FunGP – Functional Genomics and Proteostasis

Margarida Amaral

The main goal of the Functional Genomics and Proteostasis Group is to understand human diseases and achieve drug discovery using functional genomics and systems approaches along with molecular and cell biology approaches.

FunGP is organized into five research labs, each headed by a PI. Each team explores independent scientific aims but with common interests and contributing to 3 out of the 4 major thematic lines of BioISI. Three of the groups have an international reputation in the frontline research of the competitive field of the monogenic disease Cystic Fibrosis, while the remaining two are leaders in signal transduction in cancer and pharmaco-resistance in malaria. The group also includes two Visiting Professors with double-affiliation to non-Portuguese institutions.

The major research topics of the FunGP group are focused on molecular and systems biology of Cystic Fibrosis (CF), cancer and malaria; studies of membrane proteins associated with human diseases; pharmacogenomics and drug development; biomarker identification; biodevices for point-of care medicine, diagnosis and prognosis.

Specific lines of interest include: 1) novel cellular epithelial models for CF studies; 2) molecular and cellular mechanisms of quality control of the endoplasmic reticulum and secretory traffic of the CFTR protein; 3) characterization of signal transduction pathways influencing oncogenic reprogramming of epithelial cells; 4) influence of host-pathogen genomes on the efficacy of drugs with a strong interest in drug transporter proteins; 5) identification of drug targets and drug screens target screens in cancer and chronic diseases

FunGP members are mainly associated with BioISI’s thematic line of Biomedicine but cooperative projects are being developed for integrative research within the thematic lines of Biophysics (for biodevice development) and Bioinformatics.

Team

Group Leader: Margarida Amaral msamaral@fc.ul.pt

PI’s: Carlos Farinha | Paulo Matos | Cláudio Gomes | Luka Clarke | José Pedro Gil

Technicians: Sofia Correia | Luís Marques

Recent Publications

BioISI was part of the National Microscopy Day 2023

On May 16th, the Microscopy Open Day (MICRODia‘23) was celebrated. Within this day, Hugo Botelho, and Luís Marques hosted a visit from high school students from Escola Secundária D. Pedro V.

Bio[r]SciDE – Science Days and Ephemeris | Fascination of Plants Day

Today is a day to celebrate and enthusiasm the public towards the importance of plants science. At BioISI we are, in fact, fascinated by plants To highlight this day, we share with you two major milestones we have achieved last year in Plants Science, that took our investigation outside academia.

High-school students visit BioISI within the Brain Awareness Week

Last March 17th, BioISI joined the Brain Awareness Week and hosted a visit from high-school students from Colégio de Santa Doroteia, on which students had the opportunity to contact with researchers and get to know the university environment, they are about to join.

BioISI Digest | The inert pair effect on the heavy noble gases: Insights from radon tetroxide

Nuno A. G. Bandeira is the first author of a new paper published in the Physical Chemistry - Chemical Physics Journal by the Royal Society of Chemistry, where different radon and xenon [two nobel gases] complexes were studied and their bonding, vibrational and energetic properties analyzed. Read the BioISI Digest below to find out more.

Bio[r]SciDE – Science Days and Ephemeris | World Creativity & Innovation Day

On this World Creativity & Innovation Day, we want to share with two examples from our institute on how scientific research can be a creative activity and can lead to innovative solutions.

Hugo Botelho participated in the technological showcase TECH4INNOV

Last March 29, Hugo Botelho participated in TECH4INNOV: the present and the future of innovation, on which he showcased his most recent research results regarding new strategies which may improve Cystic Fibrosis therapy, accompanied by a team from TecLabs.