Art and science unite to support rare disease research! Contribute and receive an exclusive piece! Together, let's create knowledge!
What happens when art meets science? We have created something unique: an innovative way to support research on rare diseases!
In the context of World Rare Disease Day and the exhibition associated with the official celebration in Portugal, 'Science, Art, Society,' we are launching this initiative and campaign to fund research led by Sara Carvalhal, the principal investigator at the Chromosome Segregation in Disease Lab at the Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-Ri). Her work focuses on the study of the cellular and genetic mechanisms associated with rare diseases that affect the brain
Why is this campaign important?
Rare diseases are, by definition, uncommon, but they affect millions of people worldwide—a number equivalent to the population of the United States. Despite its importance, research in this area remains underfunded and limited. Without support, it becomes difficult to understand these conditions and, one day, to develop potential treatments and cures.
Every contribution makes a difference in driving scientific discoveries that could change lives in the future!
Art as a Vehicle for Change
To bring this campaign to life, in partnership with Professor Sara Navarro from the Visual Arts course at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences at UALG, we invited her students to create a special art piece inspired by materials discarded in laboratory research.
Student and artist Lívia Santos Furtado created "Microscomosgrafia," an artwork that symbolizes everything this campaign aims to represent. Through it, we seek to transform research into hope, fostering the generation of new knowledge about rare diseases.
How Can You Help?
. The highest donor will receive the original, framed work (50x70 cm)!
. Donations of €300 or more will receive a certified copy (A4-sized copy).
. All contributions, regardless of value, are essential to advance research.
The funds raised will be managed by the Association for the Development of the Academic Center for Biomedical Research and Training of the Algarve, AD-ABC, and allocated exclusively to research at the Sara Carvalhal laboratory (ABC-Ri).
Did you know that donations to AD-ABC are tax-deductible in Portugal?
If you wish to benefit from this advantage, please contact us by email: scarvalhallab@ualg.pt
Together, we can transform art into science and science into solutions. Contribute and help us advance knowledge about rare diseases!
About the author
The Sara Carvalhal Laboratory, part of the Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-Ri), studies the cellular and genetic mechanisms associated with rare neurodevelopmental diseases. Our research seeks to understand how specific mutations affect the brain, contributing to the identification of new biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and potential treatments.
We believe that science has a real impact on people’s lives, and we work every day to ensure that our research translates into meaningful advances for patients and their families. However, as is often the case in rare disease research, securing funding remains a challenge.
This campaign is more than a fundraising action – it is a movement of union between science, art and society , where each contribution represents a step towards new discoveries.
This campaign is more than just a fundraising initiative—it is a movement that unites science, art, and society, where each contribution brings us one step closer to new discoveries.
The funds raised will be managed by AD-ABC, an organisation that receives charitable donations with tax benefits available in Portugal.
If you would like to learn more about our work or need a donation receipt for tax purposes, please contact us by email at: scarvalhallab@ualg.pt
Together, we can turn scientific research into hope!
Equipa do laboratório Sara Carvalhal
Budget and due dates
We aim to raise €4,500 to support research on rare neurodevelopmental diseases at the Sara Carvalhal Laboratory (ABC-Ri). This campaign will run for two months, and the project will take place from June 2025 to May 2026.
How will the funding be used?
The funds raised will be invested in acquiring essential reagents and materials to study cells from patients with rare diseases. The goal is to mimic the behavior of these cells in neuronal contexts and understand how these diseases affect brain function at the cellular and molecular levels.
The funding will cover various phases of the project, including:
- Acquisition of reagents to maintain and study patient-derived cells;
- Laboratory materials needed to characterize these cells;
- Costs associated with sample processing and analysis;
- A contribution toward the copyright of the artwork Microscomosgrafia, created as part of this initiative;
It is important to note that the cost of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals is significantly higher than this budget. Therefore, the publication of results will depend on combining this funding with other laboratory resources.
This funding will directly support the production of essential scientific knowledge for the study of rare diseases, contributing to a better understanding of these conditions.
