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Research Team

Endocrine Disruptors and Emerging Contaminants

The main aim of EDEC group is to improve environmental risk assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in aquatic ecosystems, developing new methodologies to assess their effects.

Addressing the impact of deep-sea mining and accidental marine spills are also current research aims. The group uses a multi-parametric approach that combines molecular and cellular biology, modeling and bioinformatics, ecological modeling, biochemical, ecological and ecotoxicological tools, and population relevant endpoints such as embryonic development bioassays, full life-cycle and multi and transgenerational assays. We aim to understand the mechanisms of toxicity of EDCs and CECs, single and in mixtures, and their impact in the aquatic ecosystems. We are particularly interested in understanding the transgenerational effects of EDCs and CECs and the underlying chemical’s mode of action (MoA), including of those chemicals modulating nuclear receptors (NRs). We use ecological modeling to project the ecological costs associated with chemical exposure. Linking adverse-effects endpoints of EDCs and CECs with the chemical’s mode of action (MoA) is transversal to all themes of the EDEC group. Our approach takes into consideration an evolutionary perspective thus focusing on the impact of EDCs and CECs across different phyla. Since the endocrinology and the genomic constitution of most invertebrates are poorly characterized, a parallel aim is to improve the understanding of invertebrate’s endocrinology and signaling pathways and link it with the impact of EDCs in key biological process. The group combines both field and laboratory studies.

Principal Investigator

Team Leader

Miguel Santos is a professor at the Department of Biology of  the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and the head of the Endocrine Disruptors and Emerging Contaminants Team at CIIMAR. He received his PhD in 2002 in Biology from FCUP-University of Porto with a joint supervison at the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). His research interests focus on the hazard assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals and other priority and emerging contaminants. He is the author of approximatly 90 scientific publications in international journals.

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Co-Principal Investigator
Researcher

Raquel Ruivo is a Researcher at CIIMAR. She holds a degree in Biology from the University of Aveiro (2005) and a PhD in Life Sciences, Biology and Health, awarded by the Paris-Sud University (2009). Her current research interests include comparative genomics and evolution, molecular toxicology and endocrine disruption.

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Research Projects

ATLANTIDA

BlueWWater

CORAL

DEEPRISK

EMINENT

GLOBALED

INNOVMAR

MARINER

MODELRISK

NanoLegaTox

NIAF

NOR-WATER

Ocean3R

PRE-NEURO-HD

TRANSEPIC

TRANSobesogen

ValorMar

Team members

PhD Student

Andrea Masseroni is a PhD student in Terrestrial and Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy). His research is mainly focused on the evaluation of the sublethal effects induced by nanoplastics on different aquatic organisms. Andrea is currently spending a period of six months at CIIMAR to study the effects of nanofibers of polypropylene in Danio rerio.

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MSc Student
Human Resources

António holds a degree in Biology from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto since 2021. He is a Master´s degree student in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar that is currently working on his dissertation about the effects of key pollutants in Danio rerio.

PhD student

Marlene Pinheiro graduated in Forensic Laboratory Sciences from the University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS-CESPU) in 2015 and obtained a Master’s degree in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology from the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS) and the Faculty of Sciences (FCUP) of the University of Porto in 2018. She is currently a PhD student at FCUP and CIIMAR, in the Endocrine Disruptors and Emerging Contaminants (EDEC) team, and her research focuses on assessing the effects of deep-sea mining associated with the effects of climate change.

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PhD Student

Clara Lopes is graduated in Biology (2012) and holds a MSc in Biotechnology (2014). Since 2016, their work is mainly focused in the presence of microplastics in the marine environment and in the optimization and harmonization of methodologies for sampling, extraction and analysis of microplastics from different environmental matrices.

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PhD student
Human Resources

Diogo Oliveira completed his Master degree in Biochemistry in 2017, in the University of Porto, doing work centred on the evolution of cobalamin metabolism in vertebrates. He is currently a PhD student at CIIMAR, with research focused on the evolution of xenobiotic metabolism in Cetacea.

Collaborator

I am Panamanian graduated in Biology since 2014 at University of Panama, I expanded my studies to master in Biology, Management and Water Quality at the University of Porto in 2019. My line of research is oriented to emerging pollutants in water using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo bioassays combined with a liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. I enjoy travelling, know others cultures and dancing.

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PhD student
Human Resources

Filipe Godoi is a PhD student in Physiology/Environmental toxicology at São Paulo University and a mobility PhD student at CIIMAR-UP. B.Sc in Biology MSc in Physiology São Paulo University, LASAC vice chair and member of the directive board at SETAC Latin America. His research aims to investigate the endocrine disruptors chemicals including emerging contaminants and their multiple biological effects in non-target animals.

MSc Student

Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (FCUP), and currently pursuing a master’s degree in “Toxicology and Environmental Contaminations” at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS). Presently developing my master’s thesis project titled “Toxicological assessment of Nitrosamines with emerging interest throughout the urban water cycle” at the EDEC laboratory in CIIMAR.

