Description
This multidisciplinary group includes medical doctors with clinical, research and teaching activity and researchers from other areas such as biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and pharmacy.
The main goals of this research group are the characterization of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in cancer, drug sensitivity and resistance, in order to identify new prognostic and drug response markers and targets for therapies. We are particularly interested in the characterization of Cancer Stem Cells and immune system, in the identification of molecular markers related to cell signalling pathways (proliferative/survival and apoptotic), oxidative stress and mitochondria dysfunction, microRNAs and epigenetic/genetic modulation and the role of these processes in cancer susceptibility, diagnosis, prognosis and sensitivity/resistance to therapy. We also analysed the efficacy of new molecular targeted therapies, alone or in combination with other new drugs and/or conventional anticarcinogenic agents, identifying which of them will improve patient outcomes.
Finally, we also indented to correlate the results with patient’s clinical features, including transition to a more aggressive disease, survival and prognostic risk factors. On the other hand, by studying their interference with multidrug resistance mechanisms, we expect to be able to contribute to a better selection of molecular targeted therapeutic options.
Integrated Members
Ana Bela Sarmento Ribeiro is Associate Professor with Aggregation in Hematology working at Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), specialized in hematology at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC). She is currently President of Assembly of FMUC and Director of the University Clinics of Hematology and Oncology.
She is also Director of the Oncobiology and Hematology Laboratory (LOH) at FMUC. Obtained the MD degree in 1984, PhD in 2002, and habilitation/Agregation in 2015, all at FMUC; Researcher and member of the Scientific Council of the Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) - Group of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO) of FMUC where coordinate a research group, and Co-PI of one research line in the consortium Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB).
She had a long Medical and University career, as a medical doctor, teacher, and investigator, and had been supervisor and/or co-supervisor over 19 PhD Thesis and more than 145 Master Thesis, coordinator of 37 Investigation Projects and collaborator in 26.
She published 105 full articles (H-index=25; i10-index=58; citations more than 1800), 329 abstracts in international and national journals with peer review, 11 Book Chapters over 200 conference abstracts. She performed 102 invited talks in congresses and seminars, received 49 prizes and awards and presented 504 Congress Communications.
Her research focuses on characterizing the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in hematologic cancers and drug sensitivity and resistance to identify new biomarkers of susceptibility, prognosis, and response to drugs and targets for new therapies.
Main Research Area – Oncobiology, Hematology, Biomarker research, Drug research and resistance
Ana Cristina Gonçalves has a degree in Microbial Biology and Genetic from the Faculty of Sciences at University of Lisbon, master in Clinical Nutrition, and a PhD in Health Sciences from Faculty of Medicine at University of Coimbra.
She is an Assistant Professor at FMUC currently teaching Nutritional Biology, Scientific Writing and Communication, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Applied Molecular Biology.
She is member of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), Portuguese Group of Myelodysplasia and Portuguese Group of Multiple Myeloma.
She supervised 27 master thesis and 4 doctoral thesis (ongoing) and participated in more than 27 research projects. She published more than 92 full articles (H-index=21; i10-index=46, times cited>1000), 6 book chapters.
Main Research Area – Oncobiology, Hematology, DNA damage repair, Metabolism, Biomarker research, Drug research, Nutrition
Ana M. Urbano is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Coimbra, Portugal.
She graduated in Biochemistry at the University of Coimbra (1989), where she later gained her MSc in Cell Biology (1993). In 1999, she received her PhD in Biochemistry from the University Cambridge, UK, where she conducted research on mammalian cell bioenergetics. Currently, her main research interest are the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise in terms of cancer prevention and management.
Her strong interest on oncobiology led her to (co)organise the 16th Charles Heidelberger Symposium on Cancer Research (2010), two editions (2017 and 2019) of a FEBS Advanced Lecture Course devoted to oncometabolism and the MAC 2023 (Mitochondria in Aging, Cancer and Cell death) symposium.
She has supervised 19 graduation projects and 16 MSc/PhD theses (some ongoing), authored 30+ peer-reviewed research papers/reviews/book chapters, co-edited a special issue for Biochimica Biophysica Acta-Molecular Basis of Disease (Oncometabolism: The Switchboard of Cancer) and has been an ad-hoc reviewer for 15 different scientific journals and 1 funding agency.
Main research areas: Exercise in cancer prevention and management, oncometabolism, metal-induced carcinogenesis.
