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 | Human Satellite 1A analysis provides evidence of pericentromeric transcription

In a recent publication first-authored by Mariana Lopes, a PhD student supervised by Raquel Chaves, Margarida Gama-Carvalho , and Sandra Louzada, human satellite 1A transcription was studied for the first time. These structures are highly repeated sequences and can be transcribed into non-coding RNAs with relevant functions in the genomes. Discover more here.

BioISI Digest | The experienced positive and negative influence of HIV on quality of life of people with HIV and vulnerable to HIV in the Netherlands

Ganna Rozhnova studied the perceived influence of HIV on the quality of life of people with HIV and people vulnerable to HIV. If you want to know more on the reported positive aspects in living with HIV, read the BioISI Digest below.

BioISI Digest | Additive Potentiation of R334W-CFTR Function by Novel Small Molecules

Miquéias Pacheco and his team reported the discovery of four new compounds that potentiate the function of the protein that is defective in Cystic Fibrosis. Read this BioISI Digest to know how these molecules can be a potential innovative therapy for people with CF carrying a rare mutation.

José Lourenço co-leads the european working group of the Climate Amplified Disease and Epidemics consortium

José Lourenço co-leads the European working group of CLIMADE – Climate Amplified Disease and Epidemics consortium and will be able to greatly contribute to solutions in public health concerning mosquito-borne viruses.

BioISI Digest | First assessment of leaf lipids and fatty acids as biomarkers of grapevine tolerance/susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola

A recent paper, first-authored by Ana Rita Cavaco and headed by Andreia Figueiredo reports a distinctive profile of lipids and fatty acids in tolerant and susceptible grapevine varieties to downy mildew. If you want to know more, read this BioISI Digest.

Bio[r]SciDE – Science Days and Ephemeris | International Epilepsy Day

On this International Epilepsy Day, we showcase the Epilepsy and Aging Lab contribution to epilepsy research. Find out more