Cellular Function and Therapeutic Targeting
Group Leader
Cecília Maria Pereira Rodrigues
Postdoctoral research at University of Minnesota, USA
Full Professor, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa
Coordinator, iMed.ULisboa
The Research
Our goal is to identify novel mechanism-based molecular targets for therapeutic intervention, by focusing on the discovery and regulation of signalling pathways involved in cell death, differentiation and proliferation. We use experimental models of liver, gut and brain disorders involving inflammation, degeneration and regeneration, and test therapeutic strategies at the preclinical level that may influence disease progression. We have developed bile acids as a group of promising endogenous modulators of cell death/survival, protected by patents and licensed by spin-off pharmaceuticals.
We pursue these goals within two core areas of discovery: 1) Molecular targets of protection and repair; and 2) Novel therapeutic strategies
General representation of research activities
Ongoing Projects
Source: FCT (Harvard-Portugal Program, HMSP-ICT/0018/2011)
Title: Treat liver diseases by targeting hepatocyte necroptosis
PI: Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
Period: 2013-2016
Source: AstraZeneca, UK
Title: High throughput screening with AstraZeneca’s compound library
PI: CMP Rodrigues
Period: 2015-2016
Source: Gilead Sciences International
Title: Role of mitofusin 2 in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and targeting by microRNAs
PI: Rui E. Castro
Period: 2015-2017
Source: FCT (PTDC/BIM-MEC/0895/2014)
Title: New drugs to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver and progression to cancer
PI: Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
Period: 2016-2018
Recent Most Relevant Publications
Morgado AL, Rodrigues CMP, Solá S. MicroRNA-145 regulates neural stem cell differentiation through the Sox2-Lin28/let-7 signaling pathway. Stem Cells. 2016 Feb 6. doi: 10.1002/stem.2309. [Epub ahead of print]
Moutinho M, Nunes MJ, Gama MJ, Rodrigues CMP, Gomes AQ, Rodrigues E. Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase overexpression inhibits the LXR pathway by activating sGTPases in neuronal cells. Mol Neurobiol. 2015; 51: 1489-1503.
Simões AES, Pereira DM, Gomes SE, Caridade M, Carvalho T, Castro RE, Steer CJ, Thibodeau SN, Rodrigues CMP, Borralho PM. Aberrant MEK5/ERK5 signalling contributes to human colon cancer progression via NF-KB activation. Cell Death and Disease 2015; 6: e1718.
Castro RE, Ferreira DMS, Borralho PM, Machado MV, Cortez-Pinto H, Rodrigues CMP. miR-34a/SIRT1/p53 is suppressed by ursodeoxycholic acid in rat liver and activated by disease severity in human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. J Hepatol. 2013; 58: 119-125.
Rodrigues CMP, Solá S, Nan Z, Castro RE, Ribeiro PS, Low WC, Steer CJ. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid reduces apoptosis and protects against neurologic injury after acute hemorrhagic stroke in rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2003; 100: 6087-6092.
Group Members
Cecília Maria Pereira Rodrigues
Full Professor
T +351 217 946 490
PhD Students
Master Students
- Lídia Franco
- Sara Oliveira