National Projects

National Structural Projects

International Projects

• DeFend – De-ironing Friedreich’s Ataxia with innovative mitochondria-targeted chelators
  Reference: 2022.04633.PTDC
  Principal Investigator: Sofia Benfeito
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Funding program: –
  Start date: 2023; End date: 2024
  Total funding: 49.995,95 EUR

• ThS2SB – A estratégia do Cavalo de Troia para o desenvolvimento de antibacterianos contra microrganismos multirresistentes
  Reference: EXPL/MED-QUI/1156/2021
  Principal Investigator: Alexandra Gaspar;
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Funding program: –
  Start date: 2022; End date: 2023
  Total funding: 49.996,10 EUR

• NOXIOUS – Development of bona fide targeted covalent inhibitors to unravel NOX2 crystal structure
  Reference: EXPL_BIA-BQM_0492_2021
  Principal Investigator: Daniel Chavarria
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Funding program: –
  Start date: 2022; End date: 2023
  Total funding: 49.927,20 EUR

• COMT4BRAIN-Development of centrally-active and safe catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitors
  Reference: PTDC/MED-QUI/29164/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029164)
  Principal Investigator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Funding program: P2020|COMPETE
  Start date: 2018; End date: 2021
  Total funding: 239,679.95 EUR

• ABFish -Development of new antibiotics for aquaculture
  Reference: PTDC/ASP-PES/28397/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028397)
  Principal Investigator: Fernando Cagide;
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Funding program: P2020|COMPETE
  Start date: 2018; End date: 2021
  Total funding: 234,303.41 EUR

• Mito4ALS -Development of Novel Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidants for Improving SOD1-Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Phenotype
  Reference: PTDC/MED-FAR/29391/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029391)
  Principal Investigator FCUP: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Funding program: P2020|COMPETE
  Start date: 2018; End date: 2021
  Total funding: 232,330.87 EUR

• SkinSHIELD 2- Redox-active phytochemicals triggering mitochondrial hormesis: developing a new generation of cosmetic active ingredients
  Reference: PTDC/BIA-MOL/28607/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028607)
  Co-Principal Investigator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Funding program: P2020|COMPETE
  Start date: 2018; End date: 2021
  Total funding: 232,258.90 EUR

• BIOFILM-Development of novel biocide solutions for effective biofilm control
  Reference: PTDC/BII-BTI/30219/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030219)
  Principal Investigator FCUP: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Funding program: P2020|COMPETE
  Start date: 2018; End date: 2021
  Total funding: 239,821.00 EUR

• Microgial and neuronal changes in the hippocampus induced by methamphetamine: role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptide Y
  Reference: PTDC/SAUFCF/67053/2006
  Principal Investigator in FCUP: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date: 2007; End date: 2010
  Total funding: 88,000.00 EUR

• New therapeutic approaches in cancer: Rational design and synthesis of new adenosine A3 receptor ligands
  Reference: PTDC/QUI/70359/2006
  Principal Investigator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date: 2008; End date: 2011
  Total funding: 72,456.00 EUR

• Targeting cinnamic antioxidants to mitochondria: a new therapeutic approach on neurodegenerative diseases
  Principal Investigator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: University Porto
  Start date: 2009 End date: 2009
  Total funding: 3,500.00 EUR

• NanoPest – Nanotecnology for Pesticide Management
  Reference: PTDC/AGRAAM/105044/2008
  Principal Investigator: Manuela Garrido
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date: 2010; End date: 2013
  Total funding: 190,728.00 EUR

• Impact of methamphetamine on the blood-brain barrier: unmasking the underlying mechanisms and the role of neuroinflammation
  Reference: PTDC/SAU-FCF/098685/2008
  Principal Investigator in FCUP: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date: 2010; End date: 2013
  Total funding: 129,388.00 EUR

• BP4Brain – Benzopyrane as a privileged structure for the rational design of multitarget-directed drugs potentially useful in neurodegenerative diseases
  Reference: PTDC/QUIQUI/113687/2009
  Principal Investigator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date: 2011; End date: 2014
  Total funding: 150,000.00 EUR

• Fine-tuning the hydrophobicity of natural antioxidants: development of innovative mitochondria-targeted antioxidants based on benzoic acid scaffold
  Reference: PP_IJUP2011 209
  Principal Investigator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: University Porto
  Start date: 2011 End date: 2011
  Total funding: 3,500.00 EUR

• Nanotecnology for Pesticide Management
  Reference: PP_IJUP2011 208
  Principal Investigator: Jorge Garrido
  Funding entity: University Porto
  Start date: 2011 End date: 2011
  Total funding: 3,500.00 EUR

• Environmentally friendly active films based on chitosan
  Reference: PP_IJUP2011 208
  Principal Investigator: Jorge Garrido
  Funding entity: University Porto
  Start date: 2012 End date: 2012
  Total funding: 3,500.00 EUR

• MitoBOOST: A Next-Generation Therapeutics for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on Smart Antioxidant Delivery to Mitochondria
  Reference: PTDC/DTP-FTO/2433/2014
  Principal Investigator in FCUP: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date: 2016; End date: 2019
  Total funding: 65,700.00 EUR

• MitoSKIN – Novas plataformas para entrega direccionada de antioxidantes da dieta para a mitocôndria
  Principal Investigator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: University of Porto
  Funding program: Bip Proof- Program for Proof of Concept
  Start date: 2018-06-01; End date: 2018-11-01
  Total funding: 20,000.00 EUR

• Centro de Investigação em Química da Universidade
  Reference: UID/QUI/00081/2020
  CIQUP coordinator: António Fernando Silva
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date; 2020 End date: 2023
  Total funding: 1,500,800.00 EUR

• Development of functional materials
  Reference: NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000065
  CIQUP coordinator: António Fernando Silva
  Funding entity: CCDRN/FEDER
  Funding program: P2020|Norte2020-
  Start date: 2014; End date: 2015
  Total funding: 368,858.73 € EUR
  Group: 92,214.68 €

• Sustainable advanced materials (SAM)
  Reference: NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000028
  CIQUP coordinator: António Fernando Silva
  Funding entity: CCDRN
  Funding program: P2020|Norte2020-Projetos Integrados ICD
  Start date: 2016; End date: 2019
  Total funding: 1,349,964.00 EUR
  Group: 337,491.00 EUR

• Centro de Investigação em Química da Universidade
  Reference: UID/QUI/00081/2013
  CIQUP coordinator: António Fernando Silva
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date; 2015; End date: 2018
  Total funding: 445,209.00 EUR

• Centro de Investigação em Química da Universidade
  Reference: UID/QUI/00081/2019
  CIQUP coordinator: António Fernando Silva
  Funding entity: FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
  Start date; 2019; End date: 2019
  Total funding: 148,403.00 EUR

• Foie Gras
  Bioenergetic Remodeling in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  UP coordinator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: European Commission
  Funding program: MSCA-ITN-2016 – Innovative Training Networks
  Project ID: 722619
  Start date: 2017; End date: 2020
  Project leader: Centro de Neurociencias e Biologia Celular
  Partner institutions: see
  Total funding for the consortium: 3,202,195.68 EUR

• mtFOIE GRAS
  mitoFOIE GRAS: Non-invasive Profiling of Mitochondrial Function in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  UP coordinator: Fernanda Borges
  Funding entity: European Commission
  Funding program: MSCA-RISE-2016 – Research and Innovation Staff Exchange
  Project ID: 734719
  Start date: 2017; End date: 2021
  Project leader: Centro de Neurociencias e Biologia Celular
  Partner institutions: see
  Total funding for the consortium: 454,500.00 EUR