Research
ERS Romain Pauwels Research Award 2012
I was awarded the 2012 ERS Romain Pauwels Research Fund for "the research into the different aspects of CFTR biology, study of the mechanisms of rescue of F508del-CFTR and elucidation of the role of novel CFTR interactors".
The ERS Romain Pauwels Research Award is supported by GlaxoSmithKline and awarded yearly by the European Respiratory Society to honour the memory of Prof.Romain Pauwels (1943-2005).
The award cerimony was held in Vienna, 4 Sept 2012, during the Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society.
In the photo, I appear with Prof.Peter Barnes, ERS Vice-President, and Prof.Pauwels' widow.
Current research interests
Understanding the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for ER retention of CFTR protein (the protein that is in the basis of the autosomic recessive disease cystic fibrosis) and that signal its targeting to the degradative pathway is the main goal of my research work. Our current research interests focus mainly in the following aspects of CFTR biology:
1. Mechanisms of CFTR trafficking and rescue
2. Characterization of novel CFTR interactors and their role in CFTR membrane stability
3. Disease associated mRNA and protein expression patterns for CF-causing mutations
The expected results will contribute to new advances in CFTR traffic and cell biology, in general, but also to the potential identification of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of CF patients.
Grants as Principal Investigator (or PI at FCUL)
2023-2025 The cAMP-cytoskeleton hub - elucidating the networks that connect signaling and stability to boost CFTR rescue. Fondazione per la Ricerca sulla Fibrosi Cistica - ETS. Total funding (FCID/FCUL): EUR 98 140).
2023-2024 Sign2Sense - Disease Signatures in Nonsense Mutations: from mechanisms to improved therapies. Emily's Entourage - Cystic Fibrosis Research Fund, EUA. Total funding (FCID/FCUL): USD 220 000.
2021-2025 Temporal-spatial CRISPR Base Editing to Identify Target Cells for CFTR Repair. #001715G220 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, EUA. Total funding: USD 279 328,55, BioISI funding: USD 112 925.87. PI in FCUL (PI: P Harrison, University College Cork).
2019-2022 DysMut2- Characterization of Dysfunctional Mechanisms in Class II Mutations. FARINHA19I0. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, EUA. PI. Total funding (FCID/FCUL): USD 108 000 (aprox. EUR 97 350).
2018-2022 CFMOLIM - Novel Molecular Imaging Probes for Cystic Fibrosis. FCT/02/SAICT/2017/29256. FCT, Portugal. Co-PI (PI: Filipa Mendes - IST, Portugal). Funding FCUL/FCID: EUR 30 000.
2018-2022 Novel signalling pathways regulating membrane retention of epithelial chloride transporters. FCT/02/SAICT/2017/28408. FCT, Portugal. Co-PI (PI: Peter Jordan- INSA, Portugal). Funding (FCID): EUR 239 515.23.
2018-2021 Isogenic models to study CF disease signatures: HITI geneedit to fix them. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (HARRIS17G0). Total funding: USD 206 000, BioISI funding: USD 75,600. PI in FCUL (PI: P Harrison, University College Cork).
2018 Severe Cystic Fibrosis-causing Mutations: from disease signatures to molecular identifiers. Internal competitive BioISI funding. Ref. 6202 P0.3A. Co-PIs: Carlos M Farinha and Margarida Gama Carvalho. Budget: EUR 10 000.
2017 Measuring protein interactions - insights into Cystic Fibrosis. Internal competitive BioISI funding. Ref. 6202 P0.2C. Co-PIs: Carlos Farinha and Mario Rodrigues. Budget: EUR 10 000.
2017 Yeast Stress-transcription networks genetic tools and Cystic Fibrosis drugs. Internal competitive BioISI funding. Ref. 6202 P0.2D. Co-PIs: Lisete Fernandes and Carlos Farinha. Budget: EUR 10 000.
2016-2017 Protein complexes stabilizing CFTR at the plasma membrane: functional validation and construction of an integrated interaction network. Internal competitive BioISI funding. Ref. 6202 P0.2B. Co-PIs: Carlos Farinha, Paulo Matos and Peter Jordan. Budget: EUR 10 000.
2016-2018 Characterization of Orphan CFTR mutations. CFF Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, USA (Ref. AMARAL16I0). Budget: USD 108 000. PI: MD Amaral, co-PI: Carlos M Farinha.
2015-2017 Proinflammatory signaling as a novel therapeutic target in Cystic Fibrosis. Gilead Genese Program Portugal (PGG0039-2014). PI. EUR 15 000
2014-2015 Dissecting the endoplasmic reticulum quality control - differential protein interactions as new therapeutic targets in Cystic Fibrosis. FCT, Portugal(EXPL/BIM-MEC/1451/2013). PI. EUR 50 000
2013-2014 A Molecular Imaging Approach to Cystic Fibrosis. FCT, Portugal (EXPL/BIM-MEC/0115/2012). EUR 50 000. PI in FCUL (PI: Filipa Mendes, IST-ITN).
2011-2013 New mechanisms in membrane protein trafficking: elucidating the role of novel CFTR interactors. FCT, Portugal (PTDC/BIA-BCM/112635/2009). PI. EUR 145 000.
2007-2009 A novel insight into CFTR Phosphorylation: implications for its processing, trafficking and function. FCT, Portugal (PTDC/BIA-BCM/67058/2006). PI. EUR 45 000.
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