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 rescue and ER quality control for F508del-CFTR (and for rare trafficking mutants)
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.
Current grants
2019-2021 DysMut2 - Characterization of Dysfunctional Mechanisms in Class II Mutations. FARINH19I0. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, EUA. Funding (FCID/FCUL): $108.000 (aprox. €97.350). PI.
2018-2021 CFMOLIM - Novel Molecular Imaging Probes for Cystic Fibrosis. FCT/02/SAICT/2017/29256. FCT, Portugal. Funding FCUL/FCID: €30.000. Co-PI.
2018-2021 Novel signalling pathways regulating membrane retention of epithelial chloride transporters. FCT/02/SAICT/2017/28408. FCT, Portugal. Funding: € 239.515,23. Co-PI.
2018-2021 Isogenic models to study CF disease signatures: HITI gene edit to fix them. HARRIS17G0. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Funding FCUL/FCID: € 60.304. Co-PI.
2018-2021 iDrugCF - Identification of New Drugs for Cystic Fibrosis. FCT/02/SAICT/2017/28800. FCT, Portugal. Funding: €240.000; PI: Margarida D Amaral, FCUL. Team Member.
2018-2021 OrMagNa - Organized Magnetic Nanoparticles. FCT/02/SAICT/2017/28785. FCT, Portugal. Financiamento FFCUL: €215.151; PI: Margarida Cruz, FCUL. Team Member.
Past grants
2015-2017 A sinalizacao pro-inflamatoria como novo alvo terapeutico na Fibrose Quistica. Gilead Portugal (Gilead Genese PGG 039-2014). 15 K€; Principal Investigator.
2016-2018 Characterization of Orphan CFTR mutations. CFF Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, USA (Ref. AMARAL16I0). Budget: 108K$. PI: MD Amaral, Co-PI.
2016-2019 DIFFTARGET-Novel Factors of CFTR Traffic Related to Epithelial Cell Differentiation: Potential Therapeutic Targets for Cystic Fibrosis. FCT, Portugal (PTDC/BIM-MEC/2131/2014). Budget: 200K€; 3 yrs. PI: MD Amaral. Team member.
2016-2019 MIMED - Mining the Molecular Metric Space for Drug Design. FCT, Portugal (PTDC/EEI-ESS/4923/2014) "". Budget: 127K€; 3 yrs. PI: A Falcao. Team member.
2015-2018 INSTINCT - Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Identification of Novel Drug Combinations Targeting Cystic Fibrosis Lung and Liver Disease ERARE15-pp-010/JTC 2015 "". Budget (FFCUL): 124K€; 3 yrs. Principal Investigator (U Martin, Univ. Hannover, Germany). FCUL PI: MD Amaral. Team member.
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). 50 K€; Principal Investigator.
2013-2014 A Molecular Imaging Approach to Cystic Fibrosis. FCT, Portugal (EXPL/BIM-MEC/0115/2012). 50 K€. PI of FCUL team.
2012-2015 Characterization of ER-quality control for the F508del-CFTR protein: potential therapeutic targets for cystic fibrosis. FCT, Portugal (PTDC/BIA-BCM/122299/2010). Team member.
2012-2014 Identification of novel targets rescuing F508del-CFTR traffic: mechanism of action. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (grant ref. 7207534), USA. Team member.
2011-2013 New mechanisms in membrane protein trafficking: elucidating the role of novel CFTR interactors. FCT, Portugal (PTDC/BIA-BCM/112635/2009). Principal Investigator.
2009-2012 Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. FCT, Portugal (PIC/IC/83103/2007). Team member.
2007-2009 A novel insight into CFTR Phosphorylation: implications for its processing, trafficking and function. Projecto FCT (PTDC/BIA-BCM/67058/2006). Principal Investigator.
2007-2011 TargetScreen 2 - Novel Post-Genomic Cell-Based Screens for Drug Targeting in Membrane Protein Disorders. 6th Framework Programme Grant. Team member.
2003/2006 Folding, Processing and Function of Normal and Mutant Cystic Fibrosis Transmembranar Conductance Regulator: Structural Implications. Projecto FCT /POCTI (MGI/47382/2002). Team member.
2001/2004 Biogenese e Funcao da Proteina CFTR com Diferentes Mutacoes: Base Molecular para a Heterogeneidade Clinica e Terapeutica da Fibrose Quistica? Projecto Sapiens 35737/99. Team member.
2000/2003 Genomic Expression Platform: Construction, delivery and Evaluation in Animal Models, 5th FP European Union. Team member.
1997/2000 Fibrose Quistica: Expressao, Trafego e Funcao Celular da Proteina CFTR. PraxisXXI/PSAU/P/SAU/55/96. Team member.
1995/1997 Estudos de Expressao do Gene CFTR. JNICT: PBIC/C/BIA/2060/95. Team member.
1994 Biologie Moleculaire de la Mucoviscidose chez la Population Portugaise: Etudes d_Expression du Gene CFTR. Association Francaise de Lutte contre la Mucoviscidose. Team member.
1994/1995 Biologia Molecular da Fibrose Quistica na Populacao Portuguesa: Epidemiologia, Antropogenetica e Fisiopatologia. JNICT: PBIC/C/SAU/1587/92. Team member.