Our researcher Pedro Fonte was awarded the UAlg Researcher Award, a distinction that recognises his scientific career in the field of Pharmaceutical Technology and the contribution of his work to the scientific projection of CCMAR at national and international level.
Part of CCMAR since 2019, under the Scientific Employment Stimulus Competition (CEEC), Pedro Fonte has developed an independent line of research in the field of Pharmaceutical Technology, combining research with teaching at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Algarve. He currently also holds a management position in the Integrated Master's Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
A pharmacist by training with a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and specialising in Nanotechnologies, the researcher focuses his scientific activity on the development of advanced drug delivery systems, with a particular focus on nanomedicine. His work explores the use of nanoparticles as transport systems capable of protecting active ingredients and releasing them more precisely in the body, contributing to more effective therapies with fewer side effects.
As part of the research carried out at CCMAR, Pedro Fonte has been working on the development of nanotechnological solutions with potential applications in demanding and adverse clinical contexts. To explain his work in an accessible way, the researcher compares nanoparticles to ‘smart carriers’ that protect the drug and direct it to the part of the body where it is needed. This approach is particularly relevant in the areas of cancer, diabetes and regenerative medicine, allowing for more targeted treatments with fewer adverse effects.
Among the ongoing projects, one that stands out is a nanotechnological product based on growth factors, designed to form a hydrogel when applied to complex wounds, eliminating the need for a cold chain.
This solution is particularly innovative, making it useful ‘in contexts of war, disaster or in countries with limited resources.’ Concern for the social impact of science is a central dimension of his work at CCMAR, seeking to respond to concrete public health challenges and contribute to the development of more accessible, efficient and sustainable therapies.
Regarding the distinction now awarded, the researcher said he received the news with ‘a great sense of honour and responsibility,’ emphasising that the award is an incentive to strengthen the scientific work carried out at CCMAR and further its contribution to the centre's reputation.
In the future, Pedro Fonte intends to consolidate the strategic lines in nanomedicine and the stabilisation of biomolecules without the use of refrigeration, strengthening national and international collaborations and investing in the construction of multidisciplinary teams. The goal is to strengthen the link between the research carried out at CCMAR and the development of therapeutic solutions with a real impact on society.
