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About Us

Collaborative Laboratory to foster Translation and Drug Discovery

Mission and goals

Our Departments & Specialities

Guide and support the transformation of scientific insights into successful drug discovery and development programs that could deliver novel therapeutics

R&I technologies

Develop unique platforms enabling multiple drug discovery programs

Drug Discovery Projects

Identify and translate drug targets into drug discovery programs and new drugs

Ecosystem

Promote the growth of the Portuguese ecosystem

Training

Train the next generation of Biotech Business Leaders

Associate Members

Governance

Board of Directors

President

Pedro Silva

Members

David Malta
Joana Branco
Joaquim Cabral
Cláudia Cavadas

Fiscal Council

President

Nuno Prego Ramos

Members

Carlos Simões
João Seixas

General Assembly

President

Sofia Mira Granja

Secretary

Pedro Andrade

Vowel

António Parada

Meet Our Team

Pedro Silva

President of the Direction
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Pedro Silva is the Technology Transfer Director at Instituto de Medicina Molecular. Raised 500+ million euros in research and innovation funding, managed 200+ patents, negotiated 50+ license agreements and supported the creation of 30+ startups. From 2010, after work experience in the US, increasing focus on life sciences tech transfer and start-up creation. He is currently member of the Board of two start-ups based on iMM IP. Pedro served as a consultant to start-ups, SMEs, large corporations, and other public and private organizations in strategy, business development, innovation management, intellectual property, licensing, and fundraising. Member and coordinator of projects with European, National and regional funding. Participated as evaluator and expert in different EU funding programs and European Commission missions, respectively. Pedro has a BSc in International Relations and Affairs and a Post-Graduation in European Studies.

Pedro Silva

Pedro Silva

President of the Direction
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Pedro Silva is the Technology Transfer Director at Instituto de Medicina Molecular. Raised 500+ million euros in research and innovation funding, managed 200+ patents, negotiated 50+ license agreements and supported the creation of 30+ startups. From 2010, after work experience in the US, increasing focus on life sciences tech transfer and start-up creation. He is currently member of the Board of two start-ups based on iMM IP. Pedro served as a consultant to start-ups, SMEs, large corporations, and other public and private organizations in strategy, business development, innovation management, intellectual property, licensing, and fundraising. Member and coordinator of projects with European, National and regional funding. Participated as evaluator and expert in different EU funding programs and European Commission missions, respectively. Pedro has a BSc in International Relations and Affairs and a Post-Graduation in European Studies.

President of the Direction

Pedro Silva

President of the Direction
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Pedro Silva is the Technology Transfer Director at Instituto de Medicina Molecular. Raised 500+ million euros in research and innovation funding, managed 200+ patents, negotiated 50+ license agreements and supported the creation of 30+ startups. From 2010, after work experience in the US, increasing focus on life sciences tech transfer and start-up creation. He is currently member of the Board of two start-ups based on iMM IP. Pedro served as a consultant to start-ups, SMEs, large corporations, and other public and private organizations in strategy, business development, innovation management, intellectual property, licensing, and fundraising. Member and coordinator of projects with European, National and regional funding. Participated as evaluator and expert in different EU funding programs and European Commission missions, respectively. Pedro has a BSc in International Relations and Affairs and a Post-Graduation in European Studies.

Joana Branco

Member of the direction
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Joana Branco is the Executive Director and a Board Member at Biocant – Technology Transfer Association. Joana also serves as a Board of Directors at P-Bio, Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization.
She has over 16 years of experience in the biotechnology field, first as an entrepreneur, co-founding Gene PreDiT, and then as the innovation director at Biocant Park. Over the years she has been responsible for technology scouting activities, business management for science- backed projects, fund raising and project management, providing support and mentoring to entrepreneurs in the life science area.
Joana Branco holds a degree in Biochemistry, University of Coimbra, a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto and Baylor College of Medicine – Houston, US, and training in Entrepreneurship from Porto Business School.