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MSc Student
Human Resources

Helder Sousa is a student of the Master of Forensic Sciences (Forensic Laboratory Sciences) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) and graduated in Biology in the year 2021 at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP). Currently carrying out the master’s thesis entitled “Detection of New Psychoactive Substances and Classic Drugs in Prisons and Effects on Aquatic Organisms”.

PhD Student

Hugo Morais is a Master in Aquaculture and specialization in Marine Resources Biotechnology at the School of Tourism and Technology of the Sea (ESTM) of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (IPLeiria) As a marine biologist he integrated teams of researchers with responsibilities for catch and maintenance of organisms marine ecosystems. As Researcher, he has developed several projects in marine biology and aquaculture projects. Its main interests combine the knowledge and skills acquired in order to develop research activities geared to the problems and challenges of society, in close partnership with the general public, with the greatest interest in promoting marine biology, aquaculture, fisheries and biotechnology blue.

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Research Grant

Since 2022, Jéssica Pereira Leite has held a biology degree from the University of Porto. Currently, she is pursuing her master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Porto, and is working on her dissertation as part of the NIAF project on the Endocrine Disruptors and Emerging Contaminants Research Group.

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MSc Student

My name is João Pedro Amorim Fonseca, I’m a student on the Master’s Degree in Biology and Water Quality Management at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and I’m currently carrying out my internship project at CIIMAR, in the EDEC team. My research focuses on the characterization and identification of microplastics throughout the treatment process at the Gaia Litoral WWTP. I have a degree in Biology and Geology from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) since 2022.

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PhD student

João holds a Bsc degree in Biology, and an MSc degree in Toxicology and Environmental Contamination from University of Porto. He is currently a PhD student at the same institution and at University of Lyon. His research stems from an international colaboration between CIIMAR and INRAE, and focuses mainly on endocrine disruption identification and assessment.

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PhD Student

My name is Lucia Ivorra and I am doing a co-tutele PhD programme between ICBAS (University of Oporto) and ISE (Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph (Macao)). I am enrolled in the Biomedical Science  programme from ICBAS, and the title of my project is “Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in a mangrove system: from an environmental evaluation to a cellular-based approach.” This research includes environmental characterization of OCPs in Macao’s mangrove environment, in order to compare areas with and without vegetation; and laboratory experiments focused in dicofol (an OCPs related with DTT) bioaccumulation by clams, in order to evaluate possible cellular and physiological alterations produced by the pesticide.

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Researcher

Luciana has a degree in Biochemistry and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences since 2015. She is currently a researcher at Center for Study of Animal Science (CECA/ICETA) that integrates the new associate laboratory AL4animals, and at the group of “Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs)” of the National Institute of Health Ricardo Jorge (INSA). Her work is focused on developing nucleic acid-targeted therapies (CRISPR/Cas9, siRNAs and antisense oligonucleotides) and respective cellular and animal models of LSDs to evaluate them. At CIIMAR she aims to generate new in vivo models (zebrafish) for some LSDs using gene editing.

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Researcher

Francisca is an Auxiliary Researcher at the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA) and member of the FCT Research Unit, Center for the Study of Animal Science (CECA/ICETA) that integrates the new associate laboratory AL4animals. 
Ever since she finished her degree in Biology, in 2007, she has been working on Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs), a major group of rare genetic diseases. Over these years she contributed to the development of new methods for diagnosis and characterization of LSD patients. At EDEC, she attempting to generate novel in vivo models (zebrafish) to mimic neuropathic LSDs and study their pathophysiological mechanisms.
 

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Researcher

T.Neuparth hold a PhD in Environmental Sciences(2004) at Nova University of Lisbon. Since then, she has carried out 13 years of Postdoctoral research and from 2018-2023, was Auxiliary Researcher at CIIMAR Endocrine Disruptors and Emerging Contaminants Group-EDEC, becoming Principal Investigator at CIIMAR in2023. She has been conducting research on risk-assessment and management of environmental contaminants that involve multi-level markers in full-life-cycle, multi and transgenerational bioassays. T.Neuparth has also been involved in the preparedness to HNS spills and in studying the impacts of deep-sea mining. Recently, she has expanded her interests to Transgenerational Epigenetic studies in the context of environmental sciences.

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PhD student

Marta Ribeiro is a PhD student in Biology, at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), developing her project at CIIMAR in the EDEC team. Her research is mainly focused on the transgenerational effects of emergent contaminants in non-target aquatic organisms. Marta has a degree in Biology, from FCUP, since 2019 and completed her master’s degree in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, by the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar of the University of Porto, in 2021.

