BTR – Biomedical and Translational Research

Astrid Vicente

The overall aim of the Biomedical & Translational Group is to understand the interplay of biological – including genetic or epigenetic factors -, life style and environmental determinants that sustain a healthy life or lead to disease onset, and to translate this knowledge into better health promotion, disease prevention practices and improved diagnosis or therapies.

The BTR group gathers several research teams mainly contributing to the Biomedicine, Bioinformatics and Biophysics thematic strands, and cooperating with other thematic lines as new challenges arise. Each research team has been focusing on the dynamics of one or several disorders, on population health determinants and/or on therapy efficacy or adverse reactions, generating and analyzing information at multiple levels on large population datasets. The research teams are established in academic settings (e.g., Deafness group at FCUL), at the Portuguese public health institute (e.g., the Neurogenetics and Mental Health group, the Cardiovascular Disease group and the Cellular and Molecular Immunology group , all at INSA) or in a clinical research environment (the Molecular Pathology group at Hospital de Ponta Delgada).

BTR research teams gather and analyze multilevel data on large datasets of the general population or populations affected with multifactorial diseases, namely brain disorders (ASD, AD, HL and more recently language disabilities) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (including FH, ATH, CAD, MI, CHD and stroke).

For specific disease models, the BTR group will strategically focus on: 1) comprehensive data collection and analysis of health and disease determinants for identification of disease biomarkers, broader understanding of disease physiopathology and development of improved therapeutics ; 2) a holistic approach to research in individuals and populations, integrating multiple layers of information from socio-demographic to clinical to genomic; 3) personalized medicine, targeting the identification of factors influencing individual response to therapy, as well as the implementation of a database and biobank for pharmacogenomics.

Team

Group Leader: Astrid Vicente astrid.vicente@insa.min-saude.pt

Technicians: Leonor Abrantes | Joana Duarte | Lisa M. Esteves

Recent Publications

BioISI Digest | Global transmission suitability maps for dengue virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti from 1981 to 2019

José Lourenço published a new paper, on which the authors map the current and future transmission potential of dengue virus transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from 1981 to 2019. These results are now available online and can contribute to the planning of disease control and prevention strategies.

Bio[r]SciDE – Science Days and Ephemeris | European Public Health Week

The European Public Health Week aims to raise awareness about public health and promote collaboration among the public health community in Europe. Within this week, we share with you the concept of social prescribing, by means of Luciana Costa's testomonial.

BioISI Digest | Evidence for an association of prenatal exposure to particulate matter with clinical severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder

João Xavier Santos is the first author of a new paper, coordinated by Astrid Vicente, on which the effect of the exposure to particulate matter by pregnant women is associated with the severity of Austism Spectrum Disorder, later developed on in their babies, is assessed.

BioISI collaborates with AiR 351 art residency

The Plant Functional Genomics Research Group collaborates with Kim Schoen, a video and photography artist, who is developing her residency at the AiR 351 art organization.

BioISI Digest | Development of a QCM-based biosensor for the detection of non-small cell lung cancer biomarkers in liquid biopsies

Filomena Adega and Raquel Chaves are part of the list of authors of a new paper, coordinated by Paula Martins-Lopes, on which a new biosensor developed to detect non small cell lung cancer cells in liquid biopsies (e.g. serum), in a less invasive manner, is reported.

BioISI Digest | Mechanistic Insights into Polyphenols’ Aggregation Inhibition of α‑Synuclein and Related Peptides

Gabriel Martins is the first author of a new paper, coordinated by Nuno Galamba, on which molecular simulations techniques were used to understand the action mechanism of two polyphenols at a molecular level and improve drug design strategies to target neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson's disease.