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26th February 2025 | Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon

Ciências Blue and Green Biotechnology Workshop

ABOUT SYNERGIES

Harnessing blue & green biotech waves for a sustainable tomorrow

The Synergies workshops intend to be an annual event aimed to promote the research done by Ciências Researchers at the different Research Units and also in other research groups collaborating with Ciências researchers in the field of Biotechnology, with a special emphasis on Blue and Green biotechnological solutions for a sustainable tomorrow. This includes (but is not limited to) research in biorefineries, biomimetics, bioremediation, biostimulants, biopesticides, added-value compound bioprospection, ecotechnologies, ecosystem restoration, food biotechnology, nanotechnology, genetic engineering, but also cutting-edge research in other biotechnological areas.

The 2025 Synergies Edition will showcase different areas of Biotechnology that different research groups at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon currently focus on, ranging from Forest Biotechnology, Biomimetics, Biofertilizers, New Biomaterials, Algae Biotechnology and Human Health Applications.

This year's edition will also include Students Flash Talks working in Biotechnology in the different FCUL research groups.

Análise de DNA em placa de Petri
Speakers

Synergies'25 
Speakers

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Tradition unveiled: an overview of microbiological studies on Portuguese traditional cheeses, merging conventional and OMICs analyses

Susana Serrano is a PhD student at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Lisbon focusing on Food Microbiology and Safety, with special emphasis on analyzing traditional Portuguese products.

Sensors for grapevine diseases: the use of cell cultures as a biotech proxy

Rita B. Santos is a PhD researcher at the Grapevine-Pathogen Systems Lab. As a plant biochemist/biotechnologist, her research interests are to understand the role of plant proteome and secretome in plant-pathogen interactions and the molecular mechanisms that trigger the plant's defense. Rita's research also focus in the relevance of the epigenetic landscape of grapevine to boost stress resistance. She is presently focused on unravelling protein-protein and DNA-protein interactions, mainly involving plant proteases and plant histone, in the grapevine-downy mildew pathosystem model, using biotechnology approaches. 

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From the Ocean to the Lab: How Marine Proteins Inspire Advanced Adhesives

Romana Santos is Associate Professor at the Science Faculty of the University of Lisbon (FCUL), Principal Investigator at MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Center, and Innovation Manager at TWIN2PIPSA Horizon EU Twinning Project. Has +20y of experience in marine bioadhesion with a focus in developing nature-inspired biocompatible wet adhesives for biomedical and biotechnological applications. Leads the Bioadhesion and Biomimicry Research Group and is a Founding partner of the company Biomimetx S.A., a spin-off of FCUL which raised +3.5M€, being awarded with two prizes and the European Commission Seal of Excellence.

Spatiotemporal control of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of DNA methylation genes in potato

Vera Inácio research addresses the potential involvement of DNA methylation and chromatin dynamics in periderm development and cork phenotypic variability (in cork oak and potato) using epigenomics, transcriptomics and reverse genetics approaches. She has experience with other trees such as maritime pine and coffee tree, particularly in detecting genome-wide SNPs associated with disease resistance. 

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From ocean to plate: Why microalgae could be the next big thing in food

Anabela Raymundo, Chemical engineer, MSc in Food Science and Technology and a PhD in Food Engineering. Associated Professor with Habilitation, the LEAF Food and Feed Group LEAF research unit coordinator. The main research areas of interest are the functional properties of macromolecules, the development of new food products, and the evaluation of the rheological behavior of different food matrices and their relation to structural composition. Main work focused on using poorly exploited food sources (e.g., microalgae biomass, seaweeds, insects and food industry by-products) to develop high added-value products. 

