our history
The Oncology Supportive Care Research Association (AICSO) is a non-profit association created in 2001 by Prof. Doctor Francisco Pimentel, at the time Director of the Oncology Service at Hospital de S. Sebastião, in Santa Maria da Feira, and first President of the Association. With the aim of developing and supporting training and research in supportive care in oncology, AICSO has progressively expanded and consolidated its area of activity, having been declared a public utility entity on April 21, 2009, a status it maintains until the date.
After a period of less activity, it is in 2018 that AICSO, under the presidency of Dr. Ana Joaquim, creates the ONCOMOVE© program, which includes several projects not only of research, but also of training and community action, and which aims to integration of physical exercise into the patient’s journey.
The impetus given by the ONCOMOVE© program led to a turning of the page in the history of AICSO, which was accompanied by a new, more current and dynamic image, and the opening of doors to beneficiary members, in addition to the usual health professionals.
In September 2019, a year of strong growth, AICSO officially joined the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), becoming the first and only MASCC affiliated association in Portugal.
The impetus given by the ONCOMOVE© program led to a turning of the page in the history of AICSO, which was accompanied by a new, more current and dynamic image, and the opening of doors to beneficiary members, in addition to the usual health professionals.
In September 2019, a year of strong growth, AICSO officially joined the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), becoming the first and only MASCC affiliated association in Portugal.
In the following year, the epidemiological context experienced around the world, given the COVID-19 pandemic, brought great challenges to the association. Under renewed leadership, with Dr. Andreia Capela in the chair, AICSO did not give up and managed not only to maintain, but also to expand the projects included in the ONCOMOVE© program, actively participating in the challenges launched by MASCC and maintaining its commitment to the community. science and the population to educate, raise awareness and promote healthy lifestyles.
In the coming years, AICSO will continue to grow, with the help of its partners to whom it is very grateful, always focusing on improving care to support people living with and beyond cancer.
In the coming years, AICSO will continue to grow, with the help of its partners to whom it is very grateful, always focusing on improving care to support people living with and beyond cancer.
Mission
AICSO’s mission is to investigate and implement quality supportive care that accompanies the journey of the person living with and beyond cancer.
It intends such supportive care to be interdisciplinary, patient-centered and evidence-based. To achieve its goals, AICSO works with health professionals, developing and supporting research and training projects, but also with patients and the community, investing in community programs and health education.
AICSO is governed by the following principles and values:
It intends such supportive care to be interdisciplinary, patient-centered and evidence-based. To achieve its goals, AICSO works with health professionals, developing and supporting research and training projects, but also with patients and the community, investing in community programs and health education.
AICSO is governed by the following principles and values:
- All patients diagnosed with cancer must access the best supportive care
- This access must be maintained throughout the journey of the oncological disease
- Supportive care in oncology is essential throughout the cancer patient’s journey
- All stakeholders must have an interdisciplinary action
- Scientific research in the various aspects of supportive care must be promoted and supported
- Supportive care with proven scientific evidence must be widely implemented and accessible to all cancer patients who may benefit from them
- Action programs in supportive care in oncology must have national dissemination
- Professional qualification should be sought and encouraged by all those working in the field of oncology
- The training of professionals in the area of supportive care in oncology must be publicized and accessible to all
- The general population should receive information and awareness for supportive care in oncology
- Supportive care in oncology should be patient-centered and evidence-based
- Cancer patients and their caregivers should be involved in supportive care processes in oncology
- The multi- and interdisciplinary integration of all the valences that provide care to the cancer patient should be promoted, whether they are aimed at the treatment of the disease, its symptoms or effects resulting from the treatments and/or the disease
Social Entities
Board of Directors
ANDREIA CAPELA
PRESIDENT
Oncologist at the Vila Nova de Gaia/ Espinho Hospital Center (CHVNGE). Master in Palliative Care from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon. Member of MASCC since 2019. Member of the Working Group of the Portuguese Society of Oncology (SPO), Supportive and Palliative Care. Member of the SPO’s Center for Interns and Young Specialists (NIJE) since 2018.
