CANCER BIOLOGY & EPIGENETICS GROUP
The team integrates predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers, with diverse academic backgrounds, including Biologists, Biochemists, Pharmacists, Pathological Anatomy graduates, and Medical Doctors of several specialties, including Pathologists, Urologists, Gynecologists, Radiologists, Haemato-Oncologists, and Medical Oncologists.
In the context of Precision Oncology, we are developing several patient-centered pre-clinical and fundamental research projects addressing tumor biology, pathology, epigenetics, epitranscriptomics, tumor metabolism, and immunology topics.
SCIENTIFIC COORDINATOR
Carmen Jerónimo, PhD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0003-4186-5345 / CE16-29CB-EDD1
Assistant Researcher
IPO Porto Research Director
Scientific Coordinator, Biobank – Department of Pathology
TL2 – Cancer Coordinator, RISE-Associate Laboratory
Guest Full Professor, ICBAS-School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto
Chair, Translational Research Section/ESUR of the European Association of Urology
E-mail: carmenjeronimo@ipoporto.min-saude.pt/cljeronimo@icbas.up.pt
TEAM
Senior Researchers
Rui Henrique, MD, PhD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0003-3171-4666 / 641F-FE09-15E6
Senior Researcher
Senior Consultant Pathologist and Director, Department of Pathology
Guest Full Professor, ICBAS-School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto
E-mail: henrique@ipoporto.min-saude.pt/ rmhenrique@icbas.up.pt
Margareta P. Correia, PhD
Investigadora Auxiliar (2023.14811.TENURE.001)
Líder do tópico de investigação: Onco-Imuno-Epigenética
Docente do ICBAS-UP ao abrigo do Protocolo IPO Porto & ICBAS-UP
E-mail: margareta.correia@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Junior Researchers
João Lobo, MD, PhD
Consultant Pathologist, Department of Pathology
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-6829-1391/ 8A14-8221-1CBF
Team Leader of the research topic: Testicular Tumors
Guest Assistant Professor, ICBAS-UP
E-mail: jpedro.lobo@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Sara Monteiro-Reis, PhD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-2193-2793 / 3014-05F4-935F
Project Manager (EUnetCCC JA | ID: 101183407)
Lecturer at ICBAS-UP under the IPO Porto & ICBAS-UP Protocol
E-mail: sara.reis@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Vera Miranda-Gonçalves, PhD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-4231-5532 / 8E1B-B722-284F
LAB3 Manager (UID/00776/2025 | https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/00776/2025)
Lecturer at ICBAS-UP under the IPO Porto & ICBAS-UP Protocol
E-mail: vera.miranda.goncalves@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Other Researchers
Carla Bartosch, MD, PhD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0003-0646-7667 / 881F-BDAC-46FE
Consultant Pathologist, Department of Pathology
Guest Associate Professor at School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro
E-mail: carla.bartosch@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Liliana Raimundo, PhD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-9003-2601 / B21B-623F-AA05
Molecular Pathology Technician
E-mail: liliana.raimundo@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Sérgio Lopes, PhD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 00000-0002-4002-1071 / A614-5E1D-A6D7
Cell Therapy Clinical Scientist
E-mail: sergio.lopes@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Sofia Salta, PhD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-6707-1263 / 6119-2B18-6A26;
Scientific Manager (UID/00776/2025 | https://doi.org/10.54499/UID/00776/2025)
E-mail: sofia.salta@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Investigadores Associados
Diana Montezuma, PhD
Pathologist and Head of R&D Unit at IMP
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-9551-4589 / 8614-D72D-4861
E-mail: diana.m.felizardo@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Associate Researchers
Óscar Rapado González, DDS, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher – Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-8419-7004 / C019-EAAE-BBB8
E-mail: oscar.gonzalez@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Vera Constâncio, PhD
La Caixa Health Innovation Fellow, Spain
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-3151-0367/ 3116-280A-8462;
E-mail: vera.salvado.constancio@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
PhD Students
With External Funding
Supervision
Alice Manuela Santos Alves, MD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0001-9144-4912/ B118-A5D4-72E3
E-mail: alicemalves@gmail.com
Amal Magdy Mohamed, MSc (in collaboration with KU Leuven, Belgium; HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01, GA 101120283 – PROSTAMET)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0004-0514-9725 / BB1D-00E9-DB8C
