iCBR researcher receives JJ Pedroso de Lima Award for innovative research into radiopharmaceuticals for cancer

iCBR researcher Liliana Santos has been distinguished with the second edition of the JJ Pedroso de Lima Prize, awarded by the Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS) of the University of Coimbra. The prize recognizes the quality and scientific impact of her research in the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment through the development of radiopharmaceuticals.

The award ceremony took place on September 11, 2025, in the Senate Room of the University of Coimbra. The €10,000 prize was presented by the Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcão, and the Director of ICNAS, Antero Abrunhosa.

With a degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s in Molecular Oncology, the researcher recently completed her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a thesis entitled “Unveiling the mechanisms of blood–brain barrier dysfunction in the formation of brain metastases in HER2+ breast cancer: a step toward new therapeutic approaches.” Her work focused on the development of radiopharmaceuticals — namely zirconium-89 and copper-64 for diagnosis, and lutetium-177 for treatment — of tumors and brain metastases from HER2+ breast cancer resistant to conventional therapies.

The JJ Pedroso de Lima Prize aims to recognize outstanding projects in nuclear sciences applied to health, honoring Professor João José Pedroso de Lima (1934–2016).

For the iCBR, this distinction reinforces its commitment to cutting-edge research and the development of innovative solutions for cancer diagnosis and treatment, particularly in areas bridging nuclear medicine, translational oncology, and targeted therapies.

You can read the article here: https://noticias.uc.pt/en/articles/jj-pedroso-de-lima-prize-awarded-to-liliana-santos-for-research-on-cancer-diagnosis-and-treatment-using-radiopharmaceuticals/