Católica Biomedical Research Center (CBR) is a non-profit institute founded in 2022 with a vision to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. Our goal is to be internationally recognised as a reference biomedical research institute.  

In the next 10 years, we will establish 16 multidisciplinary research teams across a wide research portfolio to address fundamental questions related with health challenges and clinical research.  Our mission is to empower talented investigators who combine innovative technologies that bridge biomedicine, biology and engineering, to foster a collaborative and creative environment and potentiate efforts towards solutions.

CBR is embedded in an ecosystem aspiring to advance human health through research and innovation in medical teaching and practice. Together with the Católica Medical School, Hospital da Luz Lisboa, and Union of Portuguese Misericordias, CBR takes part in the first non-governmental Clinical Academic Center in Portugal - Católica Luz.

CBR is currently hosted at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência campus in Oeiras as to capitalise on available resources and highly specialised infrastructure, via a collaboration agreement between with the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and the Gulbenkian Foundation. Our researchers have access to the state-of-the-art facilities, such as advanced optical and electron microscopy, flow cytometry, genomics, and animal facility (mice, rats, zebrafish, Drosophila). At the same time, proximity to Católica Medical School campus in Sintra (10 km) allows close interaction with students and other teaching staff.

CBR has a simple horizontal organisation and is led by its Director and Board of Directors. These are supported by the Advisory Board that plays an important role in steering the strategy of the institute and reviewing its work. The Societal Advisory Board on its end provides guidelines on strategic relationship with relevant societal actors, as to bring society's needs to the scientific agenda, disseminate research results and build competences among citizens.