Joana Branco

Joana Branco

Member of the direction
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Joana Branco is the Executive Director and a Board Member at Biocant – Technology Transfer Association. Joana also serves as a Board of Directors at P-Bio, Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization.
She has over 16 years of experience in the biotechnology field, first as an entrepreneur, co-founding Gene PreDiT, and then as the innovation director at Biocant Park. Over the years she has been responsible for technology scouting activities, business management for science- backed projects, fund raising and project management, providing support and mentoring to entrepreneurs in the life science area.
Joana Branco holds a degree in Biochemistry, University of Coimbra, a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto and Baylor College of Medicine – Houston, US, and training in Entrepreneurship from Porto Business School.

Member of the Direction

Joana Branco

Member of the direction
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Joana Branco is the Executive Director and a Board Member at Biocant – Technology Transfer Association. Joana also serves as a Board of Directors at P-Bio, Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization.
She has over 16 years of experience in the biotechnology field, first as an entrepreneur, co-founding Gene PreDiT, and then as the innovation director at Biocant Park. Over the years she has been responsible for technology scouting activities, business management for science- backed projects, fund raising and project management, providing support and mentoring to entrepreneurs in the life science area.
Joana Branco holds a degree in Biochemistry, University of Coimbra, a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto and Baylor College of Medicine – Houston, US, and training in Entrepreneurship from Porto Business School.

David Malta

Member of the Direction
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David Braga Malta is a life sciences entrepreneur, inventor and investor. David is currently managing the health PE fund of Group Pictet and previously he was a Venture Partner of Vesalius Biocapital III. As an entrepreneur David founded LiMM Therapeutics, Cell2B and BoostPharma, where he serves(ed) as manager. At LIMM David was founding CEO raising more than EUR 35M and recruiting a top team to move the company to clinical Development. David has been instrumental in supporting and growing Portugal’s life sciences sector, serving as a Board Member at P-BIO – Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization, and acting as Venture Consultant for Caixa Capital where he helped to establish a Life Sciences investment policy for Portugal. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Shapers’ community and has served as the curator of the Lisbon Hub.
His academic career focused on the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine, with several publications and patents in the field. David holds a PhD in Bioengineering from the MIT Portugal Program and an MSc in Biological Engineering from the Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal.

David Malta

David Malta

Member of the Direction
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David Braga Malta is a life sciences entrepreneur, inventor and investor. David is currently managing the health PE fund of Group Pictet and previously he was a Venture Partner of Vesalius Biocapital III. As an entrepreneur David founded LiMM Therapeutics, Cell2B and BoostPharma, where he serves(ed) as manager. At LIMM David was founding CEO raising more than EUR 35M and recruiting a top team to move the company to clinical Development. David has been instrumental in supporting and growing Portugal’s life sciences sector, serving as a Board Member at P-BIO – Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization, and acting as Venture Consultant for Caixa Capital where he helped to establish a Life Sciences investment policy for Portugal. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Shapers’ community and has served as the curator of the Lisbon Hub.
His academic career focused on the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine, with several publications and patents in the field. David holds a PhD in Bioengineering from the MIT Portugal Program and an MSc in Biological Engineering from the Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal.

Member of the Direction

David Malta

Member of the Direction
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David Braga Malta is a life sciences entrepreneur, inventor and investor. David is currently managing the health PE fund of Group Pictet and previously he was a Venture Partner of Vesalius Biocapital III. As an entrepreneur David founded LiMM Therapeutics, Cell2B and BoostPharma, where he serves(ed) as manager. At LIMM David was founding CEO raising more than EUR 35M and recruiting a top team to move the company to clinical Development. David has been instrumental in supporting and growing Portugal’s life sciences sector, serving as a Board Member at P-BIO – Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization, and acting as Venture Consultant for Caixa Capital where he helped to establish a Life Sciences investment policy for Portugal. He is a member of the World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Shapers’ community and has served as the curator of the Lisbon Hub.
His academic career focused on the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine, with several publications and patents in the field. David holds a PhD in Bioengineering from the MIT Portugal Program and an MSc in Biological Engineering from the Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal.

