DRUG DISCOVERY & DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH UNIT
Molecular Pharmacology and Cancer TherapeuticsOVERVIEW
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
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]
Prémio de melhor Poster, na área de Ciências Biológicas, 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.