During my research career I have always been interested in the study of bioactive lipids with a pharmacological approach (i.e. identification/characterization of new sources, pharmacokinetics, stability studies and in vitro/in vivo activity assays). I have applied such focus to design novel commercial functional foods to improve the health of the consumer, for example obesity and decrease cardiovascular disease risk. These studies required in vitro, in vivo and clinical test bringing therefore the opportunity to characterize the alterations of the lipidome. As an example, in a recent publication we demonstrated how fatty acids and fructose activated NF-κB pathway in microglia while omega 3, CLA and CLNA reverted such effects (10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159331).

The involvement of industrial partners in these projects has facilitated both transference of knowledge as well as meeting market demands. For example, I participated in the development of the product TUNA FUNCTIONAL or processes for the microbial production of anti-obesity fatty acids (i.e. WO2014096352A2).

With a Ph.D in Food Science & Nutrition & Chemical Engineering (2009), since 2013, I am Senior Researcher and Team leader of lipid research at Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry in Portugal. Previously I have acted as Invited Professor "ad honorem" (2014) of the TOXIAQBI group (UCM) and Invited Associate Researcher (2016) of the CYNERIS (Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile).

This research activity has resulted in 88 publications (more than 20 acting as last or corresponding author) in peer review journals with impact factor, co-author of 16 book chapters (invited/corresponding author in one), 4 patents, presented 66 posters (55 international), 13 oral presentations (5 international) and invited speaker in 14 (12 international) congresses/seminars. I have participated in 41 projects (competitive calls; acting as PI or Co-PI in 17) and 23 projects and/or technology contracts with national/international companies (PI or Co-PI in 5).

I have been supervisor of 4 Ph.D, 6 MsC, 4 postdoc researchers and 3 lab assistants. Previously, I have participated in the supervision of 3 visiting postdoc researchers (from Spain and Argentina), 6 visiting predoctoral researchers (Ireland, Portugal and Spain), 5 students of science degree project (Portugal, Spain, Mexico and Colombia), 5 CSIC JAE intro, 2 undergraduate students (Chile and Argentina) and 2 high school students (Portugal).