E-mail: aml.mohamed@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Ana Beatriz Oliveira, MD
ORCID ID/ CIÊNCIA ID 0000-0002-6062-0688/FC16-A045-766F
E-mail:ana.b.s.oliveira@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Ana Teixeira-Marques, MSc (in collaboration with i3S/ Centro de Investigación Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Espanha; FCT2023.01232.BD);
ORCID ID/Ciência ID: 0000-0003-1396-3466/ 601F-802B-922D;
E-mail: ana.t.marques@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Beatriz Loureiro,
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0008-4298-1544 /4A17-2360-CB93
E-mail: beatriz.loureiro@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Fernanda Fernandes-Pontes, MSc (em colaboração com ICVS; FCT 2025.02046.BD)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0007-3931-0443 / 1C19-894E-FD30
E-mail: fernanda.pontes@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Fernanda Fernandes-Pontes, MSc (in collaboration with ICVS; FCT 2025.02046.BD)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0007-3931-0443 / 1C19-894E-FD30
E-mail: fernanda.pontes@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Filipa Domingues dos Reis, MSc (in collaboration with Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands; FCT UI/BD/154816/2023);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-9897-5612/ C014-A6CE-0341;
E-mail: filipa.reis@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Filipa Moreira Silva, MSc (in collaboration with Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; FCT 2023.00300.BD);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-7272-7300/ 7019-D06D-3E3F;
E-mail: filipa.m.silva@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Íris da Rocha Carriço, MSc (in collaboration with MFRRP; FCT UI/BD/154815/2023);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-4977-8273/ 3617-1D5C-EE2D;
E-mail: iris.carrico@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
João Martins da Gama, MD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-5274-4114 / 9E1A-51E8-0B2C
E-mail: joao.m.gama@ipoporto.min-saude.pt; joaomartinsgama@gmail.com
João Moura e Silva, MD
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-8579-6543 / 241A-85E2-1BF3
E-mail: jricardo.moura.silva@gmail.com
José Pedro Sequeira, MSc (in collaboration IDIS, Spain; FCT2022.11060.BD);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-4687-3347/ FE1E-E1CF-6983;
E-mail: jose.leite.sequeira@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Mariana Lima-Costa, MSc (in collaboration with Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands; FCT 2025.03036.BD)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0001-3257-3693 / 261D-7564-4CD4
E-mail: mariana.l.costa@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Marta Avelar, MSc (in collaboration with i3S; FCT2025.02786.BD);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-1961-6513 / 331A-DB95-F399
E-mail: marta.avelar@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Miguel Ângelo Ferreira, MSc (in collaboration with ERASMUS MC, The Netherlands; HORIZON-MSCA-2024-DN-01, GA 101226733 – EURECA)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0001-1684-5150/ 511A-9CBE-29C4
E-mail: miguel.ferreira@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Nuno Tiago Tavares, MSc (in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego, USA; FCT2022.09566.BD);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-8426-1838/ 2718-0ED1-9F74;
E-mail: i38161@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Co-Supervision
Amna Tahir, MSc (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01, GA 101120283 – PROSTAMET, KU LEUVEN, Bélgica)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0009-6537-2319/ 7311-8A8E-EC5D
E-mail: amna.tahir@kuleuven.be
Ana Margarida Faria, MSc (INSA; FCT2024.02722.BDANA);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-8890-1871/ 3210-3538-BAB8;
E-mail: ana.faria@insa.min-saude.pt;
Daniele Carchidi, MSc (DBMR, UniBern, Suíça)
ORCID ID: 0009-0005-2707-7678
E-mail: daniele.carchidi@unibe.ch
Mariana Carvalho, MSc (INEGI; FCT2022.09480.BD);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-8620-9718/ 7713-CE2C-47D2;
E-mail: mariana.carvalho@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Patrícia Sá, MSc (ISPUP; FCT 2025.03463.BD);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0006-1868-7527/ BE13-103E-ED86;
E-mail: up202103371@edu.fcna.up.pt
PhD Students #IPO Porto Staff
Supervision
Ana Fernandes Rodrigues, MD;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0003-2955-055 / 371A-3A6B-696F;
E-mail: ana.fernandes.rodrigues@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Bruno Oliveira-Lopes, MSc (in collaboration with LAQV-REQUIMTE UA);
ORCID ID/Ciência ID: 0000-0001-5972-8096/ 781F-B501-A18E;
E-mail: bruno.lopes@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Carlos Ochoa Leite, MD;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0003-0489-9677 / 7B14-471C-19A5;
