DRUG DISCOVERY & DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH UNIT
BEAT THERAPEUTICS
Molecular Pharmacology and Cancer Therapeutics
OVERVIEW
The main research focus at 3DUnit is the identification of pharmacological modulators of human cancer-related proteins through an approach that combines yeast, human cell lines and animal models.
The research activities of the group are mainly focused on:
Development of yeast models for functional and molecular studies of human disease-related proteins: yeast targeted screening assays
Molecular and pharmacological studies in human tumor cell lines
In vitro drug-protein binding assays
Pharmacological studies in human tumor xenografts mice models
UPInovacao_p53_VFinal.mp4News
BEAT Therapeutics wins the Innovation Prize from Bluepharma - University of Coimbra
One more award for BEAT Therapeutics, this time from Bluepharma. This award distinguishes excelence scientific projects on an international level. Know more here.
BtoBEAT-TNBC project wins Gilead Génese Program award.
BEAT Therapeutics wins yet another award at the 9th edition of the Gilead Génese Program. Learn more at [link].
Beat Therapeutics wins European Award.
First prize awarded at Beat Therapeutics in Bio/Pharmatec category of OLÉ Startup, in Spain. Learn more at [link].
Another award won for BEAT Therapeutics.
After winning iUP25k 2023, and the InnoStars 2023 award, BEAT Therapeutics added new success by winning the national competition UI-CAN. Learn more at [link].
BEAT Therapeutics wins InnoStars 2023 award from EIT Health.
The BEAT Therapeutics project is among the 18 winners of the 8th edition of InnoStars 2023 awards, an initiative of EIT Health – European Institute of Innovation and Technology, that aims to support innovative startups in the field of Health. Know more in [link].
BEAT Therapeutics reaches 2nd place in the 2nd edition of BIP Acceleration.
The BEAT Therapeutics project, a project in collaboration with researchers from i3S and FFUL, has won 2nd place in the BIP Acceleration programme. Know more in [link].
iUP25k rewards promising technology to treat aggressive cancers.
The BBIT-Therapeutics project, from our group in colaboration with researchers from i3S, won the 9th edition of the U.Porto Business Ideas Competition. Know more in link.
Joana Loureiro was distinguished as Researcher of the Month by Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro.
Know more in link.
Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro awards researchers from U.Porto
Joana B. Loureiro is among the young researchers awarded with the "Research Grants in Oncology 2022 LPCC-NRN" by the Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro - Núcleo Regional do Norte (LPCC-NRN). Know more in [link].
British Journal of Pharmacology awards Liliana Raimundo the Annual Prize for Early Career Researcher.
This prize was awarded for the work developed under Liliana's PhD, entitled "BBIT20 inhibits homologous DNA repair through disruption of the BRCA1-BARD1 interaction in breast and ovarian cancer". Know more in link.
Cancers journal Special Issue
"p53 Family in Cancer: How Close Are We to the Clinic?" Know more in Link.
Best Poster and Best Oral Communication Awards in the Health Sciences area of IJUP 2021
Ana Mafalda Silva and Rita Ribeiro recieved the Best Poster and Best Oral Communication Awards, respectively, in the 2021 edition of IJUP. The awarded works are entitled "18367 | A potential inhibitor of homologous recombination DNA repair in triplenegative breast cancer" (Best Poster) and "18815 | Chemoprevention of Skin Cancer Through the Mutant p53 Reactivator SLMP53-2". [Link]
Cancers journal Special Issue
"Small Molecule Regulators of Cancer-Related Proteins: Where Are We in Precision Medicine?" Know more in Link.
BBIT20 awarded by BIP Proof 2021
BBIT20, a project led by Lucília Saraiva, was awarded by the 2021 edition of the BIP Proof program. Know more in link.
Fundação Amadeu Dias invests in 3DUnit
ACTONP53, led by Lucília Saraiva, is among the winners of the BIP Proof program. Know more in Link
Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro distingue jovens investigadores da U.Porto
Nair Nazareth Campos is among the young researchers selected for the "Research Grants in Oncology LPCC-NRN 2020", awarded by the Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro – Núcleo Regional do Norte (LPCC-NRN). Link
Interview
Ajudar a vencer o cancro é o sonho de qualquer investigador nesta área" An interview with Prof. Lucília Saraiva was featured on "À conversa com os inventores" on the newsletter of U.Porto Inovação. [Link]
Best Poster Award for Helena Ramos at the "1º Encontro nacional de jovens investigadores em oncologia 2019" organized by the Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro".
The awarded work, entitled: "Descoberta de um novo ativador da p53: promissor agente anticancerígeno no tratamento do cancro colo-retal", focus on identification and development of new pharmacological modulators of the cancer-related protein p53.
Best Master thesis in Medicinal Chemistry
Portuguese Society of Chemistry awards Joana Almeida the Best Master Thesis in Medicinal Chemistry 2019 prize. [Link]
3DUnit received a MED.IDEAS award, promoted by NORTEXCEL
ACTONp53 was one of the selected projects for the CANCER area, proposing p53-activating agents as new anticancer drug candidates. [Link]
Best Poster Award in the Biological Sciences area of IJUP 2019
Hugo Glória recieved the Best Poster award in the Biological Sciences area in IJUP 2019, entitled "15185 | Seeking for new p53-activating agents" performed in the Biological Sciences department, at the Laboratory of Microbiology of FFUP, under the supervision of Professor Lucília Saraiva. [Link]
Advanced Training
Model organisms such as baker’s yeast, bacteria, nematodes, fruit flies, zebrafish, and mice have become powerful tools in modern research, providing valuable information about human disease at multiple levels. In this course, we will explore current models of human diseases to better understand what makes these organisms such excellent experimental models in medical research, as well as the strategies used to build appropriate models of human disease to address specific biological or medical questions.