Month: November 2025

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Gonçalo Ribeiro wins Youth Start-Up Competition 2025 for innovation in cancer treatment

FLASHGuard Project

On November 2025, Gonçalo Ribeiro won the Youth Start-Up Competition (YSC) 2025 with his pioneering medical technology project FLASHGuard.

Presented at the SME Assembly 2025 in Copenhagen, FLASHGuard enables the safe clinical use of FLASH Radiotherapy, a cutting-edge cancer treatment that protects healthy tissue while maintaining tumor control. By bridging science, technology, and care, the project places Europe at the forefront of advanced health tech innovation.

Selected as one of three finalists by the expert jury from over 70 entries, Gonçalo’s project went on to win the audience vote at the SME Assembly, where participants chose the most promising start-up among this year’s finalists. FLASHGuard impressed with its potential to enhance Europe’s competitiveness in medical research and improve the quality of life for patients worldwide.

Gonçalo will now take FLASHGuard to the 2026 European Innovation Council Summit in Brussels, where he will gain greater visibility and connect with Europe’s leaders in innovation and healthcare.

Congratulations to Gonçalo and the FLASHGuard team on this achievement! A word of appreciation also to the other two finalists, Michael Strudler (Austria) and Jonas Kewenig (Germany).

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Gonçalo Roriz awarded Gulbenkian “Novos Talentos” Grant 2025

FLASHGuard Project

On November 2025, Gonçalo Roriz, a Master's student of Engineering Physics at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), was awarded a prestigious Gulbenkian “Novos Talentos” Grant in the field of Physics.

This highly competitive grant, promoted by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, aims to support outstanding university students in Portugal who demonstrate exceptional academic performance and a strong motivation for scientific research. It provides financial support, advanced training opportunities, and mentoring activities that encourage the development of new scientific skills and innovation.

Within the scope of the grant, Gonçalo will carry out his research work at the Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas (LIP), as part of the Particles4Health group led by Prof. Pedro Assis. His project will be developed within FLASHGuard, a project that focuses on developing ultra-fast monitoring devices for FLASH Radiotherapy — an emerging technology that promises more effective and less invasive cancer treatments through precise particle detection.

This recognition not only highlights Gonçalo’s academic excellence and research potential but also reinforces the importance of LIP and IST as institutions that foster young scientific talent and innovation at the intersection of physics and health.

Congratulations to Gonçalo on this amazing achievement!

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Gonçalo Ribeiro successfully defended his Master’s Thesis

FLASHGuard Project

On 3 November 2025, Gonçalo Ribeiro successfully defended his Master’s thesis at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), obtaining the highest grade of 20/20.

The thesis was conducted at the Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas (LIP), within the Particles4Health research group led by Prof. Pedro Assis. The work was supervised by Prof. Pedro Assis and Prof. Patrícia Gonçalves.

The jury was composed of Prof. Guilherme Milhano and Prof. Bernardo Tomé, whose evaluation and insightful discussion contributed to the successful defense.

This achievement reflects years of rigorous study and research, and acknowledges the formative role of both LIP and IST in Gonçalo’s academic development.

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Pedro Assis participated at Physis Congress 2025

FLASHGuard Project

Between October 24 and 26, 2025, the University of Coimbra hosted the 6th edition of the Congress of Physis – the Portuguese Association of Physics Students. Dedicated to the fields of Medical, Nuclear, and Particle Physics, the event brought together students and researchers from across the country.

The LIP group Particles4Health, led by Pedro Assis, played an active role in the congress. Pedro Assis participated in the roundtable on Medical Physics held on October 24, sharing insights on the intersection between particle physics and healthcare technologies, and discussing current research and innovation in the field.

The participation of Particles4Health reflects the group’s commitment to fostering scientific dialogue and inspiring new generations of physicists to explore applications of particle physics in medicine and health.

Organized annually by Physis, the national congress is a key moment for exchange and collaboration among Physics students from various universities, featuring scientific sessions, poster presentations, social activities, and visits to research centers.

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