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RESEARCH

1. Design and Synthesis of G-quadruplex ligands

Development of quadruplex ligands with special focus on the phenanthroline family.

In addition to the chemical synthesis of the compounds, computational tools are also applied to study the interaction with the target.

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2. Biophysical characterization of non-canonical nucleic acids structures

Study of non-canonical structures in telomeres, oncogene promoters and miRNA as a therapeutic target for cancer therapy. 

The study is carried out using a wide range of computational, biophysical and biochemical techniques.

3. Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics

- Evaluation of therapeutic oligonucleotides for cancer therapy 

- Development and characterization of aptamer functionalized nanocarriers (micelles, liposomes, dendrimers and gold nanoparticles) for targeted delivery

- Biological evaluation in in vitro and in vivo models. 

4. Screening of miRNAs as novel cancer biomarkers

The main aim is to validate those miRNAs as novel biomarkers for cancer detection.

The profiling of miRNAs is performed in biological samples such as plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well cancer cell lines.

ONGOING PROJECTS

AquaClean – Monitorização e remoção de disruptores endócrinos em águas superficiais
Projetos Piloto 2024 "PROMOVE” FUNDAÇÃO LA CAIXA/BPI

Silence4
Ideias Inovadoras 2024 "PROMOVE” FUNDAÇÃO LA CAIXA/BPI

Structural characterization by X-ray crystallography of non-canonical nucleic acids structures in B-MYB proto-oncogene
Canserv Consortium/Instruct-ERIC 2024

FINISHED PROJECTS

DEFEND - Gel vaginal para lesões cancerígenas causadas pelo vírus do Papiloma Humano
Projetos de Ignição e Provas de Conceito INOVC+ Ecossistema de Inovação Inteligente 2023

Novel approach to control let-7e miRNA biogenesis: Unveiling the relationship between structure and function of let-7e precursor miRNA/nucleolin complex 
Instruct-ERIC Pilot R&D project call 2022

Therapeutic strategy targeting G-quadruplex structures in KRAS oncogene based on the synergistic use of ligands and Polypurine Reverse Hoogsteen Hairpins (PPRHs)
"PROMOVE” FUNDAÇÃO LA CAIXA/BPI

Portuguese Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Network (PTNMR)

Ref. ROTEIRO/0031/2013

COMPETE2020

Doctoral Training Program in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Applied to Chemistry, Materials and Biosciences

Ref. PD/00065/2013
Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)

Nucleolin targeting by G-quadruplex aptamers for cervical cancer therapy

Ref. IF/00959/2015

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)

SENSE - Deteção de eStruturas de G-quadruplEx no SARS-CoV-2 utilizando soNdas fluorescentes

Ref. 6

Centro de Competências em Cloud Computing (C4)

KRAS G-quadruplexes as an innovative theragnostic strategy for cervical cancer

Ref. 5079

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - PESSOA Program​

Track and Trace COVID-19

Ref. 149_596826219

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica (AICIB)

DRug dElivery nAnosysteM for HPV infection therapy

Ref. UTAP-EXPL/NTec/0015/2017

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - UTAustin Portugal Program​

G-quadruplex aptamers for cervical cancer therapy

Ref. TC-15/17

Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council (CRUP)

BIOmedical DEVICE development based on pre-miRNA G-quadruplex

Ref. MIT-EXPL/BIO/0008/2017

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - MIT Portugal Program

Development of drug delivery nanocarrier for HPV infection

Ref. 45/2018

Fundação Luso-Americana (FLAD) - Healthcare 2020

G-quadruplex binders for cancer therapy

Ref. FCT EXPL/QEQ-MED/1068/2013

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)

FUNDING

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