Research Team

Molecular Biomaterials group

The Molecular Biomaterials group led by the ERA Chair Holder Helena Azevedo, is interested in developing precision medicine technologies, based on molecular bionanomaterials, to underpin research in cancer, infection, neurodegenerative diseases and tissue repair/regeneration. Know more

Helena Azevedo

Group Leader

Helena Azevedo

Group Leader

Helena Azevedo is the ERA Chair Holder of MOBILIsE and the group leader of the Molecular Biomaterials research group at INEB/i3S.

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Carla Cunha

Assistant Researcher

Carla Cunha

Assistant Researcher

Carla Cunha is an Assistant Researcher in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at INEB/i3S. Her research focuses on the development of bioengineered therapies for the intervertebral disc. Carla holds a PhD in Biology by the University of Porto, Portugal.

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Karen Galle

PhD student

Karen Galle

PhD student

Karen Galle is a PhD student in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at i3S. Her research focuses on the culture of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) on different substrates and on the assessment of their effect on the barrier functions. Karen holds an MSc in Applications of Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology by the University of Porto, Portugal.

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Rui Pereira

Assistant researcher

Rui Pereira

Assistant researcher

Rui Pereira is an Assistant Researcher in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at INEB/i3S. His research focusses on the development of blood-brain barrier models based on peptide/hyaluronic acid membranes to verify structural and functional properties under physiological and cancer conditions. Rui holds a European PhD in Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells by the University of Minho (Portugal) and the University of Genova (Italy).

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Vijay Kumar Pal

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow

Vijay Kumar Pal

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow

Vijay Kumar Pal is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at i3s. His research work focusses on exploiting the enzymatic landscape in the tumour microenvironment to boost the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies via molecularly engineered peptide nanomaterials. Vijay holds a PhD in Supramolecular Chemistry from INST-IISER Mohali, India.

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Raushan Kumar

Research Technician

Raushan Kumar

Research Technician

Raushan Kumar is a Research Technician in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at INEB/i3S. His research focusses on the development of new peptide-based antimicrobial formulations for applications in the treatment of bacterial infections. Raushan holds an MSc in Organic Chemistry from the IISER Kolkata, India.

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Joana Silva

Junior Researcher

Joana Silva

Junior Researcher

Joana Silva is a Junior Researcher in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at INEB/i3S. Her research focusses on the development of supramolecular hydrogels combining peptides and natural polymers for different applications, such as cell culture, in vitro 3D models and regenerative medicine. Joana holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry by the University of Manchester (UK).

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Carlos Redondo

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow

Carlos Redondo

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow

Carlos Redondo is a Junior Researcher in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at INEB/i3S. His research focuses on the development of responsive nanobiomaterials based on self-assembling peptides for targeted diagnosis/therapies. Carlos holds a PhD in Medical Engineering by Queen Mary University of London (UK).

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Monica Scaranari

Research Technician

Monica Scaranari

Research Technician

Monica Scaranari is a Research Technician in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at INEB/i3S. She has extensive experience as a Research Technician in both academic, clinical, and industrial settings. She is responsible for the day-to-day management of the lab and provides training on the use of lab equipment.

Bárbara Matos

Junior Researcher

Bárbara Matos

Junior Researcher

Bárbara Matos holds a bachelor's degree in Biotechnology (2016) and a master's degree in Biochemistry (2018) at University of Aveiro, PT. Her master thesis aimed to explore the preventive effect of exercise training on prostate cancer-induced testicular dysfunction. In 2024, she completed her Ph.D. in Biomedicine with a thesis entitled “Developing a new approach for prostate cancer treatment: modulation of protein phosphatase 1 complexes using bioportides”.

With an interdisciplinary background, Bárbara’s areas of expertise include cancer research, protein-protein interactions, peptide synthesis and therapeutics and 2D/3D cell culture.

Bárbara is a Junior Researcher in the Molecular Biomaterials Group at INEB/i3S, where she focuses in developing innovative biomaterials based on self-assembling peptides for molecular targeted diagnosis and therapies.

Sara Silva

Postdoctoral Researcher

Sara Silva

Postdoctoral Researcher

Sara Silva is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Molecular Biomaterials research group at i3S. Her research focusses on the development of blood-brain barrier microvasculature network based on self-assembly peptides/hyaluronic acid through molecular engineering and 3D printing technologies. Sara holds a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences by the University of Porto, Portugal.

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Gonçalo Oliveira

MSc Student

Gonçalo Oliveira

MSc Student

Alumni and Visitors

Sep 2023 – Dec 2024 | Alexandre Gil, MSc student

Jun-Jul 2024 | Fátima Arroyo, Master student

Apr-Jun 2024 | Ricardo Quesada, BSc research internship

2023-24 | Tiago Dias, Research Trainee

Sep 2022 | Bernardo Tavares, Research Trainee

Feb-May 2023 | Diego Mendez, Erasmus Master student

Jun-Aug 2022 | Pedro Brandão, Assistant Researcher