Joaquim Cabral

Member of the Direction
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Joaquim Sampaio Cabral is Distinguished Full Professor of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Portugal. He was (2004-2010) the Head of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department and the Founding Head (2011) of Department of Bioengineering, the Founding Director (2013) of the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at IST and the Founding Coordinator (2021) of the new Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy.
His lab – Stem Cell Engineering Research Group – is focused on cell production platforms for the ex-vivo expansion of stem cells and/or their controlled differentiation into specific cell types and micro-tissues. The goal is their application in regenerative sedicine settings as well as the development of in vitro models for disease modelling and drug testing.
Joaquim Cabral has been serving several scientific committee. Professor Joaquim Sampaio Cabral has a degree, PhD and Habilitation in Chemical Engineering from IST. He did a Post-doctoral study in Biochemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Joaquim Cabral

Joaquim Cabral

Member of the Direction
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Joaquim Sampaio Cabral is Distinguished Full Professor of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Portugal. He was (2004-2010) the Head of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department and the Founding Head (2011) of Department of Bioengineering, the Founding Director (2013) of the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at IST and the Founding Coordinator (2021) of the new Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy.
His lab – Stem Cell Engineering Research Group – is focused on cell production platforms for the ex-vivo expansion of stem cells and/or their controlled differentiation into specific cell types and micro-tissues. The goal is their application in regenerative sedicine settings as well as the development of in vitro models for disease modelling and drug testing.
Joaquim Cabral has been serving several scientific committee. Professor Joaquim Sampaio Cabral has a degree, PhD and Habilitation in Chemical Engineering from IST. He did a Post-doctoral study in Biochemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Member of the Direction

Joaquim Cabral

Member of the Direction
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Joaquim Sampaio Cabral is Distinguished Full Professor of Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Portugal. He was (2004-2010) the Head of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department and the Founding Head (2011) of Department of Bioengineering, the Founding Director (2013) of the Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at IST and the Founding Coordinator (2021) of the new Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy.
His lab – Stem Cell Engineering Research Group – is focused on cell production platforms for the ex-vivo expansion of stem cells and/or their controlled differentiation into specific cell types and micro-tissues. The goal is their application in regenerative sedicine settings as well as the development of in vitro models for disease modelling and drug testing.
Joaquim Cabral has been serving several scientific committee. Professor Joaquim Sampaio Cabral has a degree, PhD and Habilitation in Chemical Engineering from IST. He did a Post-doctoral study in Biochemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Cláudia Cavadas

Member of the Direction
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Cláudia Cavadas is Vice-Rector for Research, Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research and Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra (UC). Professor Cláudia is the head of the Neuroendocrinology and Aging Group at CNC – Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology from UC. At the Faculty of Pharmacy she was Subdirector, member of the Pedagogical Council, elected member of the Scientific Council, of the Assembly and of the Statutory Committee. She was President of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology.
Cláudia Cavadas has a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Master in Cell Biology and PhD in Pharmacy, in the specialty of Pharmacology, from UC. From 1998 to 2001 she did her PhD research at the Centre Hopitalier Vaudois and at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Cláudia Cavadas

Cláudia Cavadas

Member of the Direction
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Cláudia Cavadas is Vice-Rector for Research, Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research and Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra (UC). Professor Cláudia is the head of the Neuroendocrinology and Aging Group at CNC – Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology from UC. At the Faculty of Pharmacy she was Subdirector, member of the Pedagogical Council, elected member of the Scientific Council, of the Assembly and of the Statutory Committee. She was President of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology.
Cláudia Cavadas has a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Master in Cell Biology and PhD in Pharmacy, in the specialty of Pharmacology, from UC. From 1998 to 2001 she did her PhD research at the Centre Hopitalier Vaudois and at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Member of the Direction

