Current Positions:
Coordinator Researcher and Group Leader at i3S Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S)
Department of Molecular Biology
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Portugal
Affiliated Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
Education and Training:
- Training in biomedical sciences, with specialization in cancer biology and glycobiology.
Work Experience:
- Coordinating Researcher and Group Leader, i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Porto, Portugal.
- Head of a multidisciplinary team combining molecular and cellular biology, glycobiology, pathology and clinical data.
Scientific Expertise:
- Cancer Glycobiology – role of tumour‑associated glycans in growth, progression and metastasis.
- Protein Glycosylation – effects on cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions and immune recognition.
- Glycan‑based Biomarkers for early detection, prognosis and precision oncology.
Methodological Expertise:
- Experimental glycobiology and glycoprotein characterization.
- Integration of pathology and clinical data with glycosylation profiles.
Research Activities
Main Research Areas:
1. Cancer‑Related Glycans and Glycoproteins
- Tumour‑associated glycans as key regulators of tumour cell behaviour.
2. Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets
- Clinical validation of glycan‑based biomarkers in patient cohorts.
- Identification of therapeutic targets for precision oncology.
3. Translational Cancer Research
- Bridging basic glycobiology and clinical oncology through strong clinician–pathologist collaborations.
- Active collaborations with national and international clinical and academic centres in oncology and glycobiology.
- Participation in multicentre projects aiming at clinical validation and translation of glycan‑based biomarkers into diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
- Numerous peer‑reviewed publications and book chapters, reinforcing the central role of glycosylation in modern oncology.