E-mail: carlos.ochoa.leite@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Carina Carvalho-Maia, MSc;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-7011-8341 / B116-C629-89AC;
E-mail: i13035@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Isa Carneiro, MSc; Pathology Technician;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-0561-3880 / 211C-E4FA-36A4;
E-mail: isa.carneiro@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
João André Carvalho, MD;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0001-8564-2050 / B318-599E-9623;
E-mail: joao.m.carvalho@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Lígia Gonçalves, MD;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-5864-8526 / 0D10-301A-79F6;
E-mail: ligiagoncalves@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Rita Guimarães, MSc, Pathology Technician;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-1608-4494/ BA1B-8EFB-2442;
E-mail: rita.guimaraes@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Rui Freitas, MD;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-4448-6458/ F01F-89CB-26E6;
E-mail: antoniofreitas@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Rui Silva-Santos, MSc; Pathology Technician;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-6392-1785/ 0E14-7605-B96D;
E-mail: rui.silva.santos@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Sofia Paulino, MSc; Pathology Technician;
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0003-1244-4066/ C31D-B4FF-D098
E-mail: sofia.paulino@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Research Assistants/Technicians
Bárbara Amorim Fernandes, MSc (in collaboration with ISPUP, JANUS FCT 2023.17087.ICDT)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0001-1229-7118/ 9616-BB80-5E6B;
E-mail: barbara.fernandes@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Catarina Lourenço, MSc ((BreastToBone COMPETE2030.FEDER-00686000|15753)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0003-0644-0202/ 9A1E-2DE0-A004;
E-mail: catarina.lourenco@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Jéssica Cordeiro, MSc (EpImmunePCa-2022.04809.PTDC)
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0009-0009-9253-3632/ 9E17-72B4-AE97;
E-mail: jessica.cordeiro@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
Mariana Silva-Ferreira, MSc (HENKO_NET S1/4.5/E0091 – Interreg Sudoe);
ORCID ID/ Ciência ID: 0000-0002-5896-051X/ 521F-556D-5E8E;
E-mail: mariana.ferreira@ipoporto.min-saude.pt
MSc Students
2026/2027
Supervision
Anastasiia Ponosova; Integrated Master in Medicine, ICBAS-UP
António Karpyuk, BSc, Master in Laboratory Techniques in Biopathology, E2S-UTP
Beatriz Santos Resende, BSc; Master in Oncology, ICBAS-UP
Eduarda Pereira Alves, BSc; Master in Oncology, ICBAS-UP
Rita Vieira dos Santos, BSc; Master in Oncology, ICBAS-UP
Co-Supervision
Bárbara Miguéis, BSc, Master in Biomedicine, UM (in collaboration with ICVS)
Lara Pinto, BSc; Master in Oncology, ICBAS-UP (in collaboration with i3S)
2025/2026
Supervision
Diana Almeida-Pereira, BSc; Master in Oncology, ICBAS-UP
Gonçalo Silva-Rodrigues, BSc; Master in Oncology, ICBAS-UP
Jéssica Sousa, BSc; Master in Molecular and Cellular Biology, FCUP
Mariana Melo e Costa, BSc; Master in Oncology, ICBAS-UP
Rita Botelho, BSc; Master in Legal Medicine, ICBAS-UP
Other collaborators
Alexandra Lapa, MD, Resident in Pathology
Ana Isabel Varelas, MD, Attending Pathologist
Ana Luísa Cunha, MD; Consultant Pathologist
Ana Teresa Martins, MSc; Pathology Technician
Ângelo Rodrigues, MD; Consultant Pathologist
Candy Paiva, BSc; Pathology Technician
Carla Renata Dias, MD; Consultant Pathologist
Carolina Duque, MSc; Resident in Pathology
Davide Gigliano, MD; Attending Pathologist
Fernanda Silva, BSc; Pathology Technician
Isaac Braga, MSc, Attending Urologist
João Martins, MD; Attending Medical Oncologist
Jorge Torres-Ferreira, MSc; Pathology Technician
Maria Alzamora; MD; Resident in Pathology
Mónica Pires, MD Consultant Gynecologist
Nuno Coimbra, MD; Consultant Pathologist
Paula Dias, BSc; Pathology Technician
Paula Lopes, BSc; Pathology Technician
Paula Monteiro, MD; Consultant Pathologist
Renata Vieira, BSc; Pathology Technician
Sara Cardoso, MSc; Clinical Pathology Technician
Sérgio Chacim, MD, MSc; Consultant Hematologist at USL Gaia-Espinho
Verónica Ferreira, BSc; Pathology Technician
Aims
The core aim of our group is to portray in depth epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis, which might be used as clinical tools for early detection, diagnosis, prognostication, and therapy prediction. The investigation of the mechanism and role of epigenetic-modulating drugs (epi-drugs) is another major goal. Moreover, owing to the relevance that Immuno-oncology has demonstrated in recent years, we are also exploring the epigenetic modulation of biomolecules involved in immune responses, aiming at the improvement of immunotherapeutic strategies.