Cláudia Cavadas

Member of the Direction
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Cláudia Cavadas is Vice-Rector for Research, Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research and Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra (UC). Professor Cláudia is the head of the Neuroendocrinology and Aging Group at CNC – Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology from UC. At the Faculty of Pharmacy she was Subdirector, member of the Pedagogical Council, elected member of the Scientific Council, of the Assembly and of the Statutory Committee. She was President of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology.
Cláudia Cavadas has a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, Master in Cell Biology and PhD in Pharmacy, in the specialty of Pharmacology, from UC. From 1998 to 2001 she did her PhD research at the Centre Hopitalier Vaudois and at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Bárbara Gomes

CEO
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Bárbara Gomes is the CEO of AccelBio. Bárbara is a senior technology transfer professional with 10 years of professional experience dedicated to biomedical research. As a researcher she received several awards, including the SPBf Young Biophysicist 2020 award. Since 2017 she is dedicated to research funding and technology transfer activities, being a member of projects with European, national and regional funding. As technology transfer officer she manages a technology portfolio consisting of an average of 20 active patents annually, supports competitive funding applications, having raised over 20 million euros, and promotes and negotiates collaborations with private companies. Bárbara was a member of the first cohort of the Women’s Leadership Program promoted by the European Innovation Council. Bárbara Gomes holds an MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, in collaboration with Columbia University, US.

Bárbara Gomes

Bárbara Gomes

CEO
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Bárbara Gomes is the CEO of AccelBio. Bárbara is a senior technology transfer professional with 10 years of professional experience dedicated to biomedical research. As a researcher she received several awards, including the SPBf Young Biophysicist 2020 award. Since 2017 she is dedicated to research funding and technology transfer activities, being a member of projects with European, national and regional funding. As technology transfer officer she manages a technology portfolio consisting of an average of 20 active patents annually, supports competitive funding applications, having raised over 20 million euros, and promotes and negotiates collaborations with private companies. Bárbara was a member of the first cohort of the Women’s Leadership Program promoted by the European Innovation Council. Bárbara Gomes holds an MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, in collaboration with Columbia University, US.

CEO

Bárbara Gomes

CEO
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Bárbara Gomes is the CEO of AccelBio. Bárbara is a senior technology transfer professional with 10 years of professional experience dedicated to biomedical research. As a researcher she received several awards, including the SPBf Young Biophysicist 2020 award. Since 2017 she is dedicated to research funding and technology transfer activities, being a member of projects with European, national and regional funding. As technology transfer officer she manages a technology portfolio consisting of an average of 20 active patents annually, supports competitive funding applications, having raised over 20 million euros, and promotes and negotiates collaborations with private companies. Bárbara was a member of the first cohort of the Women’s Leadership Program promoted by the European Innovation Council. Bárbara Gomes holds an MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, in collaboration with Columbia University, US.

Hugo Almeida

Chief Operational Officer
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Hugo Almeida is the Chief Operational Officer of AccelBio.
Hugo is a Pharma and Biotech professional with 14 years of proven track record in Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, Quality and Operations, and R&D. Hugo has been involved in Deal structuring and making, Portfolio Management and Valuation, in Clinical trials monitoring and design in Dermatology and Ophthalmology (FDA approved trials), championed Innovative Pipeline Management that involved bringing products from concept into clinical stages and generating IP, building and managing Market Intelligence capabilities, championing project on High Potent Compound Handling at Pharma CDMO, and performing R&D work in Protein Biotechnology and Biochemistry. In parallel, he also provided consultancy to the Pharma Industry on different topics.
The career path has been paved at Alvogen group, Hovione, Bluepharma, Catholic University of Leuven and University of Leiden, mostly working in International teams.
Hugo holds a MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences by the University of Coimbra, an Executive MBA from ISEG, a post-graduation degree from ISEG on Pharmaceutical Marketing and Business Development and a post-graduation in Clinical Trials Monitoring at University Lusófona in Portugal.

