ANGIOGENESIS
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones and is orchestrated by a variety of pro- and anti-angiogenic signals. Their imbalance, promoting either excessive or insufficient angiogenesis, can lead to disease. Therefore, it is recognized that therapeutic interference with vasculature formation offers a tool for clinical applications.
The main goal of the Angiogenesis Unit is to discover the molecular mechanisms by which angiogenesis is modulated, particularly by subtherapeutic and therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation.
Our findings are crucial to correlate the doses of ionizing radiation with: i) tumor dissemination; ii) colonization of pre-metastatic niches by tumor cells or iii) cardiotoxicity after radiotherapy.
We are also investigating the synergistic interplay between low doses of ionizing radiation and biomaterials/tissue engineering uncovering the underlying mechanisms to open new perspectives on their application in regenerative medicine.
A strong network between bench researchers, physicists and clinicians has been crucial to assure excellence in our work. We are confident about the innovativeness of our research and its clinical applicability.
RESEARCH TEAM
Constantino Rosa Santos , Susana, PhD
GROUP LEADER
Susana Constantino Rosa Santos obtained graduation in Microbial Biology and Genetics by Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (Portugal) in 1997. She completed her PhD in Bases Fondamentales de l’Oncogénèse at University of Paris 7 (France) in September 2001. From October 2001 and December 2004 she performed her PostDoc at Instituto Português de Oncologia, Lisbon, and Instituto Gulbenkian Ciência, Oeiras (Portugal). From 2005 she is Assistant Professor at the Lisbon School of Medicine, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. She established the Angiogenesis Unit in 2008, first in Institute of Molecular Medicine (Lisbon) and from 2014 in CCUL. ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5711-1292
E-mail: sconstantino@medicina.ulisboa.pt
Freitas Santos, Maria Teresa
Lab manager
Teresa Santos performed the technical and professional studies of chemistry. She works at the Lisbon School of Medicine of the Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, since 1986.
E-mail: mtsantos@medicina.ulisboa.pt
Ministro, Augusto, MD, PhD
Augusto Manuel Almeida Ministro, obtained his Medical Degree by the Lisbon School of Medicine of the Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, in 2000. He started his residency at Santa Maria University Hospital – CHULN, E.P.E, Lisbon, in 2003 and became a Vascular Surgery Specialist in 2010. Currently he is a Vascular Surgery Assistant, Kidney Transplant Consultant and unit chief in the Vascular Surgery Department of Santa Maria University Hospital, CHULN E.P.E., Lisbon. He is a member of the CCUL Angiogenesis Unit and completed his PhD in Medicine, Speciality of Vascular Surgery in 2018 (April).
Co-Researcher in Vascular Biology, Imaging and Surgery
E-mail: augusto.ministro@gmail.com
Oliveira, Paula, PhD
Post doctoral researcher
Paula Alexandra Gomes de Oliveira obtained graduation in Biotechnology Engineering by Faculty of Engineering, University of Algarve (Portugal) in 2006. She completed her master degree in Human Molecular Biology by Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (Portugal) in 2009 and her PhD at the Lisbon School of Medicine of the Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, in 2017, in Angiogenesis Unit, CCUL, under the supervision of Professor Susana Constantino. She is currently a postdoc in the Angiogenesis Unit, CCUL.
E-mail: paulaoliveira8@gmail.com
Pereira, Ana Rita Simões, MSc
PhD student
Ana Rita Duarte Simões Pereira is currently a PhD student (PhD Programme of the Lisbon Academic Medical Centre) at Angiogenesis Unit. She did her master’s thesis in the Angiogenesis Unit, obtaining her master’s degree in Biochemistry by Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon in 2014. In 2012, she completed her graduation also in Biochemistry by Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra. From 2006 to 2008 she concluded two years of the degree in Economics in Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra.
E-mail: ritasimoespereira@gmail.com
Rocha, Filipe, Msc
PhD Student
Filipe Nunes Rocha graduated in Biology by the Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon (Portugal) in 2017. He obtained his master´s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics by the Faculty of Science of the University of Lisbon (Portugal), in 2019, and is currently a PhD student (PhD Programme of the Lisbon Academic Medical centre) at the Angiogenesis Unit, CCUL, under the supervision of Susana Constantino.
E-mail: filipenunesrocha@gmail.com
Simões de Oliveira, Pedro, MD
Pedro Miguel Simões de Oliveira, obtained his Medical Degree by the Faculty of Medicine of the Universitat de Barcelona (Spain) in 2010. He started his residency at Santa Maria University Hospital – CHULN, E.P.E., Lisbon, in 2013 and became a Urology Specialist in 2019. Currently he is a Urology Assistant,
Kidney Transplant Consultant, chief of the Andrology and Infertility section and member of the Reconstructive Urology section in the Urology Department of Santa Maria University Hospital – CHULN, E.P.E., Lisbon.
