Research Groups

Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology

Description

The main aim of the group is study the role of hormones and their metabolites on physiology and the evolution of the endocrine system, using fish as the principal model together with other key invertebrate and vertebrate models.

Coordinator

Adelino V M Canário

Deborah Power

Keywords

Homeostasis

Development

Behaviour

Evolution

Marine Plant Ecology Research Group

Description

Our aim is to investigate the processes that regulate marine plant production at different organizational levels: molecular, plant, community and ecosystem.

Coordinator

Rui Santos

Keywords

Seagrass ecology

ecophysiology

climate change

ocean acidification

Ecology and restoration of riverine, estuarine and coastal habitats

Description

Our research is mainly focused on biological and physical-chemical processes in transitional waters, from freshwater catchments to coastal marine

Coordinator

Alexandra Teodósio

Maria Clara Semedo da Silva Costa

Francisco Leitão

Keywords

Marine Benthos and plankton ecology

Alien species

Ecological modelling

Coastal Ecohydrology and climate change

Functional Biochemistry and Proteomics

Description

The overall research strategy of FBP is driven primarily by the need to translate strong basic science into clinically relevant advances and promoting transfer of technology, based on the integration of high quality multi-disciplinary academic, researcher and clinical activity with a strong focus on translational research.

Coordinator

Dina Simes

Keywords

calcification

healthcare

marine organisms

Comparative, Adaptive and Functional Skeletal Biology

Description

Molecular determinants and regulatory mechanisms (transcription and post transcription regulation, alternative and trans-splicing events, RNA editing, epigenetics) affecting gene expression during onset of skeletogenesis and maintenance of bone and cartilage integrity throughout life.

Coordinator

Leonor Cancela

Organic Reactivity and Medicinal Chemistry

Description

Development of heterocyclic compounds applicable in medicine, environmental remediation or aquaculture. Investigation of structure, reactivity and activity of compounds obtained from synthesis or natural sources.

Coordinator

Maria de Lurdes dos Santos Cristiano

Keywords

Structure; Mechanisms; Bioactive Heterocycles; Anti-infective Agents; Chelating Agents; Drug Design and Optimisation

Fisheries, Biodiversity and Conservation

Description

The main objectives of the group are to contribute to the improved management and sustainable exploitation of the multi-species resources of the Algarve coastal waters.

Coordinator

Karim Erzini

Keywords

Fisheries

biodiversity

Conservation

management

Biogeographical Ecology and Evolution

Description

The team BEE (Biogeographical Ecology and Evolution) studies patterns and processes mediating population biology from ecological to evolutionary scales.

Coordinator

Ester Serrão

Gareth Anthony Pearson

Rita Castilho

Katy Nicastro

Keywords

Biogeography

Reproductive ecology

Population genetics

Dispersal connectivity

Aquaculture Research Group

Description

Keywords: Aquaculture, Larval stages, New species, Nutrition

Coordinator

Maria Teresa Dinis

Sofia Engrola

Elsa Cabrita

Keywords

Aquaculture

Nutrition

reproduction

Larval rearing

Nutritional strategies

Early Nutrition

Nutrient fluxes

Biomarkers

metabolic programming

Reproductive biotechnology

Cryobanking

Gamete quality

Reproduction management

Marine Molecular Bioengineering

Description

The Molecular Biophysics and Bioengineering (MBB) research group integrates a range of cross-disciplinary expertise that focuses on the integration of biology with biophysics and bioengineering.

The current main objective of the MMB group is the development and application of nano- and bio-technological tools and materials, including their toxicological assessment, to marine sciences.

Coordinator

Rui Borges

Keywords

Bioengineering

biology

biophysics

Oceanography and climate change

Description

OC2 objective is to provide well-anchored basic and integrated knowledge of the present-day oceanic processes at the regional scale, as well as to investigate their response to past global warm climate conditions.

Coordinator

Fatima Abrantes

Keywords

climate change

oceanic circulation

coastal upwelling

climate

Fisheries biology and hydroecology

Description

Since 2000, one of the objectives of the FBHRG is to establish the scientific bases for the culture of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) culture, at the commercial level.

Coordinator

José Pedro Andrade

Marine Biotechnology

Description

The Marine Biotechnology research group is currently ongoing active research in different fields of microalgal biotechnology, as well as in the exploitation of different marine organisms as sources of novel bioactive compounds.

Coordinator

João Varela

Keywords

algae

microalgae

biofuels

biotechnology