Bio
Catarina Roma-Rodrigues is a assistant professor at Engineering faculty of Universidade Lusófona de Lisboa. She completed her PhD in Biotechnology at the Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Msc in Biotechnology (Biochemical Engineering) at the same university, and her Bsc in Biochemistry at the Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências. Her work as Postdoc at Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares aplicadas in Nova School of Sciences and Technology was mainly focused on the role of exosomes in the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and in the biologic effect of compounds with chemotherapeutic potential on tumor cells. She published 72 articles in peer-reviewed international journals, was cited 3251 times, having a h-index of 24 (according to Publons, accessed on 05/03/2026), being considered as the top 2% tier of world's scientists since 2022 (DOI:10.17632/btchxktzyw.5). She organized three events and participated in the scientific committee of 3 events. Supervised 5 MSc dissertations and 5 works of course completion of BSc. She participated as a PhD Student Fellow in 1 project, a Post-doc Fellow in 3 projects, as a Research Fellow in 3 projects, and a Researcher in 3 projects. She was Principal investigator in one project funded by rede Requinte, and in one PEX project funded by FCT (2024.17099.PEX: EV4GUT feeling): She has experience in higher education at several academic institutions, including Nova school of sciences and technologies, Lusofona university and Egas Moniz school of health and science.

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Dr. Patrícia Branco is an Assistant Professor and researcher at Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal. She holds a European PhD in Food Engineering from the University of Lisbon. Dr. Branco coordinates the Bioengineering and Sustainability Research Group (BioRG) and co-directs the MSc in Food and Molecular Biotechnology. Her research focuses on bioactive compounds produced by microorganisms and their applications in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical sectors, with a particular emphasis on sustainable and innovative biotechnological solutions. She is also a researcher at LEAF (Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food), Associated Laboratory TERRA, at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon. Dr. Branco has authored several peer-reviewed publications and has served as an invited editor for the journal Antibiotics (MDPI) since 2022.

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Dr. Lorenzo Rivas-García is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Granada. His research focuses on innovative therapeutic strategies based on nanomaterials and natural compounds, particularly for cancer and other chronic diseases. He holds degrees in Pharmacy, Food Science and Technology, and Human Nutrition, as well as a Ph.D. in Nutrition and Food Technology from the University of Granada. He has completed postdoctoral research in Spain and Portugal. Dr. Rivas-García has authored over 40 scientific publications and has participated in several national and international research projects, serving as principal investigator in one. His work integrates biomedical research, nutrition, and nanotechnology to advance safer and more effective health interventions.

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Elena M. Sánchez-Fernández received her PhD degree at the University of Granada (Spain). Then she moved to the Institute for Chemical Research (IIQ, Seville) funded with a postdoctoral contract from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). In 2010 she got a Marie Curie Fellowship at the Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford (UK). In 2013 she was granted with a four-year postdoctoral Marie Curie Reintegration Grant Fellow (CIG) to join the University of Seville, where she promoted to Lecturer in 2019. Her main interests focus on the synthesis of glycodrugs and their applications in therapies for cancer, infection and inflammation.