Graduation in Medicine in 1980 by the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the New University of Lisbon.
Scientific and Pedagogical Aptitude (Master) in Normal Anatomy by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (FMUC) in 1989.
PhD in Morphological Sciences - Normal Human Anatomy in 1997 at the University of Coimbra.
Aggregation in Medicine (Morphological Sciences - Normal Anatomy) at FMUC in 2006.
Full Professor of Normal Anatomy at FMUC. He teaches Anatomy in the pre-gratuated Master Integrated Medical School - Faculty of Medicine University of Coimbra and in several master's degrees.
Specialist in General Surgery by the Coimbra University Hospital (HUC) in 1991.
Senior Graduate Assistant (Head of Service) of General Surgery at the Coimbra University Hospital
Director of the Head, Neck and Skin Department at the Coimbra University Hospital
Member of the French Academy of Surgery. Competence in Experimental Pathology by the Portuguese Medical Association.
He published 108 original scientific articles, 18 book chapters and 6 books. Awards: 36. Organization of Conferences and Postgraduate Courses: 89. Supervised 3 doctoral theses, 17 master's dissertations.
Main Research Area – Normal Anatomy and oesophageal and gastric Surgery
Degree in Pharmacy from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Coimbra. PhD in Cellular Biology in 2008 at the University of Coimbra
Head of the Flow Cytometry Unit and of Biobank from the Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra. Assistant Professor of Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra Health School.
He published 135 original scientific articles in ISI journals and 4 book chapters. Supervised 4 doctoral theses and co-supervises 2, 36 master's dissertations..
Main Research Area – Stem cells biology, Tumor immunology, Immunobiology of auto-immune and allergic diseases.
Célia Gomes graduated in biochemistry in 1992 and received her MSc in biomedical engineering in 1996 at Coimbra University. In 2008, she completed her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine of Coimbra University, having performed part of the experimental work at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), in the Netherlands.
At present, she is auxiliary researcher at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra. Her research activity is committed to understanding how tumor cells exploit the microenvironment for metastatic dissemination and therapy resistance. She is also interested in developing nanotheranostics for image-guided cancer therapy.
Her scientific research has resulted in over 60 publications in peer-reviewed international journals and 2 book chapters. She has supervised 3 PhD theses (+ 8 ongoing) and 28 Master theses.
Main research areas - Tumor microenvironment, metastasis, cancer stem cells, cancer therapy, theranostic, solid tumors
Head of Department of Dermatology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC) (since 2022), responsible for the Unit of Cutaneous Allergy and the GA2LEN centre of reference and excellence on Urticaria and angioedema (UCARE and ACARE centres)
Invited Auxiliary Professor with aggregation, Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC) (since 2015) - PhD Thesis “CADR- Contributions to understand pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in delayed reactions” (2014). Aggregation in January 2022 with the title “Chronic spontaneous urticaria. From pathogenesis to treatment”. Master Degree in Immunology, FMUC (1997)
At present teaches Dermatology in the pre-graduate Master Integrated Medical School of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, and in several post-graduate programmes of the University of Coimbra and of the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Is the supervisor of a PhD thesis on Urticaria, University of Porto, and has oriented more than 30 Master Degree thesis on Dermatology (FMUC). Has been appointed as jury in the evaluation of Doctoral thesis in Dermatology at National and International Universities (Barcelona, Antwerp, São Paulo).
Author/co-author of 34 book chapters, >300 papers in peer-reviewed journals, mostly in the area of contact dermatitis, chronic urticaria, photosensitivity, atopic dermatitis, and clinical dermatology (h-index: 38, web of science, with >7800 citations). Performed >250 invited lectures, mostly in International Congresses, and collaborated in the organization or scientific committees of National and International courses and congresses.
Member of the Editorial Board of Contact Dermatitis (Session editor), Journal of the EADV (Session editor), European Journal of Dermatology, Editor-in-Chief of the Portuguese Journal of Dermatology and Venereology.
Main areas of research: Chronic urticaria, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, lupus erythematosus/dermatomyositis, drug eruptions and photosensitivity.
Marília De Assunção Rodrigues Ferreira Dourado got her degree in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra. PhD in Medicine from the University of Coimbra, in the specialty of Pathology - Pathophysiology/General Pathology. Competence in Experimental Pathology issued by the Portuguese Order of Physicians.