LusoTurf: Mycelium-based Composites for Sustainable Synthetic Turf Applications

PhD in Biology, with specialization in Biotechnology, from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon in 2024, Inês is currently working as a Researcher in the Plant-Soil Ecology group. Since 2012, her research focuses on the development of sustainable processes and products for mushroom cultivation. During her PhD thesis, Inês focused on developing novel tools and criteria for sustainable cultivation of Terfezia species - an endogenous desert truffle. Her current research relates to macrofungi, plant-soil interactions, biocomposites and bioeconomy. Inês is also passionate about using science and technology to develop sustainable solutions for food production and environmental conservation.

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Mini-Intestines: Organoids as a Personalized Medicine Tool in Cystic Fibrosis

Ines is currently an Assistant Researcher at BioISI focusing her research on the genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Her research aims to understand how defective CFTR affects airway epithelial differentiation and regeneration to identify novel drug targets for individuals with CF, using a multidisciplinary approach combining techniques from molecular biology (CRISPR/Cas9), biochemistry, microscopy, Mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics.

Rafael Calado
Apresentação do BioLab Lisboa

Architect. Programming coordinator of FabLab Lisboa (digital prototyping laboratory) and BioLab Lisboa (citizen science laboratory) Fellow at Urban Arenas for Sustainable and Just Cities, Co-Founder and coordinator of Repair Café Lisboa, Mentor of the Reviravolta circular economy center project, member of the European Creatve Hubs Network.

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João Carreiras
Flash Talk
From sea to farm: the use of marine bacteria to boost plant resilience to climate change

João is a PhD student at MARE and BioISI at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon with the project “Promoting grapevine systemic resistance to Plasmopara viticola with marine bacteria consortia: physiological and molecular insights”. In his PhD project, he aims to use marine bacteria isolated from salt marshes to boost plant resilience to climate change and pathogen infections.

Iolanda Clérigo
Flash Talk
Marine Dinoflagellates in the Cosmetics Industry: A promising new source of bioactive compounds for the skin?

Iolanda is a Master's student in Marine Resources Biotechnology, developing her research at the Leiria Polytechnic Institute and at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, focusing on the potential of marine dinoflagellates and their bioactive compounds in the cosmetic industry.

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Madalena Teixeira
Flash Talk
Neuroprotective activity of compounds derived from marine dinoflagellates

Like Iolanda, Madalena is also Master's student in Marine Resources Biotechnology, developing her research at the Leiria Polytechnic Institute and at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. In her project, Madalena is focusing on the neuroprotective action of marine dinoflagellates' bioactive compounds.

Synergies'25 Program

14:30
Welcome
14:40
Synergies Presentation
14:55
Vera Inácio
Spatiotemporal control of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of DNA methylation genes in potato.
15:10
Rita Santos
Sensors for grapevine diseases: the use of cell cultures as a biotech proxy
15:25
Inês Ferreira
LusoTurf: Mycelium-based Composites for Sustainable Synthetic Turf Applications
15:40
Rafael Calado
BioLab Lisboa Presentation 
15:55
Coffe Break
16:15
Ines Pankonien
Mini-Intestines: Organoids as a Personalized Medicine Tool in Cystic Fibrosis
16:30
Susana Serrano
Tradition unveiled: an overview of microbiological studies on Portuguese traditional cheeses, merging conventional and OMICs analyses
16:45
Anabela Raymundo
From ocean to plate: Why microalgae could be the next big thing in food 
17:00
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Title 
17:15
Romana Santos
From the Ocean to the Lab: How Marine Proteins Inspire Advanced Adhesives
17:30
João Carreiras
From sea to farm: the use of marine bacteria to boost plant resilience to climate change (FLASH TALK)
17:40
Iolanda Clérigo
Dinoflagelados Marinhos na Indústria Cosmética: Uma nova fonte promissora de compostos bioativos para a pele? (FLASH TALK)
17:50
Madalena Teixeira
Atividade neuroprotetora de compostos derivados de dinoflagelados marinhos (FLASH TALK)

Funding and Support

Where

About the location

The Synergies work shop will be hosted by the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (Building C2, 4th Floor, Room 2.4.16). 

The event is Free but Registration is mandatory.

Program
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