Félix Dias Carvalho, coordinator of the Toxicology Research Group and leader of the Toxicology Research Lab at UCIBIO, has been elected President of the International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX), the world’s leading organisation in the field, representing toxicology societies from over 60 countries. The election took place during the 17th International Congress of Toxicology (ICT2025), held in Beijing, China, from 15 to 18 October 2025, which gathered thousands of scientists and experts from around the world.
This achievement marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time a Portuguese scientist has been elected to a top leadership position in both European and Internacional Toxicology Organizations, namely EUROTOX (Federation of European Toxicologists and European Societies of Toxicology) and IUTOX. This distinction highlights the growing international recognition of Portuguese research in toxicology and recognises Félix Carvalho’s outstanding contribution to advancing the field. Throughout his career, he has been an influential member of the EUROTOX Executive Committee, serving first as Secretary-General and later as President, playing a key role in strengthening European collaboration networks in toxicology.
Félix Carvalho coordinates the Thematic Line 3 of the Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy and is a Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto (FFUP), where he also serves as Director of the Department of Biological Sciences. At UCIBIO-FFUP, Félix Carvalho leads pioneering research focused on drug toxicity, mechanisms of xenobiotic action, and the development of antidotes, areas with direct impact on public health and global safety. Author of over 650 scientific publications and three reference books (Forensic Toxicology, Fundamental Toxicology, and Food Toxicology), he is widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in contemporary toxicology, combining scientific excellence with a strong commitment to education and international cooperation.
For the first time, a Portuguese scientist will lead the world’s foremost toxicology organisation, a remarkable achievement that underscores the global impact of Portuguese science and the excellence of UCIBIO’s research.