Advancing Redox Studies: Integrating Physiological Oxygen Levels for Enhanced Biomarker Discovery and Antioxidant Screening Beyond the Conventional Methods

Objetivo temático: Ciências Médicas e da Saúde

Área Científica: Biotecnologia Médica

Síntese do Projeto: Despite the emergence of several promising biomarkers and therapeutic drugs from in vitro studies every year, most fail to demonstrate significant benefits in vivo. Each failed clinical trial can cost tens of millions of euros, consume a substantial amount of time and resources, and negatively impact public trust in the scientific community. This discrepancy between in vitro and clinical outcomes is partly due to the limited translational potential of preclinical studies, which are often conducted under artificial conditions that do not reflect the physiological environment. A key example is conventional cell culture, typically performed under atmospheric oxygen levels (~18-19% O2, i.e., hyperoxia), which differ significantly from in vivo oxygen concentrations (ranging from 1-11%O2, known as physioxia). This issue becomes particularly critical in studies involving oxygen-sensitive mechanisms, such as mitochondrial function and redox balance.

Through an integrated approach that spans from primary cell models to human samples, the PhysOxy4Redox project aims to pioneer the use of physiological oxygen condition in in vitro studies, generating preclinical model with greater translational relevance for investigating oxidative stress responses and antioxidant therapies.

By employing cutting-edge techniques available at CIBB-UC – including oxSWATH, BioLog and Seahorse – alongside advanced data analysis strategies, PhysOxy4Redox will assess how conventional culture conditions may mask physiological relevant responses, thereby contributing to the limited number of effective biomarkers and therapeutic strategies that reach clinical practice. In the long term, this innovative approach is expected to facilitate the discovery of more accurate biomarkers and effective treatment strategies, ultimately improving patients' quality of life, optimizing healthcare resource use, and contributing to the restoration of public trust in scientific research.

PhysOxy4Redox is an ambitious project that will generate substantial new knowledge, break with conventional in vitro experimentation, and raise awareness of the critical importance of using physiological oxygen conditions — particularly in studies involving oxidative stress and redox biology.

Área de intervenção: Tecnologias -Identificação do Funcionamento do ADN, Proteínas e Enzimas e sua relação com a Doença

Investigador Responsável na UC: Sandra Isabel dos Santos Anjo

Unidade Orgânica UC: Reitoria - CNC

Instituições participantes no Projeto: Universidade de Coimbra (UC)

Instituição Financiadora/Gestora: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Programa de Financiamento: MPr-2023-12 - SACCCT - Projetos de IC&DT

Período de execução: 31/07/2025 A 29/07/2028

Custo total elegível (EUR): 249.912,00 €

Apoio financeiro da UE: 212.425,20 €

Apoio financeiro público nacional: 37.486,80 €

Técnico do Projeto: Luiza Garcia (luiza.garcia@uc.pt)

Contacto: +351 239 247 023