Hub Nacional para a Saúde do Cérebro (HNSC)

The Hub Nacional para a Saúde do Cérebro (HNSC) is an initiative coordinated by AICIB – Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation, developed through a collaborative process bringing together representatives from more than 140 national institutions from various sectors related to Brain Health. 

The motto “Joining Efforts, Creating Impact” defines the mission of the HNSC: to structure and strengthen the national community of research and innovation in the field of Brain Health, fostering alignment between national strategies, government policies, and European priorities. It also aims to maximize national participation in international funding opportunities, promoting collaborations and the incorporation of research and innovation results into national health systems and policies to improve healthcare and quality of life.

The HNSC was officially launched in June 2025 with the presentation of the Joint Position Paper “Strategy and National Priorities for Brain Health,” the result of collaborative work between AICIB and representatives from various institutions in the sectors of Academia and Knowledge, Health and Care, Business Sector, Patients and Civil Society, and Public Administration. 

This document emphasizes the importance of prioritizing Research and Innovation in Brain Health across its entire spectrum, within the context of scientific and health policies in Portugal. It outlines 5 main recommendations and several action points, in a multidisciplinary approach that will enable significant advances in the field, as well as the translation of knowledge into clinical solutions that contribute to mitigating the economic, social, and especially human burden of brain diseases.