Maria Joana Barbosa graduated in Biochemistry from FCUP/ICBAS-UP in 2007. On her final BSc degree internship, she worked on the development of a methodology for the assessment of insulin bioactivity upon its nanoencapsulation. In 2009, she completed an MSc in Biochemistry at the same institutions. During this period, she focused on the characterization of the molecular alterations underlying spindle assembly checkpoint inefficiency in brain tumour cells. In the meanwhile, she started working as an Invited Assistant Professor at IUCS/CESPU, lecturing theoretical, practical and theoretical-practical classes in the fields of Biochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Genetics and Cytogenetics, Laboratory Techniques, Clinical and Forensic Toxicology to several BSc and MSc degrees. She was also member of the Pedagogic Council of the same institution. During her research path, she also integrated teams dedicated to the study of the secretory pathway of proteins with biotechnological interest and of pharmacogenetic variations with toxicological relevance. In 2021, she completed her PhD in Biomedicine at FMUP, specializing in the assessment of prescription opioid toxicology using in vivo models. She is interested in opioid pharmacogenetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology, currently working at UCIBIO-REQUIMTE. She is also an integrated member of the TOXRUN - Toxicology Research Unit/IUCS, an Invited Auxiliary Professor at the IUCS - University Institute of Health Sciences/CESPU, and the Copy Editor of Scientific Letters (ISSN 2795-5117).

Andrea Cunha is an invited assistant professor of Biochemistry, Immunology and Organic chemistry at IUCS/CESPU. She has a Degree in Biochemistry , a MSc degree in Molecular Therapies (IUCS/CESPU, 2013) and a PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences (IUCS/CESPU, 2022). Within the scope of her MSc thesis, she focused her research on the functional and population analysis of genetic polymorphisms affecting genes involved in drug metabolism and transport, namely those encoding for cytochrome P450 CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 enzymes, and MDR1, encoding for P-glycoprotein. These polymorphisms may affect the efficacy of pharmacotherapy, as well as the susceptibility to certain diseases, including cancer. Andrea is currently integrated in the research group of the Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit (UNIPRO/CESPU) and her research is focused on understanding the relationship between the microenvironment and the metabolism of tumor cells. Since tumor cells are particularly dependent on glycolysis, glycolytic inhibitors arise as promising strategies to selectively interfere with energy metabolism and lactate production, which, in turn, also affects tumor microenvironment. Within the scope of her research work, she has performed poster communications and oral communications in national and international scientific meetings, which led to a proceedings publication.

Juliana Faria concluded the PhD (Doctoral Program in Biomedicine, from FMUP) in 2018, and she is an investigator at UCIBIO - REQUIMTE - Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Technology and Clean Processes and an integrated member of the ToxRun - Toxicology Research Unit/CESPU and an Auxiliar Professor at the IUCS - University Institute of Health Sciences/CESPU.
She graduated in Biology from FCUP in 2006. On her final Licentiate degree internship, she worked on the development of an in vitro methodology for the assessment of insulin bioactivity upon its nanoencapsulation. In 2008, she completed an MSc in Biology from FCUP. On her MSc, she focused on the characterization of the molecular alterations in spindle assembly checkpoint in oral tumor cells. In 2006, she started working as an Invited Assistant Professor at IUCS/CESPU, lecturing theoretical, practical and theoretical-practical classes in the fields of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics and Cytogenetics, Microbiology and Clinical Toxicology to several BSc and MSc degrees, including the 1st Cycle of Studies in Forensic Laboratory Sciences and the 2nd Cycle of Studies in Forensic Sciences and Laboratory Techniques. She also became member of the Pedagogic Council of the same institution. During her research path, she also integrated teams dedicated to the study of the secretory pathway of proteins with biotechnological interest and of pharmacogenetic variations with toxicological relevance. She is interested in opioid pharmacogenetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology.

