Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at Universidade Nova de Lisboa

IHMT’s mission is the development of scientific research in Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Medicine and Public Health, and the development of cooperation and dissemination of information in the Portuguese speaking countries. Thus, IHMT is an important player in specific health issues and the only Portuguese institution dedicated to the study of health in those countries. Furthermore, IHMT offers clinical services to travelers and has reference laboratories for diagnosis of the so-called tropical diseases.IHMT has been at the forefront of research of tropical endemic diseases such as sleeping sickness, malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, studies on vectors and on other endemic diseases in the tropics. These lines of work have been reinforced by research into tuberculosis and viruses most prevalent in the health of travelers and migrant populations and health care systems, often within networks and partnership projects.

The quality of IHMT’s guidance for strengthening health systems was recognized by WHO in 2011, assigning to IHMT the unique status of Collaborating Center on “Policy and planning of the workforce in health” in Portugal.

IHMT, one of the NOVA University Institutes, is characterized by its postgraduate studies, research and cooperation for development, and is recognized nationally and internationally for the scientific quality of postgraduate education and scientific research. Its area of excellence is centered mainly in tropical medicine and health, problematic areas in developing countries, particularly in Portuguese-speaking countries, with which IHMT has a unique relationship, in particular with local institutions, visible through the collaborative scientific articles, projects and collaborations already achieved.

In its advanced training program, IHMT has designed an updated, high-quality and attractive pedagogical offer with new courses and curricula with the focus on new upcoming themes and the expansion of the necessary expertise in today's global world, integrated in its role as a reference centre in the Portuguese-speaking countries. Presently, IHMT offers 6 MSc/2nd cycle (Medical Parasitology, Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Health, Health and Development, Medical Microbiology and Epidemiology, these latter 2 in association with other NOVA institutions) and 4 doctorate/3rd cycle courses (Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Medicine, International Health and Human Genetics and Infectious Diseases, this latter in association with Faculty of Medical Sciences.