Hugo Almeida

Hugo Almeida

Chief Operational Officer
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Hugo Almeida is the Chief Operational Officer of AccelBio.
Hugo is a Pharma and Biotech professional with 14 years of proven track record in Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, Quality and Operations, and R&D. Hugo has been involved in Deal structuring and making, Portfolio Management and Valuation, in Clinical trials monitoring and design in Dermatology and Ophthalmology (FDA approved trials), championed Innovative Pipeline Management that involved bringing products from concept into clinical stages and generating IP, building and managing Market Intelligence capabilities, championing project on High Potent Compound Handling at Pharma CDMO, and performing R&D work in Protein Biotechnology and Biochemistry. In parallel, he also provided consultancy to the Pharma Industry on different topics.
The career path has been paved at Alvogen group, Hovione, Bluepharma, Catholic University of Leuven and University of Leiden, mostly working in International teams.
Hugo holds a MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences by the University of Coimbra, an Executive MBA from ISEG, a post-graduation degree from ISEG on Pharmaceutical Marketing and Business Development and a post-graduation in Clinical Trials Monitoring at University Lusófona in Portugal.

COO

Hugo Almeida

Chief Operational Officer
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Hugo Almeida is the Chief Operational Officer of AccelBio.
Hugo is a Pharma and Biotech professional with 14 years of proven track record in Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, Quality and Operations, and R&D. Hugo has been involved in Deal structuring and making, Portfolio Management and Valuation, in Clinical trials monitoring and design in Dermatology and Ophthalmology (FDA approved trials), championed Innovative Pipeline Management that involved bringing products from concept into clinical stages and generating IP, building and managing Market Intelligence capabilities, championing project on High Potent Compound Handling at Pharma CDMO, and performing R&D work in Protein Biotechnology and Biochemistry. In parallel, he also provided consultancy to the Pharma Industry on different topics.
The career path has been paved at Alvogen group, Hovione, Bluepharma, Catholic University of Leuven and University of Leiden, mostly working in International teams.
Hugo holds a MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences by the University of Coimbra, an Executive MBA from ISEG, a post-graduation degree from ISEG on Pharmaceutical Marketing and Business Development and a post-graduation in Clinical Trials Monitoring at University Lusófona in Portugal.

Mariana Branco

Researcher – Advanced in vitro systems
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Mariana Branco is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at Accelbio. As a researcher, Mariana has now 7 years of experience in working with human pluripotent stem cells in the cardiac field. In the past years, she has been dedicated to bring together bioengineer and developmental biology concepts to achieve innovative and cutting-edge in vivo inspired platforms that recreate heart organogenesis in vitro. Since 2021 she has been focused on translating cardiac organoid models for developmental cardiotoxicity screening applications, aiming to overcome the limited available data in humans regarding teratogenicity of already available or new developed drugs. Mariana holds an MSc in Biological Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon and a PhD in Bioengineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon.

Mariana Branco

Mariana Branco

Researcher – Advanced in vitro systems
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Mariana Branco is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at Accelbio. As a researcher, Mariana has now 7 years of experience in working with human pluripotent stem cells in the cardiac field. In the past years, she has been dedicated to bring together bioengineer and developmental biology concepts to achieve innovative and cutting-edge in vivo inspired platforms that recreate heart organogenesis in vitro. Since 2021 she has been focused on translating cardiac organoid models for developmental cardiotoxicity screening applications, aiming to overcome the limited available data in humans regarding teratogenicity of already available or new developed drugs. Mariana holds an MSc in Biological Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon and a PhD in Bioengineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon.

Researcher - Advanced in vitro systems

Mariana Branco

Researcher – Advanced in vitro systems
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Mariana Branco is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at Accelbio. As a researcher, Mariana has now 7 years of experience in working with human pluripotent stem cells in the cardiac field. In the past years, she has been dedicated to bring together bioengineer and developmental biology concepts to achieve innovative and cutting-edge in vivo inspired platforms that recreate heart organogenesis in vitro. Since 2021 she has been focused on translating cardiac organoid models for developmental cardiotoxicity screening applications, aiming to overcome the limited available data in humans regarding teratogenicity of already available or new developed drugs. Mariana holds an MSc in Biological Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon and a PhD in Bioengineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon.

