Introduction
The Faculty of Pharmacy (FFUC) is located in the Health Sciences Campus of the University of Coimbra. In addition, its geographical location at the Health Sciences Campus brings the neighborhood of the Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra University Hospitals, Institute of Biomedical Research on Light and Image (IBILI), Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO), among others, which constitute an important source for researchers who are directly and indirectly linked to ongoing projects where FFUC is an active partner. The FFUC has several partnerships with public and private, as well as is involved in mobility programs (e.g. Erasmus), which also facilitates the arrival of foreign experts to teach our courses. The FFUC currently has a diversity educational, scientific and cultural offer, which includes two Courses of 1st Cycle (Degree in Bioanalaytical Sciences and Degree in Biomedical Pharmacy), the Integrated Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences (FFUC main Course), seven Courses of 2nd Cycle (Masters in Clinical Analysis, Applied Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Technology, Industrial Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Drug Design and Development and Food Safety) and one PhD Course in Pharmaceutical Sciences with eleven branches options (Biopharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Molecular Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Food Science and Water Analysis, Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Clinical Pharmacy, Microbiology and Parasitology, Pharmaceutical Quality, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Social Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Toxicology).
Apart from its own cadre of researchers, FFUC has an autonomous research center (CEF - Centre for Pharmaceutical Studies) involving around 48 senior researchers, 12 of them from other Portuguese Universities. By other hand, 15 FFUC Professors are Permanent Researchers at CNC - Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, other 5 Professors are Permanent Researchers at CQC - Chemistry Centre of Coimbra, 1 at CEIS20 – Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Twentieth Century and another 1 at CEISUC - Center for Studies and Research in Health of the University of Coimbra.
Moreover it should be underlined the provision of community services, with public institutions, namely the INFARMED (National Authority of Medicines and Health Products), the ASAE (Food Safety Authority and Economic Affairs), several Local Authorities and the Courts, and private institutions, including the Pharmaceutical Industry. The existence of a Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, accredited by the Health Ministry, and a Unit of Quality Control of Pharmaceuticals, accredited by IPAC (Portuguese Institute for Accreditation) only reinforces this component. Over the past three years were submitted 5 patents originating in FFUC.