Advanced Models for Predictive Toxicology

This course aims to provide training in innovative three-dimensional models and advanced in vitro and in vivo models, with the goal of improving drug safety assessment, reducing the use of animals, and increasing relevance to humans through the application of cutting-edge technologies and ethical approaches.

Coordination:

• Sérgio Camões, iMed.ULisboa – Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon.
• Joana Paiva Gomes Miranda, Associate Professor with Aggregation, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon.

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Legislation:

Regulamento n.º 638/2016 – Regulamento dos Cursos Não Conferentes de Grau da Faculdade de Farmácia da ULisboa

This course will take place from November 25, 2025, to December 19, 2025, between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM, with in-person sessions on November 25 to 27 and December 19.

The course includes a total of 24 hours of in-person training and 144 hours of independent study, corresponding to a total of 6 ECTS credits.

The training hours are distributed as follows:

• Theoretical training hours: 23 hours

• Tutorial guidance hours: 1 hours

Course Location: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon.

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STUDY PLAN

TEACHING METHODOLOGY:

The course is structured around a series of seminars delivered by national and international experts from academia and industry. These seminars are designed to provide students with in-depth theoretical knowledge and current perspectives on advanced models in predictive toxicology. Active learning is encouraged through interactive discussions between students and lecturers during each session. Although the course does not include a laboratorybased practical component, students will work in small interdisciplinary groups to develop a research project proposal as their final assessment. This group work fosters critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and the practical application of concepts discussed throughout the course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES AND SKILLS TO BE ACQUIRED BY THE STUDENT:

Identify emerging 3D and advanced in vitro approaches, recognizing the benefits of spheroids, organoids, and organ-on-a-chip systems in enhancing physiological relevance. Discuss the challenges of traditional animal models and describe how zebrafish, humanized mice, and avatar/PDX systems can better predict human-specific responses. Describe how advanced in vitro and in vivo methodologies align with the 3Rs principle by emphasizing reduced animal use, refined experimental protocols, and ethical considerations in drug safety research. Discuss how stem cells (including patient-derived iPSCs) can refine drug safety testing, contribute to individualized drug safety assessment and consider how computational tools can integrate diverse non-clinical data to anticipate clinical outcomes. 

ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY:

It consists in the preparation and submission of a research project (up to 8 pages) in a topic relevant within the framework of the course. Students are to be grouped in interdisciplinary groups of 2 or 3 students. The research project should be structured to address an innovative research question as follows: i) Title; ii) The problem and the innovative approach; iii) Plan and methodology; iv) Expected results and impact. The project will be evaluated according to the following criteria and weighting: a) Novelty and relevance (30%); b) Clarity and credibility of the approach to the theme/problem (30%); c) Multidisciplinary aspects of the research plan (40%).

Application Period: October 1, 2025 to October 31, 2025.

Course start and end dates: November 25, 2025 to December 19, 2025.

Target Audience:
This course is intended for all doctoral students of FFUL and is also open to external members of the academic and scientific community who wish to participate.

Admission Requirements:

Master’s degree in health-related sciences.

Scientific Area(s) or Specialization:

Molecular Pharmaceutical Toxicology.

Selection and seriation criteria:

Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Minimum number of trainees for operation: 08
• Maximum number of trainees for operation: 50

Required Documents for Application: Academic Certificate and Curriculum Vitae (CV).

Application Fees and Tuition:

• Application fee: 10€ (Note: the application fee will not be refunded if the candidate is excluded or not selected).
• Course Tuition: €250
• School Insurance Fee: 2,10€

Note: FFUL PhD students who wish to take the course as part of their mandatory 1st-year curriculum are exempt from the registration fee.

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Application Process:

Applications for the course are made exclusively through the FenixEdu Platform of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (FFUL).

Access to the FenixEdu Platform:

• If you have never been a student at FFUL you must pre-register on the FenixEdu Platform.
• If you are a former student of FFULisboa and have already had an account campus@ulisboa or @edu.ulisboa.pt you should access the FenixEdu Platform and authenticate yourself with your account data. If you have lost access to your account, you can recover your password in the ULisboa users area.
• If you are a former student of FFULisboa and have never had an account campus@ulisboa or @edu.ulisboa.pt you must send an email to cncg@ff.ulisboa.pt indicating your full name and ID document number.

Access the FenixEdu Platform.

• On the tab “Candidate”, choose the type of application: “Advanced Training Courses”, select the desired course.
• Fill out the online form and attach all the required documents in digital format. In the application process you can indicate whether you want the invoice to be issued in the name of another entity/company/institution.
• Select the “Submit” option.

Applications will only be validated by the Academic Services once the applicant has paid the Application Fee.

For information regarding the application process and the course organization, please contact the Academic Services: doutoramentos@ff.ulisboa.pt