Rui E. Castro graduated in Biology and Genetics by the Faculty of Sciences, Univ. of Lisbon, in 2002. He went on to complete his PhD degree in Pharmacy (Biochemistry) by the Faculty of Pharmacy, Univ. of Lisbon (FF/UL) in 2006, having spent a total of 12 months at the Dept. of Medicine, Univ. of Minnesota Medical School, USA. During his PhD degree, Castro made important contributions in characterizing bile acids (BAs) as potent signaling molecules, particularly regarding modulation of cell fate. His productivity at this stage led to 13 publications in multidisciplinary and top specialty peer-reviewed international journals. In 2007, Castro was awarded with a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) to open up and branch his collaboration with the University of Minnesota into new grounds. In particular, he shifted his research focus into the role of microRNAs during liver regeneration, for which he was awarded with a European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Grant. At the same time, Castro started to become interested in establishing himself in the area of miRNAs-liver interplay. As a result, he was appointed with an Assistant Investigator position at Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), FF/UL, in July 2009. In February 2015, he started working as a Principal Investigator in the Cellular Function and Therapeutic Targeting Group. Early 2021, Castro started his own group at iMed.ULisboa - Liver Disease Diagnostics and Therapeutics Lab (https://imed.ulisboa.pt/labs/rui-castro-lab/). The research being developed by Castro combines his solid background in the modulation of liver cell function by bile acids with his most recent discoveries in the microRNA field, to answer fundamental questions on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic targeting of liver diseases. In this regard, Castro s lab is taking advantage of well-established in vitro and in vivo models of disease, as well as human patient biopsies and clinical data, combined in multi-layered translational approaches, to ultimately bring microRNA-associated health technologies to the clinical setting. In particular, the role of microRNAs and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in inter-organ communication in the setting of obesity and metabolic disease; as well as its exploitation for the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and prevention of liver disease, constitutes a key research objective. Castro has already secured funding as Principal Investigator (PI) for his research projects in highly competitive calls (~1.5 Million Euros). Castro's most recent publications, arising directly from his own research, have contributed for understanding the role of miRNAs non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis, as well as on the significance of miRNAs as molecular targets for therapeutic intervention and putative non-invasive biomarkers for liver disease. His work has been referenced and highlighted both in scientific journals and specialty media. Overall, Castro has 85 publications indexed in Pubmed, published in major international peer review journals, with over 3800 citations; h-index: 36. Castro has additionally published over 450 scientific abstracts in international journals and summarized books of conference proceedings. These have been widely recognized for their merit, both nationally and internationally, as acknowledged by Castro s granting of fellowships for attending international congresses and scientific meetings, as well as 30 prizes and awards, including the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Rising Star Award in 2015. Castro participates in the PhD Programme in Medicines and Pharmaceutical Innovation and the Master Course in Biopharmaceutical Sciences at FFULisboa and has already supervised 20 MsC, PhD and postdoctoral fellows. He is member of the Executive Committee of iMed.ULisboa - the Research Institute of FFULisboa - and Scientific Committee member at European Association for the Study of the Liver.