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.
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
OralCare: Smart nanoparticle formulation to treat Human Papilloma Virus-induced oral lesions
Prémio de Inovação UBI-CGD 2024
Structural and cellular evaluation of G-quadruplex on B-MYB oncogene
Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - PESSOA Program | ref 2024.07170
AquaClean – Monitorização e remoção de disruptores endócrinos em águas superficiaisProjetos Piloto 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
Silence4
Ideias Inovadoras 2024 "PROMOVE” FUNDAÇÃO LA CAIXA/BPI
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
ORACLE: BiOmarkeR-integrated targeted therapies Approach for non-small Cell Lung CancEr
UIDP/Multi/00709/2020
Vaginal gel for topical application in precancerous lesions caused by the HPV
CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-181235
COMBINE - CombinatiOn aptaMer-drug Based therapeutics for ocular neovascular dIsease wheN two are bettEr than one
BInov
Collaborative Project Award PAPILOMA: Preclinical validation of a new gel vaginal prototype
UIDP/00709/2020
PAPILOMA - Vaginal gel for topical application in precancerous lesions caused by caused by human papillomavirus.
Ref. CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-181235 - Projeto Prova Conceito (CENTRO 2020)
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/1068/2013Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
FUNDING
