Exclusive Interviews with SPOT Nordic Team: Duarte Ferreira
- SPOT Nordic
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Duarte Sacramento Ferreira is a researcher and assistant professor at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, working in translational pharmacology and chronic disease research. Originally from Santarém, with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, he dedicates his work to the intersection of health, innovation, and science, combining cutting‑edge research with medical education. As President of the SPOT Nordic Scientific Council, he brings strategic vision, academic experience, and a strong commitment to projects with real societal impact.
▶️ Who are you? I’m originally from Santarém, Portugal 🇵🇹, but studied Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon. I completed my PhD there before moving to Stockholm to do a postdoctoral fellowship at the Karolinska Institutet. In recent years, I have focused on scientific research 🔬, university teaching 📚, and developing academic programs, notably at Karolinska where I helped launch a new medical program 🩺 and an international master's in translational physiology and pharmacology.
Outside the lab and classroom, I enjoy running 🏃♂️ and going to the gym , as well as interior design, travelling , and anything that sparks creativity . I’m curious by nature 🔍 and always seeking ways to communicate science in an accessible, engaging way. In the coming years, I hope to contribute to innovative projects, whether in academia, healthcare, or the tech sector 🧠.
▶️ What do you do? I’m a researcher and assistant professor in pharmacology 🧪. My research focuses on inflammation, metabolism, and chronic diseases. As an assistant professor, I teach pharmacology in various programs — from pharmacokinetics to the treatment of cardiovascular ❤️, endocrine 🧬, and respiratory 🌬️ diseases during the first three semesters of the medical program.
In practice, my work involves understanding how inflammatory diseases affect patient metabolism while guiding students 🎓 and developing more effective ways to teach and learn pharmacology. I love translating complex knowledge into something useful—whether in the classroom, through research projects, or for future products 💊. To me, science only makes sense when shared, understood, and put at the service of people 🤝.
▶️ What’s a typical day like? No day is the same, but there is a familiar rhythm 🔁. I usually start with a strong coffee ☕ and a quick review of the day’s agenda — meetings, lectures, writing, or lab work 🔬. On teaching days, I spend the morning with students, making pharmacology accessible and encouraging discussion 💬. In the afternoon, I focus on research: analyzing data , writing papers, or discussing results with colleagues. I also dedicate time to academic development projects — updating teaching materials, exploring new pedagogical approaches 💡, or collaborating with international teams 🌍. Whenever possible, I end the day with a walk/run, a reading session 📖, or a gym workout 💪. The daily challenge lies in maintaining balance, creativity, and motivation ⚖️✨.
▶️ What do you value most about living in your city and country? What I value most about living in Stockholm is the balance between city and nature 🌳🌆. Being able to walk by water or into a forest within minutes of work is extraordinary. One of my favorite refuges is Djurgården 🌿 — perfect for reflecting, unwinding, or watching the city in silence. The harmony between urban rhythm and natural calm helps me maintain focus and creativity, both in and out of work.
From a scientific perspective, Stockholm is a center of excellence 🌟. There’s a culture of collaboration, openness, and intellectual curiosity that constantly stimulates researchers. Institutions like the Karolinska Institutet 🧬 host cutting-edge science ranging from translational medicine to emerging health technologies 💉💡. Living here offers direct access to an ecosystem that values science with real impact and continuously invests in knowledge as a driver of change 🔄.
▶️ What do you value from Portugal that you didn’t as a resident? Being abroad gave me a new vision of Portugal 🇵🇹. I now appreciate things differently: the warmth of people 🤗, the richness of conversation 💬, and the spontaneous gestures present in everyday life. When I lived there, they felt guaranteed. But moving away made me see how gestures—long coffee meetings ☕, chatting on the street, spontaneous invites 📩—are part of who we are and foster a difficult-to-find sense of belonging. I also came to value more fully Portugal’s cultural, gastronomic 🍽️, and scenic diversity 🌄. In a small country, we have vast richness—from tranquil mountains to vibrant beaches 🏖️, historic villages 🏰, and cities brimming with creative energy ✨. From afar, everything gains a special glow—not just from nostalgia, but from deep recognition of what makes Portugal so unique.
▶️ What are priority areas of collaboration between Portugal and Nordic countries?
Priority areas lie where Portugal 🇵🇹 and the Nordics 🇸🇪 complement each other with shared future vision 🔮. For me, the key fields are personalized medicine 🧬, environmental sustainability 🌱, and increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) 🤖.
Personalized medicine and environmental sustainability are deeply interconnected in building fair, efficient, future-ready health systems: tailoring diagnostics and treatments to individual traits improves outcomes, reduces resource waste ♻️, and combats ineffective interventions. Meanwhile, sustainability is gaining recognition as essential to public health—from pharmaceutical production to hospital tech and ecological footprints 🌍.
Collaboration in green health practices holds immense potential for both Portugal and Nordic societies. AI is also critical — in research, early disease detection, and personalized education tools 🎓 — and both regions are investing in its ethical, collaborative, socially impactful development ✨. I see AI as a major growth area, one where I hope to actively contribute by linking science with life-improving applications 💡❤️
▶️ Why did you decide to join SPOT Nordic?
I chose to join SPOT Nordic because I deeply believe in the power of ideas shared among people with different perspectives but a common goal 💬🌍. I was drawn by the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and real-world impact. SPOT Nordic’s initiatives, like Scientific Diplomacy 🧠🌐, foster knowledge exchange between Portuguese researchers in Portugal and Nordic countries.
To me, SPOT Nordic is an opportunity to step outside the academic bubble and use what I know (and continue to learn) to contribute to projects rooted in reality and future vision 🚀. Being part of this community is a way to keep growing 🌱, challenging myself 💪, and, most importantly, helping build something meaningful 🧩.
▶️ How can you contribute to the SPOT Nordic team? I believe I can add value to the team with scientific experience🔬, strategic thinking 🧠, and a strong desire to turn ideas into action⚙️. I also serve as President of the Scientific Council, overseeing the awarding of scientific grants 🎓💼. I love collaborating, listening, and building bridges across disciplines and people 🌉. Whether through project development, event support 📆, or simply bringing new perspectives to the table 🗣️, I aim to help create a dynamic, creative, impact-oriented environment 🌟. For me, teamwork is about combining talents—and I believe that together we can accomplish truly meaningful things 🤝✨.
▶️ Which SPOT Nordic projects interest you most? 🔬 From Science to Industry 📅 Annual Events🏆 Researcher of the Year
▶️ A final message to the world: If there is one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that curiosity is one of our most powerful engines 🧠✨. Questioning, exploring, listening, and being willing to learn (and relearn) are actions that open doors 🚪, build bridges 🌉, and transform realities 🔄.
In a noisy world 🔊, it’s worth pausing to ask: what do we want to build together? I believe knowledge should be shared 📚, collaboration nurtured 🌱, and empathy practiced daily ❤️. If each of us contributes what we know and who we are, we can build something greater than the sum of its parts ✨🤝.
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