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Researcher

Melina Abdou is a Junior Researcher in the Endocrine Disruptors and Emerging Contaminants Team at CIIMAR. She is graduated of an Erasmus Mundus MSc of “Marine Environment and Resources” and obtained her PhD in Geochemistry and Ecotoxicology at the University of Bordeaux (2018). Her research interests focus on the understanding of trace metal biogeochemical cycles in estuarine, coastal, and marine waters under anthropogenic pressure. In particular, Technology Critical Elements such as platinum, considered as an emerging contaminant, are at the center of her research, comprising the study of their sources, reactivity, and ecotoxicological effects on living organisms.

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Research Grant

Nélson is a PhD student in Biology (FCUP) whose work is being performed in CIIMAR and University of Birmingham. His work intends to understand how certain emerging pollutants such as plasticizers and pharmaceuticals can interfere with epigenetic regulation in gonads and how these effects can be inherited in the following generations and perpetuated to non-exposed generations. He uses sequencing approaches such as RNA-seq and ChIP-seq to unravel these effects.

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Researcher

Raquel Ruivo is a Researcher at CIIMAR. She holds a degree in Biology from the University of Aveiro (2005) and a PhD in Life Sciences, Biology and Health, awarded by the Paris-Sud University (2009). Her current research interests include comparative genomics and evolution, molecular toxicology and endocrine disruption.

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Researcher

Raquel Chaves is a researcher at CIIMAR-UP. She holds a PhD in Environmental Health (2022) granted by FMUL-UL with EPAL- Grupo Águas de Portugal. She graduated in Environmental Sciences and Technology (2011) from FCUP-UP with a master degree in Toxicology and Environmental Contamination (2013) from ICBAS-UP. Her current research interests include environmental and health risk assessment of emerging contaminants, safety plans of drinking water and toxicological characterization of disinfection by-products.

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Research Grant

I have received the Degree of Aquatic Sciences at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar in 2008, and the Masters degree of Aquatic Resources in 2010, at the Sciences Faculty of Porto University. Since then, I've carried out my academic career with several grants associated with research projets, first in the Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and from 2014 to present, in the Endocrine Disruptors and Emergent Contaminants Group, both on the Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Reserch. Currently a PhD grant holder in the Biology program at Sciences Faculty of Porto University.

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PhD Student

Susana Barros graduated in Biology in 2015 and obtained her Master’s degree in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 2017 by the University of Porto. Currently she is a PhD student at CIIMAR, in the Endocrine Disruptors and Emergent Contaminants (EDEC) team, in collaboration with the Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB-UTAD) and the Institute of Research on Chemical and Biological Analysis (IAQBUS-USC). Her research is mainly focused in the generational effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors and emergent contaminants in non-target aquatic organisms.

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PhD Student

Tiago Torres is a PhD student at Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP). He is graduated in Biology from FCUP in 2011 and received his master degree in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 2013 from ICBAS-University of Porto. His research interests focus on ecotoxicology, more specifically on the role of emergent contaminants on organisms and ecosystems and their multi- or transgenerational toxic and epigenetic effects.

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Main publications

Stressors of emerging concern in deep-sea environments: microplastics, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and deep-sea mining

Marlene Pinheiro, Irene Martins, Joana Raimundo, Miguel Caetano, Teresa Neuparth, Miguel M Santos

2023Total Environment, Volume, 876, Páginas, 162557
Are fish populations at risk? Metformin disrupts zebrafish development and reproductive processes at chronic environmentally relevant concentrations

Susana Barros, Nélson Alves, Marlene Pinheiro, Marta Ribeiro, Hugo Morais, Rosa Montes, Rosario Rodil, José Benito Quintana, Ana M Coimbra, Miguel M Santos, Teresa Neuparth

2023Environmental Science & Technology, Volume, 57 (2), Páginas, 1049-1059
From Extrapolation to Precision Chemical Hazard Assessment: The Ecdysone Receptor Case Study

Raquel Ruivo, João Sousa, Teresa Neuparth, Olivier Geffard, Arnaud Chaumot, L Filipe C Castro, Davide Degli-Esposti, Miguel M Santos

2022Toxics, Volume 10, Páginas, 6
The anti-lipidemic drug simvastatin modifies epigenetic biomarkers in the amphipod Gammarus locusta

Nelson Alves, Teresa Neuparth, Susana Barros, Miguel M Santos

2022Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Volume, 209, Páginas, 111849
Toxicological assessment of seven unregulated drinking water Disinfection By-products (DBPs) using the zebrafish embryo bioassay

Raquel S Chaves, Catarina S Guerreiro, Vítor V Cardoso, Maria J Benoliel, Miguel M Santos

2020Science of The Total Environment, Volume, 742, Páginas, 140522
Transgenerational inheritance of chemical-induced signature: A case study with simvastatin

Teresa Neuparth, André M Machado, R Montes, R Rodil, Susana Barros, Nélson Alves, Raquel Ruivo, L Filipe C Castro, JB Quintana, Miguel Machado Santos

2020Environment International, Volume, 144, Páginas, 106020