PROJECTS WITH EXTERNAL FUNDING (click to more information)
PROJECTS WITH INTERNAL FUNDING (click to more information)
Selected publications (up to five):
• Salta, S, Sequeira, JP, Amorim-Fernandes, B, Lobo, J, Baldaque, I, Monteiro, P, Tavares, F, Taly, V, Henrique, R and Jeronimo, C. Methylation-Specific Droplet Digital PCR: Testing a Novel Triage Tool for HrHPV-Positive Women in the Cervical Cancer Screening Program of Northern Portugal. MedComm (2020). 2025;6(7): p. e70203. IF: 10.7 doi:10.1002/mco2.70203
• Tavares, NT, Lourenco, C, Constancio, V, Fernandes-Pontes, F, Fonseca, D, Silva-Santos, R, Braga, I, Mauricio, J, Henrique, R, Liu, M, Weiss, RS, Bagrodia, A, Jeronimo, C and Lobo, J. MicroRNA-371-373 cluster extracellular vesicle-based communication in testicular germ cell tumors. Cell Commun Signal. 2025;23(1): p. 252. IF:8.9 doi: 10.1186/s12964-025-02250-8
• Brito-Rocha T, Constâncio V, Leite-Silva P, Carvalho-Maia C, Sequeira JP, Salta S, Lobo J, Machado DI, Nunes SP, Silva-Santos R, Freitas R, Gonçalves Dias C, Vieira C, Soares M, Henrique R, and Jerónimo C. Multi-cancer early detection via a DNA methylation multiplex ddPCR-based blood test. Int J Cancer. 157(5):1006–1019, 2025. doi: 10.1002/ijc.35467.
• Albuquerque-Castro Â, Macedo-Silva C, Oliveira-Sousa R, Constâncio V, Lobo J, Carneiro I, Henrique R, and Jerónimo C. Redefining prostate cancer risk stratification: a pioneering strategy to estimate outcome based on Ki67 immunoscoring. Biomark Res. 12(1):75, 2024. doi: 10.1186/s40364-024-00627-4.
• Macedo-Silva C, Miranda-Gonçalves V, Tavares NT, Barros-Silva D, Lencart J, Lobo J, Oliveira Â, Correia MP, Altucci L and Jerónimo C. Epigenetic regulation of TP53 is involved in prostate cancer radioresistance and DNA damage response signaling. Signal Transduct. Target. Ther. 8(1): 395, 2023. doi: 10.1038/s41392-023-01639-6.
PATENTS
(2025) A panel of eight volatile compounds as biomarkers for the early detection of bladder cancer in urine; Provisional Patent PT 20252007296028
(2025) Bladder Cancer Biomarkers, Methods and Kit; Provisional Patent PT 20252007037390
(2025) PROSTARK: Prostate cancer recurrence risk calculator; WO2025155211
(2012) Methods and biomarkers for detection of bladder cancer; US 20130210011/ EP 2630261 A1/ WO 2012052844 A1 (in collaboration Oslo University Hospital)
NATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
Celso Reis | IPATIMUP, i3S
Estrela Neto | INEB, i3S
Fátima Baltazar | ICVS/3Bs, U. Minho
Goreti Sales | U. Coimbra
Joana Paredes | IPATIMUP, i3S
João F Mano | CICECO – U. Aveiro
João P Ferreira | FEUP
Lucília Saraiva | LAQV/REQUIMTE
Luisa Helguero | IBiMED, U. Aveiro
Margarida Fardilha | IBiMED, U. Aveiro
Maria José Oliveira | INEB, i3S
Meriem Lamghari | INEB, i3S
Nuno Lunet, ISPUP
Paula Guedes | REQUIMTE-FF
Raquel Almeida | IPATIMUP, i3S
Sara Ricardo | 1H-TOXRUN, IUCS
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
Aditya Bagrodia | University of California, San Diego, USA
Alejandro Sifrim & Johan Swinnem | KU Leuven, Belgium
Ángel Díaz-Lagares | Epigenomics Unit, Translational Medical Oncology (Oncomet), IDIS, Spain
Catherine Muller | IPBS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, France
Elena Martens-Uzunova | Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Florence Le Calvez-Kelm | IARC, Lyon, France
Gabri van der Pluijm | Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Giuseppina Carbone | Belinzona, Switzerland
Guro Lind | Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Hector Peinado CNIO, Madrid, Spain
Hing Leung | CRUK-Glasgow, UK
Isabelle Bernard-Pierrot | Institut Curie, Paris, France
Jesús M. Paramio & Marta Dueñas | Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Madrid, Spain
Laura Muinelo-Romay & María Mercedes Suárez-Cunqueiro | Liquid Biopsy Analysis Unit, Translational Medical Oncology (Oncomet), IDIS, Spain
Lucia Altucci | Università degli studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
Maija Puhka | Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
Manel Esteller | Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
Marianna Kruithof-de Julio | Bern Univ Hospital, Switzerland
Mónica Martínez-Fernández, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Noel de Miranda| Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Paola Arimondo | Institute Pasteur, Paris, France
Sandra Blanco | Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Salamanca, Spain
Valérie Taly | Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
Wilbert Zwart | NKI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*The information described in the group is the sole responsibility of the respective coordinator.
equipa
