Novel Therapeutic Approach for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies Wins the Innovation Award Bluepharma | University of Coimbra 2025
Innovative strategy aims to halt disease progression before neuronal death.
A project led by Nuno Apóstolo, from the Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing (MIA-Portugal) at the University of Coimbra (which includes the Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology – CIBB), has been awarded the Innovation Award Bluepharma | University of Coimbra 2025. The project recognises an innovative therapeutic approach for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative disorders that currently affect around 57 million people worldwide.
The research team has identified a previously unknown biological mechanism that may play a key role in the entry of pathological tau protein into neurons and its spread throughout the brain. Building on this discovery, the team is developing an innovative therapeutic strategy aimed at blocking this process, preventing tau from being internalised by nerve cells and interrupting the spread of the disease.
The team's preliminary findings validate this novel therapeutic mechanism, providing strong proof of concept for the development of a future therapeutic strategy.
The winning project will receive a €20,000 cash prize, which may later be complemented by an additional investment of €30,000 to support the further development of the technology.
The Award Jury, composed of renowned experts with distinguished scientific careers, highlighted the originality of the discovery, its strong innovation potential, and its capacity to generate significant clinical and socio-economic impact, selecting this project from among the submissions received.
The Innovation Award Bluepharma | University of Coimbra 2025 ceremony took place, 14 July, in the Senate Hall of the University of Coimbra.
Chaired by the Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcão, the ceremony was attended by Sérgio Simões, CEO of Bluepharma, the company sponsoring the Award, and Fernando Seabra Santos, Chair of the Jury (Professor Emeritus and Former Rector of the University of Coimbra), among other distinguished guests.
Held every two years, the Innovation Award Bluepharma | University of Coimbra recognises outstanding scientific projects in the field of Health Sciences with strong potential to be transformed into innovative products or services, fostering knowledge transfer for the benefit of society.