The Research Centres
The Pillars of AL4AnimalS
The Associate Laboratory AL4AnimalS is built upon three leading national R&D centres exclusively dedicated to animal and veterinary sciences: CIISA, CECA, and CECAV.
CIISA – Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health
The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), established in 1992 and based at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (University of Lisbon), is a prominent research organisation of international value.
CIISA carries out cutting-edge research to unravel the biological principles of animal health and disease, to promote sustainable animal production, and to prevent the negative impacts of animals and their products on public health.
The research facilities include 14 well-equipped laboratories, prepared to carry out high-quality multidisciplinary fundamental and applied research, with a major impact on veterinary sciences at a social, scientific and economic level.
Contributions to improving the quality of animal and human life, within the framework of the One Health concept, are recognised through the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, innovative biotechnological products, sustainable production systems, and safe, high-quality animal products.
CECA – Centre for Animal Science Studies
The Centre for Animal Science Studies (CECA) is a multidisciplinary unit, founded in 1993, and integrated into ICETA of the University of Porto. Its ultimate aim is to protect public health by developing activities that integrate Human Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, in line with the One Health Initiative.
The main strategic objectives include:
- Understanding biological systems
- Accelerating biomedical research discoveries
- Improving new tools for diagnosis and therapeutic control of animal and human diseases
- Expanding the scientific knowledge base
- Advancing medical education to improve public health
Scientific activities are related to bovine neosporosis, zoonoses, antibiotic resistance, tissue regeneration (nerve, vascular, muscle, bone), and cancer linked to helminthic infections or inherited metabolic diseases.
CECA benefits from expertise in Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology, Oncology, Genetics, Cloning, and Gene Expression, organised into four research groups and six thematic lines.
CECAV – Centre for Veterinary and Animal Research
The Centre for Veterinary and Animal Research (CECAV) was created in 2002 and is based at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) in Vila Real.
CECAV conducts both basic and applied research in veterinary and zootechnics, aiming to generate new knowledge in animal health, welfare, and production, while also advancing research on the safety and quality of meat products.
Its mission is to develop stronger multidisciplinary teams by integrating research efforts across these areas.
CECAV’s research is centred on two main groups:
- Sustainable Integrated Meat Production
- Animal Health and Welfare
Through these groups, CECAV contributes not only to the valorisation of meat and meat products, but also to global health, recognising the vital link between animal health and human health.