Part of the research conducted at the Institute of Biochemistry (IB) is “translational”, i.e., it aims to fully complete the entire process from discovery to innovation in the development of technologies/products in the widest sense. Whether from the bench to the patient’s bedside, or vice versa, the intermediate zone that lies between basic and clinical research, which many consider to be “no man’s land”, has been overcome thanks to the scientific focus and cooperation among all researchers. One of the characteristics of the research carried out at the Institute of Biochemistry is that it engages researchers with different backgrounds, particularly in medical and health sciences, exact and natural sciences, and engineering and technology, who have unique perspectives with regard to the analysis, reflection and resolution of a common problem.

Translational research at the IB focuses on the identification and characterization of (i) candidate biomarkers in pain and neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis); interaction of figurative elements of blood, the apoptosis of the components of the immune system, the function of the endothelial cell, neovascularization (sepsis, alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; cardiovascular disease and tumour disease) and the composition of the atherosclerotic plaque (cardiovascular disease) and (ii) ionizing radiation and its biological effects at low doses.

Translational research is conducted within an extensive network and thanks to the collaboration between researchers at the Institute of Biochemistry and researchers from various national and international institutions.

Examples of institutions that collaborate with the Institute of Biochemistry in translational research:
Biosurfit SA, Faculty of Medical Science of the New University of Lisbon
Centre of liver transplants, Curry Cabral Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
Cardiovascular Department of Hospital da Luz, Lisbon
Surgery Department, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal
Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute for Genetics, Health and Therapeutics, University of Leeds, UK.
Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Laboratory of Metabolopathies, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago, Santiago de Compostela
Pathological Anatomy Department, Santa Maria Hospital, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.
Department of Cardiology, Central Lisbon Hospital Centre, Santa Marta Hospital
Department of Cardiology, Santa Maria Hospital, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.
Vascular Surgery Department, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.
Gastroenterology and Pathology Department, Santa Maria Hospital, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.
Immuno-Hemotherapy Department, Santa Maria Hospital, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.
Medicine Unit I, Santa Maria Hospital, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.
Neurology Department, Santa Maria Hospital, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.
Radiotherapy Department, Santa Maria Hospital, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal.
Intensive Care Unit, Beatriz Ângelo Hospital (HBA)
Heart Failre Unit, Cardiology Department, Pulido Valente Hospital, Northern Lisbon Hospital Centre, Lisbon, Portugal



Illustrative publications
Saldanha C, Lopes de Almeida JP, Silva-Herdade, A.S. Application of a nitric oxide sensor in biomedicine. Biosensors 2014; 4:1-17; doi:10.3390/bios4010001

Santos S, Castanho M. The Use of Visual Analog Scales to Compare Pain Between Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Patients Without Any Known Neurodegenerative Disease and Their Caregivers. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2013 Dec 26. [Epub ahead of print]

Santos SM, Garcia-Nimo L, Sá Santos S, Tavares I, Cocho JA, Castanho MA.
Neuropeptide Kyotorphin (Tyrosyl-Arginine) has Decreased Levels in the Cerebro-Spinal Fluid of Alzheimer's Disease Patients: Potential Diagnostic and Pharmacological Implications. Front Aging Neurosci. 2013 Oct 30;5:68. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2013.00068.

Napoleão, P., Selas M., Freixo C., Mota Carmo M., Viegas-Crespo A.M., Ferreira R.C., Pinheiro T. (2013) T lymphocytes alterations are associated with oxidized LDL, troponin T, white blood cells and C-reactive protein during acute myocardial infarction, Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 55: 349-58.

Oliveira R, Napoleão P, Banha J, Paixão E, Bettencourt A, da Silva BM, Pereira D, Barcelos F, Teixeira A, Patto JV, Viegas-Crespo AM, Costa L. (2013) Crosstalk between inflammation, iron metabolism and endotelial function in Behçet's disease. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. Apr 25. [Epub ahead of print

Santos MJ, Pedro LM, Canhão H, Fernandes e Fernandes J, Canas da Silva J, Fonseca JE, Saldanha C. (2011) Hemorheological parameters are related to subclinical atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis patients. Atherosclerosis 219 (2), 821-6.

Carvalho, F.A., Connell, S., Miltenberger-Miltenyi, G., Pereira, S.V., Tavares, A., Ariëns, R.A.S. and Santos, N.C. (2010) Atomic force microscopy-based molecular recognition of a fibrinogen receptor on human erythrocytes. ACS Nano 4, 4609-4620 (Journal IF: 12.062).

Vala I, Martins L, Imaizumi N, Nunes R, Rino J, Kuonen F, Carvalho LM, Rüegg C, Grillo IM, Barata JT, Mareel M and Constantino Rosa Santos S (2010) Low doses of ionizing radiation promote tumor growth and metastasis by enhancing angiogenesis

Cascão, R., Moura, R.A., Perpétuo, I., Canhão, H., Vieira-Sousa, E., Mourão, A.F., Rodrigues, A.M., Polido-Pereira, J., Queiroz, M.V., Rosário, H.S., Souto-Carneiro, M.M., Graca, L., Fonseca, J.E. (2010) Identification of a cytokine network sustaining neutrophil and Th17 activation in untreated early rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 12, R196

Cascão, R., Rosário, H.S., Souto-Carneiro, M.M., Fonseca, J.E. (2010) Neutrophils in rheumatoid arthritis: more than simple final effectors. Autoimmun Rev 9, 531-535.

Martin Martins, J., Vale, S., Ferreira, F., Fagundes, M.J., Carmo, I., Saldanha, C., Martins e Silva, J. (2010) Plasma corticotropin releasing hormone during the feeling of induced emotions. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 31, 250-5.


Patents
Martins, I.C., Santos, N.C., Almeida, F.C.L. and Da Poian, A.T. (2012) “DENV-derived peptides for the inhibition of the Flavivirus replication.” Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), 221109725030.

Faustino, A.F., Carvalho, F.A. and Santos, N.C. (2012) “Dengue-virus capsid protein-lipoproteins interactions.” Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial (INPI), provisional request nr 20121000044673.