She is currently Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra where she teaches Pathophysiology in the Integrated Masters in Dentistry and Palliative Care and Pain Therapy in the Integrated Master in Medicine.
She is the coordinator of the Master degree in Long-term and Palliative Care and of the Postgraduate course in Pain Medicine. In both, she teaches several subjects.
She teaches the Palliative Care in Oncology module in PhD program at the Faculty of Medicine. At the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra she coordinates the Pathophysiology and Therapeutics I and II courses of the Degree in Biomedical Pharmacy, ant teaches the subject of Pathophysiology.
She created and directs the Center for Studies and Development in Long Term and Palliative Care at the UC Faculty of Medicine. Created and directs the Volunteer Program for Students at FMUC “ NUVEM”
Main research areas: Palliative Care; Informal caregivers; Pain Medicine; oral cancer oncobiology.
Researcher at the Flow Cytometry Unit, Department of Clinical Pathology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), and at the Biobank CACC CHUC-UC, Unidade de Inovação e Desenvolvimento, CHUC, in the research fields of immunology, stem cells and oncology.
Degree in Biology (2003) and Ph.D. in Biosciences – Cellular and Molecular Biology (2016), attributed by the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, University of Coimbra. Researcher at the Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, University of Salamanca, Spain (2010-2012). She has 21 year of experience in flow cytometry, cell sorting and cell culture. She published 32 original scientific articles in PubMed Indexed Journals and 3 book chapters. Co-supervised 1 doctoral thesis (completed in 2020) and, in the present, is co-supervising 2 doctoral theses.
Main Research Area: Immunology, Stem Cells, Oncology
Paulo Freitas Tavares is a researcher in the field of immunology and oncology, with a focus on sarcomas, chronic myeloid leukemia, and medical cannabis. He is also the head of Medical
Oncology in the Sarcoma Unit of Coimbra University Hospital, which is the largest Iberian Peninsula sarcoma unit. His research is mainly focused on understanding the molecular
mechanisms of cancer development, including the role of the immune system in cancer progression, and the identification of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of sarcomas,
chronic myeloid leukemia, and other cancer types. He also studies the potential therapeutic use of medical cannabis in the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Main Research Area- sarcomas, chronic myeloid leukemia, and medical cannabis
Raquel Alves has a degree in Biology and a master in Molecular Cell Biology from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at the University of Coimbra and a PhD in Aging and Chronic Disease from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra. She published 22 journal articles (8 as the first author), 2 book chapters, and over 110 abstracts in international and national journals (H-index 10 and 195 citations). She co-supervised 10 master students and 1 doctoral thesis (ongoing). Currently, she is a member of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), European Hematology Association (EHA) and Portuguese Hematology Society (SPH). She is also invited assistant Professor at FMUC, where she teaches Applied Molecular Biology and Nutrition Biology.
Main Research Area – Oncobiology, Hematology, Biomarker research, Drug research and resistance
Degree in Biochemistry from Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Coimbra, in 2006. PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, in 2011. Degree in Medicine from Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra, in 2015. Hematologist at University Hospital Center of Coimbra since 2017. Research in the Hematology field since 2005, with several manuscripts published in international peer-reviewed journals.
At present, she collaborates as researcher with the research group of Applyed Molecular Biology and University Clinic of Hematology, CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra University, directed by Professor Ana Bela Sarmento-Ribeiro as well as with the Flow Citometry Unit (UGOC), integrated in the Clinical Pathology Department of the CHUC, directed by Professor Artur Paiva.
Main research area – Cellular and molecular biology of hematologic malignancies.
Degree in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine - University of Coimbra (FMUC).
PhD in 1993 in Public Health and Epidemiology - FMUC.
Associate Professor at the FMUC, with teaching (pre and post education) experience in Epidemiology and Research Methods.
Director of the Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Social.
64 original scientific articles and 8 doctoral theses supervisations.
Breast cancer expert of the European Commission
Main Research Area – Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer screening
Degree in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra since 1996. Medical Specialization in Anatomical Pathology (Pathology) since 2005. PhD in Health Sciences, Medicine, Pathology specialty, by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (FMUC) in 2016. Lecturer / Assistant of Anatomical Pathology I and II, and Professor (Regency / Principal Responsible) of Anatomical Pathology General and Anatomical Pathology Special Curricular Units in FMUC.