Patrícia Silva is Research Assistant and Invited Auxiliar Professor of Morfologia e Funções do Corpo Humano at the Universitary Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS) of CESPU. She graduated in Pathological, Cytological and Thanatological Anatomy (CESPU) in 2008 and completed a Master in Molecular Biology Techniques and Cytomics in Health Science (CESPU) in 2011. From 2013 to 2017 she was devoted to her PhD in Biomedical Sciences, from the Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina da Universidade do Algarve, where she explored the function, regulation and therapeutic implications of the Spindle assembly Checkpoint (SAC) mechanism (FEBS Lett. 2014 Aug 25;588(17):3265-73; FEBS Lett. 2015 Nov 30;589(23):3588-94; Cancer Lett. 2017 May 28;394:33-42). The PhD work were performed at the Centre for Biomedical Research (CBMR, Ualg) in collaboration with CESPU. Currently, her research interest focuses on the clinical relevance of mitosis regulation and in development of strategies to kill cancer cells or to increase their sensitivity to currently anti-mitotic agents (Oral Dis. 2019 Jul;25(5):1291-1301; Pharmaceutics. 2020 Dec 6;12(12):1186; Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 18;11(1):4139; Pharmaceutics. 2021 Jul 2;13(7):1011.; Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2021;21(5):401-415.). She published 25 articles in international peer reviewed (ISI) journals, most in Q1, was author/co-author of 26 invited/selected talks in national and international meetings, was partner of 18 projects with competitive funding (FCT, Norte2020, CESPU), and she has co-supervised 19 MSc and graduated students.

Virgínia Gonçalves graduated in Chemistry - branch of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry in 2003 from the University of Aveiro, and completed her Master's Degree in Biochemistry and Food Chemistry in 2007 at the University of Aveiro. She is currently a Research Assistant at the One Health Toxicology Research Unit (1H-TOXRUN) of the University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU (IUCS-CESPU). Her contributions to research are significant, with 32 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals, mostly in Q1 journals. Over the years, Virgínia has demonstrated her commitment to the scientific community by participating in the organisation of 19 events, including seminars, workshops, congresses and advanced courses. In terms of participation in funded projects, she has participated as a Research Fellow in 3 projects and as a Researcher in 14 projects (6 with national external funding; 8 funded by CESPU). In addition to her contributions to research and to the organisation of events, Virgínia is a reviewer for several international scientific journals, including Molecules (MDPI), Antibiotics (MDPI), Journal of Hazard Materials (Elsevier), Water Emerging Contaminants and Nanoplastics (OAE Publishing Inc), Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Elsevier), and Separation (MDPI). She works in the area of Natural Sciences in the fields of Earth and Environmental Sciences, with some emphasis on Chemical Sciences and Analytical Chemistry (within the scope of the development and validation of analytical methods, namely by liquid or gas chromatography). Her research focus includes the analysis of micropollutants, chiral compounds, endocrine disruptors and psychoactive substances in environmental and/or biological samples. This focus emphasises his commitment to addressing critical issues in environmental sciences and public health.

Cláudia Ribeiro (CR) is associate professor at the University Institute of Health Sciences and a researcher at the UCIBIO- IUCS-CESPU. She has a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences. Since the beginning of the PhD, the scientific activity has been related to the occurrence, distribution and ecotoxicity effects of emerging contaminants. Her expertise is related with the development of chromatographic analytical methodologies for determination of endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in different matrices including biological (plasma, urine) and environmental (water, wastewaters, sediments). Her research areas include the development of analytical methods both achiral and chiral for analysis of micropollutants in environmental matrices; sample preparation procedures for the analysis of various compounds; ecotoxicological assays and risk assessment. At the IUCS-CESPU, she is the regent and lecturer of various curricular units in the fields of chemistry and analytical instrumental methodologies. She is member of the Coordinating Committee of the 1H-TOXRUN research unit. She is supervisor of various masters and PhD students. She is engaged in several research projects holding positions as team member and principal investigator. Currently she has secured funding as PI in a competitive FCT call for a project related to enantioselective ecotoxicology (PTDC/CTA-AMB/6686/2020), CESPU PI of another national funded project 2022. 02842.PTDC and team member of 2022.08738.PTDC. She makes part of the editorial board of the Scientific Letters journal. Her contributions have been recognized with the CESPU Scientific Award in 2021, 2022, and 2023.