Currently he is a PhD student (The PhD Programme of the Lisbon Academic Medical Centre) at Angiogenesis Unit of CCUL, under the supervision of Prof. Susana Constantino and Prof. Augusto Ministro.
Email: pedrosimoesdeoliveira@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1048-5721
Vala, Inês Sofia, PhD
Post Doctoral Researcher
Inês Sofia Vala obtained her PhD in Cellular Biology at Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon in 2011, wile she worked at the angiogenesis Unit of iMM. In 2011 she joined the Education Team of the Pavilion of Knowledge – Centro Ciência Viva, where she worked as Head of the Department of Scientific Programme and Events. She is now a post doctoral researcher at the Angiogenesis Unit of CCUL. She is also assistant professor at Lusófona University in the filed of Biology, Genetics and Bioethics.
E-mail: ines.oliveira@fm.ul.pt
COLLABORATORS
An Aerts, Institute for Environment, Health and Safety, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN), Mol, Belgium
Costanza Emanueli, Imperial College, London
Cristina Barrias, I3S, Porto, Portugal
Elisa Messina, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
Karine Marie Serre, iMM, Lisbon, Portugal
Luís Mendes Pedro, CCUL, Lisbon, Portugal
Manuela Fiuza, CCUL, Lisbon, Portugal
Marc Mareel, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Maria Oliveira, I3S, Porto, Portugal
Radia Tamarat, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nationale (IRSN), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
ONGOING PROJECTS
As Task Leader:
2017-2021: MEDIRAD: Implications of Medical Low Dose Radiation Exposure (HORIZON2020 NGRP-2016-2017-1)
As Principal Investigator:
2018-2021: STRIkINg: Sub-therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation modulate the pre-metastatic niche and induce metastasis. Which are the mechanisms and how to prevent it? (SAICT/FCT/2017/031118)
As Collaborator:
2018-2021: ANGIONICHES: A biomaterial-guided morphogenesis strategy for cell-based therapeutic neovascularization using angiogenic microniches. (POCI/FEDER/FCT/20179)
2018-2021: MAGICIAM: A macrophage immunomodulatory-delivery system to prevent cancer invasion and metastasis (POCI/FEDER/FCT/2017)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Gil Marques, F., Poli, E., Malaquias, J., Carvalho, T., Portelo, A., Ramires, A., Aldeia, F., Ribeiro, R. M., Vitorino, E., Diegues, I., Costa, L., Coutinho, J., Pina, F., Mareel, M. and Constantino Rosa Santos, S. Low doses of ionizing radiation activate endothelial cells and induce angiogenesis in peritumoral tissues. Radiother Oncol. 2019 Jul 31. pii: S0167-8140(19)32976-7. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2019.06.035. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31376927. Quartil (Q): Q1.
Marques, F. G., Poli, E., Rino, J., Pinto, M. T., Diegues, I., Pina, F. and Constantino Rosa Santos, S. Low Doses of Ionizing Radiation Enhance the Angiogenic Potential of Adipocyte Conditioned Medium. Radiat Res. 2019 Aug 23. doi: 10.1667/RR15438.1. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31442107. Quartil (Q): Q1.
Ministro, A., de Oliveira, P., Nunes, R. J., Dos Santos Rocha, A., Correia, A., Carvalho, T., Rino, J., Faisca, P., Becker, J. D., Goyri-O’Neill, J., Pina, F., Poli, E., Silva-Santos, B., Pinto, F., Mareel, M., Serre, K. and Constantino Rosa Santos, S. Low-dose ionizing radiation induces therapeutic neovascularization in a pre-clinical model of hindlimb ischemia. Cardiovasc Res. 2017 Jun 1;113(7):783-794. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvx065. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28444128. Quartil (Q): Q1.
Pereira, A. R., Mendes, T. F., Ministro, A., Teixeira, M., Filipe, M., Santos, J. M., Barcia, R. N., Goyri-O’Neill, J., Pinto, F., Cruz, P. E., Cruz, H. J. and Constantino Rosa Santos, S. Therapeutic angiogenesis induced by human umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in a murine model of hindlimb ischemia. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2016 Sep 29;7(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s13287-016-0410-4. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27680210. Quartil (Q): Q1.
Sofia Vala, I., Martins, L. R., Imaizumi, N., Nunes, R. J., Rino, J., Kuonen, F., Carvalho, L. M., Ruegg, C., Grillo, I. M., Barata, J. T., Mareel, M. and Constantino Rosa Santos, S. Low doses of ionizing radiation promote tumor growth and metastasis by enhancing angiogenesis. PLoS One. 2010 Jun 21;5(6):e11222. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011222. URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20574535. Quartil (Q): Q1.