Cláudia Miranda

Researcher – Advanced in vitro systems
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Cláudia Miranda is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at AccelBio.
Cláudia has 12 years of experience in stem cell engineering. As a researcher, she was involved in several projects, aiming at the expansion and neural induction of human pluripotent stem cells. Cláudia focused on the neurodevelopmental effects of different drugs, to pave the way to creating new platforms for the assessment of drug-induced toxicity during embryonic development. Overall, her research includes 36 different co-authors, collaborations with 2 biotech companies, and international universities, including Bönn University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since 2020, she is focused on the generation of an advanced kidney organoid model for drug safety and toxicity screening.
Cláudia holds a Degree in Biochemistry from FCT NOVA Lisbon, a MSc in Biotechnology and a PhD in Biotechnology and Biosciences from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon.

Cláudia Miranda

Cláudia Miranda

Researcher – Advanced in vitro systems
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Cláudia Miranda is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at AccelBio.
Cláudia has 12 years of experience in stem cell engineering. As a researcher, she was involved in several projects, aiming at the expansion and neural induction of human pluripotent stem cells. Cláudia focused on the neurodevelopmental effects of different drugs, to pave the way to creating new platforms for the assessment of drug-induced toxicity during embryonic development. Overall, her research includes 36 different co-authors, collaborations with 2 biotech companies, and international universities, including Bönn University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since 2020, she is focused on the generation of an advanced kidney organoid model for drug safety and toxicity screening.
Cláudia holds a Degree in Biochemistry from FCT NOVA Lisbon, a MSc in Biotechnology and a PhD in Biotechnology and Biosciences from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon.

Researcher - Advanced in vitro systems

Cláudia Miranda

Researcher – Advanced in vitro systems
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Cláudia Miranda is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at AccelBio.
Cláudia has 12 years of experience in stem cell engineering. As a researcher, she was involved in several projects, aiming at the expansion and neural induction of human pluripotent stem cells. Cláudia focused on the neurodevelopmental effects of different drugs, to pave the way to creating new platforms for the assessment of drug-induced toxicity during embryonic development. Overall, her research includes 36 different co-authors, collaborations with 2 biotech companies, and international universities, including Bönn University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since 2020, she is focused on the generation of an advanced kidney organoid model for drug safety and toxicity screening.
Cláudia holds a Degree in Biochemistry from FCT NOVA Lisbon, a MSc in Biotechnology and a PhD in Biotechnology and Biosciences from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon.

João Leandro

Translational Researcher – Drug Discovery Projects
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João Leandro is a Translational Researcher at AccelBio, supporting drug discovery projects. João is a biochemist with experience in early drug discovery programs for several human rare disorders from genetic and biochemical validation of drug targets in cell and mouse models, assay development, HTS, hit validation and in vitro testing. He has also worked in enzyme replacement therapies using nanoparticles for delivery of human enzymes. For his work in Phenylketonuria, he was awarded the 2011 European Phenylketonuria Group Best Presentation in Basic Research. João Leandro holds a Bachelor in Applied Chemistry-Biotechnology from the FCT NOVA Lisbon, and a PhD in Pharmacy-Biochemistry from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Lisbon, in collaboration with the University of Bergen, Norway. He did two Post-doctoral studies: at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Lisbon, in collaboration with Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Germany, and at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, US.

João Leandro

João Leandro

Translational Researcher – Drug Discovery Projects
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João Leandro is a Translational Researcher at AccelBio, supporting drug discovery projects. João is a biochemist with experience in early drug discovery programs for several human rare disorders from genetic and biochemical validation of drug targets in cell and mouse models, assay development, HTS, hit validation and in vitro testing. He has also worked in enzyme replacement therapies using nanoparticles for delivery of human enzymes. For his work in Phenylketonuria, he was awarded the 2011 European Phenylketonuria Group Best Presentation in Basic Research. João Leandro holds a Bachelor in Applied Chemistry-Biotechnology from the FCT NOVA Lisbon, and a PhD in Pharmacy-Biochemistry from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Lisbon, in collaboration with the University of Bergen, Norway. He did two Post-doctoral studies: at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Lisbon, in collaboration with Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Germany, and at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, US.

