. More than buildings or numbers, we're talking about people. We're talking about guaranteeing health, proximity and dignity, with public policy decisions based on science and knowledge for all those who live in Cascais."
"This new NOVA Medical School campus is a clear example of NOVA's ambition, a global university that is committed to excellence and innovation with an impact on society. This is a space that integrates science, teaching and health and puts Portugal at the forefront of European medical training," says the rector of NOVA University Lisbon, João Sàágua.
"The inauguration of this Advanced Training building at NOVA Medical School is an important milestone in the School of the Future that we are building - a school that is more open, collaborative, student-centered and deeply connected to society. This campus is a platform for rethinking the way we train doctors and health professionals, based on interdisciplinarity, technological innovation and a humanistic vision of medicine that we are very proud of. This is an important moment for us to thank our institutional partners - both public and private - who are the basis of everything that has already been born and will be born here," said the interim dean of NOVA Medical School, Miguel Xavier.
The new Advanced Training building, with more than 4,000 m², 12 modular learning rooms, 8 clinical simulation laboratories, an anatomical theater with 12 stations, and a modern surgical training center, is the first pillar of the new campus. Dedicated to postgraduate training, research and innovation, this space embodies a student-centred approach, with flexible, collaborative and technologically advanced environments. The laboratories include robotic mannequins and simulated patients, and the anatomical theater uses the latest technologies for cadaver training, promoting realistic and safe learning.
This new building reflects NOVA Medical School's commitment to lifelong learning, recognizing the growing complexity of medical practice. By creating a center of excellence for the updating and specialization of health professionals, the School strengthens its position as an institution of national and international reference.
The presentation of the new campus took place before an audience made up of the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, and mayors, institutional partners and representatives from the health, science and education sectors. The fundamental role of donors in this project was highlighted, with the involvement of Cascais City Council, CUF, Bial, Germano de Sousa, the Haddad Foundation, Grupo Nabeiro-Delta Cafés, Jerónimo Martins/Pingo Doce, Grupo Ribera Salud, among other public and private partners.
The new campus will also be linked to two strategic projects under development: the Todos-os-Santos Hospital (in Lisbon, scheduled to open in 2027) and the Alcabideche Complex, which will house innovation, care provision, research and entrepreneurship in health.
The inauguration session also included the presentation of a work by the artist Joana Vasconcelos, whose intervention aims to reinforce the cultural and humanist dimension of the campus. The internationally renowned Portuguese artist will create a piece that will symbolize the intersection between art, science and society. The event featured a performance by fado singer Kátia Guerreiro, accompanied by Professor Themudo Barata and guest musicians.
The event culminated with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and a tour of the new building, officially opening the doors of what will be a medical school of the future - global, interdisciplinary, innovative and anchored in excellence.