The Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown (CCU) is a world-renowned research centre located in Lisbon, Portugal. The CCU is dedicated to carrying out high-quality research into areas of science that are currently unknown or poorly understood, in order to improve human health and wellbeing.
The CCU was founded in 2004 by businessman and philanthropist Antonio de Sommer Champalimaud, with the aim of establishing a world-class research centre in Portugal that would attract top international scientists and researchers. The CCU has since become one of the leading centres for medical research in Europe, carrying out cutting-edge work across a range of disciplines including cancer biology, neuroscience, immunology and genomics.
The CCU is home to a number of state-of-the-art facilities, including a comprehensive animal facility, which houses over 1,200 animals; a cell culture facility; and a brand new imaging centre which opened in 2019. The CCU also has its own clinical trials unit, which carries out early-phase clinical trials of new treatments and therapies.
TheChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown employs over 400 staff members, including more than 200 scientists from over 30 different countries. The CCU’s scientific output is truly international in scope: since its foundation, the Centre has published over 1,500 scientific papers in prestigious journals such as Nature, Science and Cell. In addition to its excellent research programmes, the CCU also provides training opportunities for young scientists through its PhD programme and postdoctoral fellowships.
TheChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown is committed to making a difference to people’s lives through its pioneering research programmes. With its state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional team of scientists, the CCU is well placed to continue making significant advances in our understanding of disease and developing innovative new treatments that will improve human health worldwide.