The RePo-SUDOE project participated in RExPO26, an international conference dedicated to systems medicine, artificial intelligence and drug repurposing, organised within the framework of the European REPO4EU project, which took place in Berlin from 23 to 25 September.
RePo-SUDOE was represented by four researchers from the Polytechnic University of Guarda (UPG) and one member of the Portuguese Society of Public Health (SPSP), who presented a total of four oral communications, four scientific posters and a virtual reality demonstration. This participation provided an opportunity to present different research lines of the project and promote knowledge sharing with specialists from different fields and countries.
Hugo Filipe, RePo-SUDOE coordinator and RExPO26 ambassador, moderated a session dedicated to international consortia and the global drug repurposing landscape, during which he also presented some of the advances of the RePo-SUDOE project, the transnational network for drug repurposing in the SUDOE area.
Master’s students in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at UPG and RePo-SUDOE fellows Maria Edna Matos and Mara Custódio participated with research on drug repurposing. Maria Edna Matos presented work on the repurposing of drugs targeting the ALK and ROS1 proteins as therapeutic targets for lung cancer, while Mara Custódio presented work on drug repurposing to inhibit the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
António Costa, a researcher involved in the RePo-SUDOE project, presented an immersive virtual reality application for visualising molecular docking in the context of drug repurposing, developed within the project. He also conducted a demonstration of the application, highlighting its potential for outreach and teaching in this field.
João José Joaquim, a member of the SPSP, presented work on the importance of integrating Public Health into drug repurposing ecosystems.
The presence at RExPO26 strengthened the visibility of RePo-SUDOE and its participation in the international debate on the future of drug repurposing. By bringing together scientific and technological approaches around this objective, the project contributes to strengthening international collaboration and bringing research closer to future health solutions.