Translational Researcher - Drug Discovery Projects

João Leandro

Translational Researcher – Drug Discovery Projects
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João Leandro is a Translational Researcher at AccelBio, supporting drug discovery projects. João is a biochemist with experience in early drug discovery programs for several human rare disorders from genetic and biochemical validation of drug targets in cell and mouse models, assay development, HTS, hit validation and in vitro testing. He has also worked in enzyme replacement therapies using nanoparticles for delivery of human enzymes. For his work in Phenylketonuria, he was awarded the 2011 European Phenylketonuria Group Best Presentation in Basic Research. João Leandro holds a Bachelor in Applied Chemistry-Biotechnology from the FCT NOVA Lisbon, and a PhD in Pharmacy-Biochemistry from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Lisbon, in collaboration with the University of Bergen, Norway. He did two Post-doctoral studies: at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Lisbon, in collaboration with Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Germany, and at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, US.

Vânia Cardoso

Translational Researcher – Drug Discovery Projects
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Vânia Cardoso has 10 years’ experience in immunology research and preclinical studies, both at academia and at a biotech company. During her masters she studied the immune modulation in the field of infectious diseases and during the PhD she uncovered the role of neuronal inputs in innate lymphoid cell function. In late 2018, Vânia joined LiMM Therapeutics as one of the founding scientists where she worked as responsible for the scientific project management and conceptual and technical coordination of R&D activities using both preclinical experimental models and human tissue samples for translational research.
Vânia graduated in Biochemistry at the University of Minho, Portugal (2012). In 2014, she was granted with a master’s degree in Health Sciences by University of Minho, Portugal, In 2019, Vânia was awarded a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with specialization in Immunology.

Vânia Cardoso

Vânia Cardoso

Translational Researcher – Drug Discovery Projects
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Vânia Cardoso has 10 years’ experience in immunology research and preclinical studies, both at academia and at a biotech company. During her masters she studied the immune modulation in the field of infectious diseases and during the PhD she uncovered the role of neuronal inputs in innate lymphoid cell function. In late 2018, Vânia joined LiMM Therapeutics as one of the founding scientists where she worked as responsible for the scientific project management and conceptual and technical coordination of R&D activities using both preclinical experimental models and human tissue samples for translational research.
Vânia graduated in Biochemistry at the University of Minho, Portugal (2012). In 2014, she was granted with a master’s degree in Health Sciences by University of Minho, Portugal, In 2019, Vânia was awarded a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with specialization in Immunology.

Translational Researcher - Drug Discovery Projects

Vânia Cardoso

Translational Researcher – Drug Discovery Projects
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Vânia Cardoso has 10 years’ experience in immunology research and preclinical studies, both at academia and at a biotech company. During her masters she studied the immune modulation in the field of infectious diseases and during the PhD she uncovered the role of neuronal inputs in innate lymphoid cell function. In late 2018, Vânia joined LiMM Therapeutics as one of the founding scientists where she worked as responsible for the scientific project management and conceptual and technical coordination of R&D activities using both preclinical experimental models and human tissue samples for translational research.
Vânia graduated in Biochemistry at the University of Minho, Portugal (2012). In 2014, she was granted with a master’s degree in Health Sciences by University of Minho, Portugal, In 2019, Vânia was awarded a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with specialization in Immunology.

Caio Franco

Researcher – High Throughput Screening
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Caio Franco is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at AccelBio leading the High Throughput Screening assays.
He has published 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals, summing 596 citations (cumulative impact factor 118.2, h-factor: 14 -, Jan 2023). The main research developed by C. Franco is in the fields of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Parasitology. His main activities are focused on the design and establishment of numerous in vitro infection screening assays (chiefly based on high-content microscopy analysis), performing large-scale screenings with libraries of small molecules/natural products, and phenotypic and genetic characterization of drug-resistant pathogens. He has also established a screening assay to identify compounds that disrupt/inhibit biofilm formation by Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus spp.). Caio completed a PhD in Sciences (Major in Microbiology and Immunology) from Federal University of São Paulo in 2018.