Coordinator / Principal responsible for Kidney Pathology, and Uropathology diagnose at Hospital and University Centre of Coimbra (HUC-CHUC). Co-responsible for pathology diagnose in several fields such as: Respiratory Pathology; Cardiovascular Pathology; Transplant Pathology including kidney and heart transplant pathology.
Author of 51 scientific articles and 120 abstracts publications in per-reviewed Journals, and of 2 Book Chapters. Author of 52 oral communications and 132 poster communications. Co-supervisor of 2 Doctoral Thesis. Co-supervisor of 3 Master Degree Thesis. Jury in 6 Master Degree Thesis and in 1 Doctoral Thesis.
Main Research Areas: Uropathology, Kidney pathology, Lung pathology, Molecular Pathology, and Digital Pathology.
Colaboradores
Anabela Araújo Pedrosa. Degree in Psychology at the University of Coimbra (1995). PhD in Health Psychology at the University of Coimbra, in 2010. Clinical Psychologist at Clinical Psychology Service – Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC; Maternity Daniel de Matos). Researcher at Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavior Intervention (CINEICC – University of Coimbra). Clinical Psychologist in the UpC3 – Cognitive-Behavioural Clinical Psychology Unit at University of Coimbra. Certified expert in Clinical and Health Psychology by the Portuguese Board of Psychologists, with advanced specialties in Psychotherapy, Early Intervention and Organizations Psychological Health. Certified Psychotherapist and Supervisor by the Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies. Member of the faculty of the Masters in Continued and Palliative Care at Faculty of Medicine – University of Coimbra. Published 25 scientific articles, 8 book chapters and co-authored 1 book.
Main research areas: perinatal mental health; e-mental health; stress and adjustment; communication and social support.
Degree in nursing. MSc in long-term care and palliative care from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra. During her master's degree program, she attended course units of the master’s degree in applied pharmacology, about pharmacotherapeutic follow-up, at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Coimbra. Currently taking a degree in medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra. Member of the WHO Global Patient Safety Network.
Main Research Area: Medication appropriateness and safety in long-term care and palliative care.
Degree in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra. She completed the first academic year of the Gaster's degree in Geriatrics and the Master's degree in kidney transplantation. Master in Clinical nutrition in 2005 and in Palliative Care in 2017 at the University of Coimbra where she was Guest Assistant of Pathophysiology. She taught Pathophysiology in the pre-gratuated Master Medicine Integrated Medical School - Faculty of Medicine University of Coimbra; in Master of Continuing and Palliative Care at the Faculty of Medicine, Post Graduation in Pain Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Course of Non-Oncological Palliative Care Course at the Faculty of Medicine. She published 4 original scientific articles as first author and 4 original scientific articles as co-authored in ISI journals, 4 book chapters. Supervised 2 master's dissertations and co-supervised 2.
Main Research Area - Pathophysiology, Palliative Care, Geriatrics
European registered Clinical Laboratory Geneticist (European board of Medical Genetics), Head of Hemato-Oncology of Molecular Hematology Laboratory of Hematology Unit of Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. Master degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at University of Coimbra and degree in Biotechnological Engineering at Lusófona University from Lisbon.
Main research area: Molecular Genetics, Acute Leukemias, Myeloid neoplasms, Bone Marrow Failure Disorders
Degree in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra in 1981. Specialist in Anatomical Pathology since 1991, senior graduated assistant at CHUC since 2008. Head of the Anatomical Pathology Department (SAP) of the Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC) since August 2016. President of the Portuguese Society of Pathology. Nationally renowned pathologist in the field of hepatology, working as a consultant for other hospitals. Participation in international multicenter projects and therapeutic trials. Author or co-author of 50 posters with published abstract, 32 oral communications and 93 articles. Delivered 84 lectures as a guest / trainer. Continuous training attested by more than 150 Congresses, Courses and Workshops.
Main Research Area – gastrointestinal, hepatology
Degree in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra in 1995. Degree of Master Integrated Medical School - Faculty of Medicine University of Coimbra in 2011. She collaborates in the teaching of the Curricular Unit of Clinical Hematology, of the Hematology University Clinic (headed by Professora Doutora Ana Bela Sarmento-Ribeiro).
She is Co-author of 5 original scientific articles and 1 book chapter. Co-supervised 5 master's dissertations and was jury of 6 master's dissertations.
