The Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD) is a cross-institutional technical and scientifically multi-disciplinary unity of applied research hosted in the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (Vila Real) and is affiliated to the European College of Sports Sciences.
Originally created in 2007, this center appears from the network integration, by a consortium agreement, of six previous research units originally from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, the Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior – Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, the University of Beira Interior, the University Institute of Maia, the University of Madeira and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. Also, other two extinguished research centers previously accredited by FCT (National Foundation for Science and Technology) were also integrated and merged in CIDESD: the Institute of Sciences of Brain and Physics for Well-being and Safety from Higher Institute of Maia and the Research Centre of Human Development and Physical Activity from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. In 2008, two more institutions were fully integrated in this network: the Nursing Health School of Vila Real and the Educational Higher School from the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu. In 2013, the University of Évora added the consortium. The Hight School of Sports and Leisure – Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo and Polytechnic Institute of Guarda are the newest members, they joined CIDESD in February 2015.