Caio Franco

Caio Franco

Researcher – High Throughput Screening
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Caio Franco is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at AccelBio leading the High Throughput Screening assays.
He has published 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals, summing 596 citations (cumulative impact factor 118.2, h-factor: 14 -, Jan 2023). The main research developed by C. Franco is in the fields of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Parasitology. His main activities are focused on the design and establishment of numerous in vitro infection screening assays (chiefly based on high-content microscopy analysis), performing large-scale screenings with libraries of small molecules/natural products, and phenotypic and genetic characterization of drug-resistant pathogens. He has also established a screening assay to identify compounds that disrupt/inhibit biofilm formation by Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus spp.). Caio completed a PhD in Sciences (Major in Microbiology and Immunology) from Federal University of São Paulo in 2018.

Researcher - High Throughput Screening

Caio Franco

Researcher – High Throughput Screening
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Caio Franco is an Assistant Doctoral Researcher at AccelBio leading the High Throughput Screening assays.
He has published 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals, summing 596 citations (cumulative impact factor 118.2, h-factor: 14 -, Jan 2023). The main research developed by C. Franco is in the fields of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Parasitology. His main activities are focused on the design and establishment of numerous in vitro infection screening assays (chiefly based on high-content microscopy analysis), performing large-scale screenings with libraries of small molecules/natural products, and phenotypic and genetic characterization of drug-resistant pathogens. He has also established a screening assay to identify compounds that disrupt/inhibit biofilm formation by Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus spp.). Caio completed a PhD in Sciences (Major in Microbiology and Immunology) from Federal University of São Paulo in 2018.

Jacek Marzec

Researcher – Multiomics
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Jacek Marzec is a Computational Biologist leading the bioinformatics analyses of multi-omics data involved in AccelBio’s projects. Jacek has 14 years of academic and professional experience in analysing, integrating and visualising heterogeneous sets of biological data. Jacek was involved in multiple research and in precision medicine projects pursued across various labs in UK and in Australia. During the appointment in Precision Oncology group at University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research Jacek has developed an innovative bioinformatic tool for analysing patients’ transcriptome profiles to complement genome-based findings and to aid clinicians in providing most optimal therapy and drug advice to cancer patients. Jacek holds an MSc in Applied Bioinformatics from Cranfield University and a PhD in Bioinformatics from the Centre for Molecular Oncology, Queen Mary University London.

Jacek Marzec

Jacek Marzec

Researcher – Multiomics
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Jacek Marzec is a Computational Biologist leading the bioinformatics analyses of multi-omics data involved in AccelBio’s projects. Jacek has 14 years of academic and professional experience in analysing, integrating and visualising heterogeneous sets of biological data. Jacek was involved in multiple research and in precision medicine projects pursued across various labs in UK and in Australia. During the appointment in Precision Oncology group at University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research Jacek has developed an innovative bioinformatic tool for analysing patients’ transcriptome profiles to complement genome-based findings and to aid clinicians in providing most optimal therapy and drug advice to cancer patients. Jacek holds an MSc in Applied Bioinformatics from Cranfield University and a PhD in Bioinformatics from the Centre for Molecular Oncology, Queen Mary University London.

Researcher - Multiomics

Jacek Marzec

Researcher – Multiomics
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Jacek Marzec is a Computational Biologist leading the bioinformatics analyses of multi-omics data involved in AccelBio’s projects. Jacek has 14 years of academic and professional experience in analysing, integrating and visualising heterogeneous sets of biological data. Jacek was involved in multiple research and in precision medicine projects pursued across various labs in UK and in Australia. During the appointment in Precision Oncology group at University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research Jacek has developed an innovative bioinformatic tool for analysing patients’ transcriptome profiles to complement genome-based findings and to aid clinicians in providing most optimal therapy and drug advice to cancer patients. Jacek holds an MSc in Applied Bioinformatics from Cranfield University and a PhD in Bioinformatics from the Centre for Molecular Oncology, Queen Mary University London.

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