Main Research Area – lymphomas and chronic lymphoid leukemias
PhD Students
Ana Isabel Madaleno Sebastião received her Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra in 2019. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in the Doctoral Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra. Her research interests are focused on the development of a prophylactic dendritic cell-based vaccine for hereditary breast cancer.
Main research areas - Breast cancer, dendritic cell-based vaccines; prophylaxis
Beatriz is a PhD student of the Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra (FMUC) and a researcher at Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Group of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), FMUC. She completed her master´s degree in Biomedical Research at FMUC and her degree in Biology at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra. She published 3 journal articles (1 as the first author) and 13 abstracts in international and national journals. Currently, she is a member of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR). She also provides tutorial support to students developing research projects within the scope of research curricular units and laboratory rotations.
Main Research Area: Oncobiology, Hematology, DNA Damage Repair, Biomarker research, Drug research
Degree in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra in 1998. Plastic Surgery Specialist since 2007. Master Degree in Reconstructive microsurgery at Universidad Autonomy de Barcelona in 2016.
Head of Plastic Surgery Department at CHUC
Phd Student at University of Coimbra
Main Research Area - Oncobiology
Cátia Domingues holds a MSc degree. Currently, she is involved in projects that aim to synthesize and develop polymeric-based nanotheranostic platforms for cancer diagnosis/treatment, intending to improve cancer patients' QoL, compliance, and survival.
Main Research areas - Nanotechnology, Nanoparticles, Oncobiology, Cancer treatment
Daniela Mateus received her Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra in 2019. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in the Doctoral Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra. Her research work is focused on the development of artificial dendritic cells for anti-tumor immunotherapy.
Main research areas - Breast cancer, vaccines, artificial dendritic cells
Diana Rodrigues received her Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2017 from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, under the Prototera program. She is interested in developing metal-based PSMA radioligands for metastatic prostate cancer imaging and therapy.
Main research areas - Prostate câncer, PSMA, radiopharmaceuticals, theranostic
Medical degree from Nova Medical School, Lisbon , Portugal (2011).
Post-graduate degree in Geriatrics (2016) from FMUC
Medical Oncology fellowship in Portuguese Institute of Oncology. (2018)
Observership in Melanoma Medical Oncology Department MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. (2018)
Post-graduate degree in Genetics and Genomics (2021) from Nova Medical School.
Currently he is a Medical Oncologist in Coimbra Hospital and University Centre (CHUC) Portugal , develops his activity in skin cancer and digestive tumors. He is also a Phd student and assistant professor in Oncology in Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra.
Published 8 articles in specialized magazines. Principal Investigator/Co-investigator in 4 phase III clinical trials. Lecturer in several courses.
Main Research Areas: Biology of cancer; Mechanisms of cancer metastasis; Immunotherapy; Melanoma; Neuroendocrine tumors
Frederico Furriel graduated in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra in 2006. He concluded his residency in Urology at the University Hospital of Coimbra in 2014, and became certified as a Fellow of the European Board of Urology (FEBU) in the same year. Currently he is pursuing a PhD in Health Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra. He is interested in studying the mechanisms behind the resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in bladder cancer.
Main research areas - Bladder cancer, microenvironment, immunotherapy
Gabriela Sampaio Ribeiro graduated in Biology in 2019 from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra and completed her master's degree in Biomedical Research in 2021 from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Health Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra. Her research interests lie in understanding the contribution of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in metastatic lung relapse in osteosarcoma.
Main research areas – Osteosarcoma, Lung metastasis, Cardiotoxicity
Professional and academic path:
Master in medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra (2012).
Master in Geriatrics from the Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra (2017).
Postgraduate in Palliative and End of Life Care (2018) and postgraduate in Pain Control (2019). PhD candidate in Palliative Care at Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto (2019-2023).
Specialist in General and Family Medicine (2018). Medical doctor and coordinator of the Palliative Care Community Support Team of the Gaia Health Center Group (since 2020).
He was an invited assistant at the Department of Biomedicine – Anatomy Unit (Morphophysiology of the Nervous System and Morphophysiology of the Cardiovascular System) between 2018 and 2020.
He has been a guest lecturer at Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra (Pain pathophysiology and Therapeutics and Palliative Care) since 2021. Since 2020 he has been a researcher at the CIMAGO. Collaborates in the Graduate Program in Pain Medicine and in the Master in Continuous and Palliative Care at FMUC since 2020.