Ana Joaquim
VICE-PRESIDENT
Oncologist at CHVNGE. Coordinator of the Research and Clinical Trials Unit at CHVNGE. PhD student at the University of Aveiro. guest lecturer of the Master’s in Exercise Physiology at the European University. Member of the Board and Supporting and Palliative Care Working Group of the SPO. Chairman of the Board of the Head and Neck Cancer Study Group (GECCP). Member of the scientific societies ESMO, MASCC and Portuguese Society of Senology. Coordinator of the OncoMove® program.
SANDRA CUSTÓDIO
TREASURER
Hospital Assistant of Medical Oncology at CHVNGE. Member of the SPO Geriatric Oncology Working Group. Member of Scientific Societies SPO, GICD (Digestive Cancer Research Group), ESMO, EAU (European Association of Urology). Member of MASCC since 2020.
JOANA SILVA
1st SECRETARY
Responsible Nurse at CHVNGE Day Oncology Hospital. Specialist in Mental Health and Psychiatry. Member of the Board of the Portuguese Oncological Nursing Association (AEOP). Member of MASCC since 2020.
TELMA COSTA
2nd SECRETARY
Hospital Assistant of Medical Oncology at CHVNGE. Responsible for the CHVNGE Day Oncology Hospital. Clinical expert and member of the Health Technology Assessment Committee (CATS) of INFARMED. Member of the scientific societies SPO, ESMO and MASCC.
JOÃO FRAGA
VOWEL
Specialist pharmacist in Hospital Pharmacy at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology – Porto;
Member of the Northern Regional Section of the Ordem dos Farmacêuticos. Member of MASCC since 2020.
ANABELA AMARELO
VOWEL
Nurse at CHVNGE Day Hospital. Specialist in Rehabilitation Nursing. AEOP member. Member of MASCC since 2020.
ALBERTO ALVES
SUBSTITUTE
PhD in Physical Activity and Health from the Faculty of Sport of the University of Porto. Assistant Professor at the University Institute of Maia (ISMAI) and Integrated Member of the Center for Research in Sport, Health and Human Development (CIDESD). Coordinator of the OncoMove® program. Member of MASCC since 2020.
CARLA BRANCO
SUBSTITUTE
Technical Assistant of the Research and Clinical Trials Unit of CHVNGE.
General Meeting
ALICE COELHO
PRESIDENT
Coordinator of the Clinical Studies Center at Centro Hospitalar de Entre o Douro e Vouga.
CATARINA RIBEIRO
VICE PRESIDENT
Specialist in Medical Oncology; Medical Director in hemato-oncology at PRA Health Sciences; Member of the SPO Supportive and Palliative Care Working Group; Medical Advisor at Mentora Health; PhD student at the University of Coimbra.
JOANA MARINHO
1st SECRETARY
CHVNGE Specific Medical Oncology Internal Training. Member of the SPO Working Group on Geriatrics Oncology. PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Coimbra. Member of MASCC since 2020 where he is part of the Geriatrics Study Group. Member of SIOG (International Society of Geriatric Oncology), where he is part of the Young SIOG Interest Group.
PEDRO ANTUNES
2nd SECRETARY
Master in Sports Science from the University of Beira Interior. Doctoral student at the same University, FCT scholarship holder.
Financial Council
LUÍS FERREIRA
PRESIDENT, health administrator, Oftaline SA
HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR,OFTALINE SA Executive Director of Oftaline SA since 2014. Experience as a Financial Analyst and Asset Manager for several institutions, in particular the Institute for the Management of Social Security Capitalization Funds. Degree in Management, Post-Graduate in Financial Analysis and Master in Finance from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto. Financial Analyst certified by EFFAS – The European Federation of Financial Analysts Societies.
INÊS LEÃO
SECRETARY
CHVNGE Specific Medical Oncology Internal Training. Doctoral student at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto. He completed the postgraduate course Portugal Clinicar Scholars Research Training at Harvard Medical School. Member of the Head and Neck Cancer Study Group. Member of the scientific associations SPO, ESMO, MASCC and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
BRUNO ALVES
REPORTER
Degree in Business Management and Director of the Information and Planning Service at CHVNGE.