Cidesd - Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano

Interview with Professor Mário Marques 🎙️

Professor Mário Marques, Full Professor at the Department of Sport Sciences of the , recently joined RCB’s Flagrante Direto to discuss the project.

Leading the project’s research team, Professor Mário Marques is coordinating a longitudinal study that aims to understand the effects of different exercise training volumes on cognitive function and brain structure in individuals with cognitive impairment.

This study may represent a pioneering contribution at the international level, reinforcing the role of Sport Sciences in promoting health, brain function, and quality of life.

The interview was broadcast on Saturday, May 23, 2026, on .

🎧 Listen here: https://audiomack.com/cova-da-beira/song/6a16c92fa2c6b

🏊‍♂️ From the lab to practice: CIDESD and ZWIM innovate in swimming and triathlon training!

CIDESD was present in Lisbon for a strategic meeting with , represented by researcher Mário Costa, with the aim of outlining a new collaboration focused on the development and scientific validation of an innovative home training solution for swimmers and triathletes.

This partnership, involving Portuguese researchers and ZWIM’s CEO, Victor Jarland, reinforces CIDESD’s commitment to bridging scientific knowledge and technological innovation in Sport Sciences.

By bringing research closer to practice, this collaboration aims to create evidence-based resources with direct impact on athletes’ preparation, training quality, and performance.

🚀 KINEXON-Sports: technology, research, and performance side by side!

CIDESD is strengthening its technological infrastructure with the sports system, an advanced monitoring platform that combines inertial sensors and tracking technology to support real-time performance analysis through local positioning systems (LPS).

This equipment enables the collection of data on athletes’ physical and tactical behaviour in real practice settings, expanding opportunities for research, monitoring, and analysis in sports performance.

The acquisition of this technology by .oficial represents an important contribution to applied learning and scientific development in the areas of training, monitoring, and sports performance analysis.

With this integration, CIDESD-UTAD further consolidates its position as a centre of excellence in preparing a new generation of Sport Scientists, capable of transforming complex data into knowledge and sporting success.

🏆 Daniel Santarém and Susana Póvoas are among the national finalists of the Fitness & Health Awards 2025!

Daniel Santarém, FCT-CIDESD doctoral fellow and PhD student in Sport Sciences at .oficial , and Susana Póvoas, CIDESD researcher and lecturer at , were finalists for the Research Award 2025, promoted by .pt .

This distinction recognises research projects with impact in the fitness and health sector, highlighting innovation, practical and clinical applicability, and scientific contributions to health promotion and quality of life.

Daniel Santarém’s work is part of the PASSUS Saudáveis 2.0: Peripheral Artery Disease project, coordinated by Professor Catarina Abrantes, focusing on the effects of supervised and individualised physical exercise in people with peripheral artery disease.

Susana Póvoas has also made an important contribution to the field of oncology through the PCaGoal programme.

This nomination represents an important recognition of the quality of the research developed at CIDESD, UTAD, and partner institutions, reinforcing the role of science and physical exercise in improving the health and quality of life of populations with specific clinical needs.

CIDESD and {////} sins-lab, both based at the University of Beira Interior (UBI), are collaborating on the design and implementation of a digital application aimed at promoting sport in the university context.

This collaboration is being developed within the scope of a final-year project of the Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Engineering at , strengthening the connection between Sport Sciences and Computer Science, with a focus on innovation, technology, and applied solutions for the academic community.

The project is supervised and co-supervised by Professors Pedro Inácio, from the Department of Computer Science, and Henrique Neiva, from the Department of Sport Sciences.

This initiative reinforces the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing digital solutions for the future of university sport. 💡🏃‍♂️💻

Doutoramento em Atividade Física e Bem-Estar |
| PhD in Physical Activity and Wellbeing |
| Doctorado en Actividad Física y Bienestar |

| Ano letivo 2026/2027 |
| Academic year 2026/2027 |
| Curso académico 2026/2027 |

| INFORMAÇÕES | INFORMATION | INFORMACIÓN | https://www.ipleiria.pt/curso/doutoramento-em-atividade-fisica-e-bem-estar/

🎓 Congratulations, Dr. Nataniel Lopes!

On April 24, 2026, Nataniel Lopes successfully defended his PhD thesis within the Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias del Deporte at the Universidad de Extremadura, entitled “Competencia motriz de los niños que practican atletismo”, obtaining the highest distinction: Sobresaliente cm laude.

Nataniel Lopes is a collaborating member of CIDESD_IPLeiria and was co-supervised by Professor Rui Matos, coordinator of the CIDESD Leiria pole, and Professor Sergio Ibañez Godoy, from the Faculty of Sport Sciences at UNEX.

CIDESD warmly congratulates Nataniel Lopes on this outstanding academic achievement and wishes him continued success in his scientific and professional journey. 👏✨