Partnerships
ARSC - Regional Health Administration of the Centre Region, IP
http://www.arscentro.min-saude.pt/Paginas/Inicio.aspxThe Protocol between AIBILI and ARSC is of great relevance to AIBILI. The area of primary health care is a major research interest of AIBILI. Screening and prevention are priorities for AIBILI research particularly in the area of imaging diagnostics. The Reading Centre for fundus images of the Central Region of Portugal screening programme for Diabetic Retinopathy is located at the Coimbra Ophthalmology Reading Centre (CORC) of AIBILI. A series of epidemiological studies have been taking place in the Central Region of Portugal as a result of this partnership in an effort to map the incidence of age-related eye disease in Portugal.
Champalimaud Foundation
http://www.fchampalimaud.org/The Champalimaud Foundation recognized in 2010 AIBILI as one of its C-TRACERs – Champalimaud Translational Centres for Eye Research. The C-TRACERs focus on translational eye research as it strives to further the knowledge of vision in such a way that it can be readily applied to the patient.
The C-TRACER Network is formed by Centres in Portugal, India and Brazil. The India C-TRACER is the L. V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad and the Brazilian C-TRACER is the Institute for Vision at the Federal University of S. Paulo at S. Paulo.
Ongoing joint research activities bringing together these institutions and the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital of Coimbra are focused on predicting progression of diabetic retinopathy, stem-cell treatment of eye diseases and teleophthalmology and this way translating basic research to clinical research and enhancing the adoption of best practices in the community.
CHUC - University Hospital of Coimbra
http://www.huc.min-saude.ptAIBILI has a Protocol signed with the University Hospital of Coimbra for mutual collaboration since 1994. Collaboration has been developed in the areas of Ophthalmology, Pharmacology, Neurology.
It has a particularly close relationship with the Department of Ophthalmology (Centre of Responsibility in Ophthalmology). The Clinical Trial Centre of AIBILI functions as an extension of the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital, expanding its activities through consultations and diagnostic examinations, taking advantage of the up-to-date facilities and equipment of AIBILI.
Critical Health
http://www.critical-health.comA partnership with the company Critical Health, SA was established in order to bring into the market new medical imaging products developed by AIBILI for the areas of medical diagnostics.
RetmarkerC, RetmarkerDR are new softwares that provide information to monitor the progression of retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, which are the leading causes of blindness in the Western world.
Automated analysis of eye fundus images has great potential since eye fundus images is an easily available non-invasive procedure that gives information not only on eye diseases but is also predictive of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
The series of products Retmarker is now in the international market and is a good example of research that reaches the market and has been proven to contribute to improved management of eye disease and better patient care.
More information: www.retmarker.com
EVICR.net - European Vision Institute Clinical Research Network
http://www.evicr.net/One of the major areas of activity of AIBILI involves its role as the Coordinating Centre of a European network of centres for clinical research in ophthalmology, the EVICR.net - European Vision Institute Clinical Research Network EEIG, which brings together 79 European clinical research centres from 16 European countries. This network has common standard operating procedures and has created the conditions for development of multinational, multicenter investigator-driven clinical trials and epidemiological studies in the European Union. It has ongoing clinical trials in the areas of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cornea, cataract and refractive surgery and has 3 projects supported by the European Union Research Framework Programme.
EVICR.net is also a useful resource for Industry in performing multinational clinical trials in ophthalmology and vision sciences in Europe.
More information: www.evicr.net
Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra
http://www.uc.pt/fmucAIBILI has a close relationship with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra since its inception. The Department of Ophthalmology, Pharmacology, Dermatology, Biophysics and Biochemistry (Radioisoptes Laboratory) of the Faculty of Medicine are associates of AIBILI.
This relationship has been supported by a Protocol of Collaboration established between AIBILI and the Faculty of Medicine. In 2012 a specific agreement was signed for AIBILI support to Investigator-Driven Clinical Trials developed at the Faculty of Medicine.
IBILI - Institute of Biomedical Research on Light and Image, Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra
http://www.ibili.uc.ptThe IBILI an institution dedicated to laboratory research was developed by AIBILI and was transferred in 1999 to the Faculty of Medicine because its personnel was supported entirely by the University and Faculty of Medicine. The collaboration between IBILI and AIBILI is, therefore, natural and the complementarity between these two institutions were established since their creation in 1989.
IBILI has been evaluated regularly by an independent international panel from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) since 1999 and received the classification of "Excellent".