He is the coordinator of the Iniciativa Médica 3M, a group of 15 medical doctors from 9 different specialties that organize peer training in the areas of Pain Medicine, Palliative Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, having been responsible for organizing 50 courses that had more than 7000 participating doctors, a course in pain and palliative care in Mozambique – Maputo (for around 100 health professionals), a course in palliative care in Cape Verde – Cidade da Praia (for around 100 health professionals) and a multidisciplinary pain congress that featured with about 30 speakers and 300 participants.
Supervisor and co-supervisor of 5 Integrated Master’s theses in Palliative Care (two ate Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto and four at Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra).
Winner in 2019 of the European Union EIT Health Innostars Award for the best innovation project in Health Care, with the specialized application in geriatrics and palliative care GeriCarePro.
He participated in more than 200 courses, congresses and conferences as a lecturer, with more than 900 hours as a trainer.
He has 11 published works, 6 of which in international journals indexed with a high impact factor (Q1 and Q2).
Main Research Area: Palliative care, Geriatrics, Pain Medicine, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology
Inês Costa has a BSc in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences (Coimbra Health School) and a MSc in Biomedical Research (Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra). She is currently a PhD student of the doctoral program in Health Sciences (Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra). She has participated in 5 projects, published 3 journal articles (2 as first author), 7 abstracts in national and international journals, and received 2 awards and a merit scholarship during the MSc. She also provides tutorial support to students in laboratorial rotations and master students.
Main Research Area – Oncobiology, Hematology, DNA damage response, metabolism, biomarkers research, drug research
Ivanna Hrynchak graduated in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Beira Interior in 2015 and obtained her Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto in 2017. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in the Drugs R&D program at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra. She is interested in developing innovative biomolecules-based radiopharmaceuticals as theranostic agents for oncological diseases.
Main research areas – Cancer, radiopharmaceuticals, theranostic
Joana Jorge has a degree in Biology and a master in Biochemistry from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at the University of Coimbra. She is now a PhD student in Health Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra. She published 19 journal articles (3 as the first author), 2 book chapters and more than 80 abstracts in international and national journals (H-index 8 and 178 citations). She co-supervised 4 master students (1 ongoing). Currently, she is member of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), European Hematology Association (EHA) and Portuguese Association for Cancer Research (ASPIC). She is also a invited teaching assistant at the FMUC in Applied Molecular Biology and collaborates in PhD and master courses.
Main Research Area – Oncobiology, Hematology, Liquid Biopsies, Biomarker research, Drug research
Degree in Medicine and Master in Sports Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra, where he is an Assistant Professor. He is currently doing is Phd at the University of Coimbra under the topic of post-traumatic osteoarthritis and anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
Main Research Area – Post-traumatic osteoarthritis; Knee Biomarkers; Anterior Cruciate Ligament; Biomechanics
Liliana Santos
Liliana Santos graduated in Biochemistry from the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University in 2015 and obtained her Master's degree in Oncology at Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences in 2017. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in the Drugs R&D program at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra. Her research interests are focused on two main areas: studying the cellular and molecular determinants of brain metastasis in breast cancer and on the development of nanobody-based theranostic strategies.
Main research areas - Breast cancer, brain metastasis, nanotheranostic
Mário Pereira Lourenço graduated in Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra in 2012. He concluded his residency in Urology at the University Hospital of Coimbra in 2020, and became certified as a Fellow of the European Board of Urology in 2022. Currently he is pursuing a PhD in Health Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, with a focus on identifying new imaging-based prognostic markers for penile cancer.
Main research areas - Penile cancer, microenvironment, prognostic biomarkers
Integrated Masters in Medicine - NOVA Medical School (2008). MSc Palliative Care - King's College London (2015). Specialist doctor in Medical Oncology since 2016. Currently enrolled at the FCT-funded PhD Program GABBA - University of Porto, under the supervision of Doutora Joana Paredes (i3S - Porto), with co-supervision of Prof. Doutor Manuel R. Teixeira (IPO-Porto) and Doutora Carla Bartosch (IPO-Porto), conducting a project that aims to explore cell-cell adhesion alterations involved in the early carcinogenesis of high grade serous carcinoma of the ovary. Teaching assistant in the Oncology Curricular Unit from the Integrated Masters in Medicine - University of Coimbra.
Main areas of research: ovarian cancer, digital pathology, precursor lesions, cancer biomarkers