Aqua-Synapse 2nd Workshop at GIMM Foundation in Lisbon

On April 14, 2025, the 2nd Workshop of the Aqua-Synapse project was held in Lisbon, Portugal, at the GIMM Foundation – Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM). Aqua-Synapse is a project funded by the European Executive Research Agency of the European Commission and is coordinated by Professor Sergiy Lyubchyk from Lusófona University.

The primary aim of this second workshop was to review and discuss the current state-of-the-art and future perspectives of each Work Package, following the conclusion of the 1^st stage of the project (RP1). The workshop featured detailed presentations on the progress and results of the following Work Packages (WP): WP1: Deuterium metabolic spectroscopy and deuterium metabolic imaging; WP2: The impact of deuterium on excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in a human neuronal network model system; WP3: Evaluation of the effects of deuterium depletion in animal models of metabolic syndrome; WP4: Assessment of the impact of deuterium depletion in animal models of aging; WP5: Production of deuterium-depleted and control water samples, and monitoring deuterium content in experimental tissues; WP6: Project management and dissemination activities.

Each Work Package leader presented the progress and findings under their responsibility. The workshop concluded with a roundtable discussion that fostered knowledge exchange and strategic planning for the project's next steps, including mobility, scientific research and results, dissemination and communication efforts, and the potential inclusion of a new company into the consortium.

This workshop was organized by GIMM in collaboration with ULusófona. All consortium partners were represented either in person or online, including: Lusófona University/COFAC (PT); University Hospital Würzburg (DE); HYD LLC. for Cancer Research and Drug Development (HU); Gulbenkian Institute of Molecular Medicine (PT); University of Oxford (UK). Professor Sergiy Lyubchyk, coordinator of the project and RCM2+ researcher,  and Professor Svitlana Lyubchyk, lecturer in the Masters of Industrial Engineering and Management at Lusófona University and also RCM2+ researcher, were present at the event.

The Aqua-Synapse project aims to investigate how low-deuterium water may benefit human health, namely in diseases like cancer. High deuterium levels have been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, while lower levels appear to have positive effects. However, the specific concentrations at which these metabolic and behavioral benefits occur remain unclear. The project seeks to confirm this and develop ways to measure the health impact of deuterium-depleted water.