María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez (021C-3A0C-67CB)

Curriculum Vitae

I started my scientific career at CEBAS-CSIC (Murcia, Spain) to develop the CSIC project entitled: “Dietary polyphenols against breast cancer: metabolic and molecular studies. (POLYSEN trial)”. We characterized for the first time the metabolic signature of phenolic-derived metabolites that reach malignant and normal tissues through clinical trials in breast cancer patients. After being officially accredited for the experimentation and design of studies with laboratory animals, I also evaluated the plasma, urine, and mammary tissue pharmacokinetics of polyphenols in a rodent model. All this information was crucial to approach the important vision “First in vivo, then in vitro”. Then, we further paid particular attention to the assay of those physiologically relevant phenolics, or their derived metabolites, that reached the mammary gland to evaluate their chemopreventive activity using different preclinical (cellular and animal) models to elucidate the mechanisms of action involved in the observed processes, thus, reducing the significant gap between in vitro and in vivo research scenarios. The relevant results allowed me to defend my Thesis in November 2020 (Cum Laude, University of Murcia). Afterwards, I decided to continue my scientific career at an international research institution, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica (iBET) (Portugal), where I have worked in a new challenge working on a HORIZON 2020 project (H2020-NMBP-BIO-2017),in which we evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of bioactive terpenes from chicory varieties. Besides, I could start a new research line related to the anti(neuro)inflammatory activities of (poly)phenols as well as their circulating metabolites (including those produced by the gut microbiota) against neurodegenerative diseases, covering preclinical studies (cell cultures and animal models) within the ERC project held by Dr. Santos (ERC-2018-STG) at NOVA Medical School (Portugal). In addition, this 2-year postdoctoral period abroad has strengthened me in different areas. I have supervised 4 degree students, and I am currently supervising a master’s student who holds an ERASMUS+ grant to perform part of his thesis at CEBAS-CSIC (Spain). Besides, I have been a Post-Doctoral Committee member at NOVA Medical School. Currently, I am a member of the ProteoCure COST Action (CA20113), in which I participate actively, and also I am member of the scientific committee. My research career achievements and international recognition (in only 5 years of scientific career) are documented by 21 peer-reviewed papers (H index=13; 1st author in 11) published in indexed journals with a total of 422 citations (Scopus) (accessed on 05-02-2023), many of these publications are above-average impact (FWCI, Scopus) in the field, and notably, 1 “hot paper” (0.1% top-cited). Furthermore, I have participated in 10 research projects (8 national and 2 international) and 3 contracts with private companies. Also, I have published 1 international book chapter and participated in different national and international conferences (8 oral communications and 5 with poster) and 8 workshops. Finally, I also collaborate as a reviewer for SCI journals such as J. Agric. Food Chem, Mol. Nutr. Food Res., among others, and I am an invited international reviewer panel member of NZ9, PRELUDIUM Projects from the National Science Centre (Poland).

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Identification

Personal identification

Full name: María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez

Citation names

Ávila-Gálvez, María Ángeles
Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.
Ávila-Gálvez M.A.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID: 021C-3A0C-67CB
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2513-1026
Researcher Id: P-8199-2019
Scopus Author Id: 57202187815

Email addresses

angela.avila@nms.unl.pt (Professional)
mavila@cebas.csic.es (Professional)

Telephones

Mobile phone

(+34) 649626194 (Personal)

Addresses

CEBAS-CSIC (Campus Universitario de Espinardo), 30100, Murcia, Murcia, Spain (Professional)

Websites

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/1484638 (Professional)

Knowledge fields

Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Cell Biology
Agrarian Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences

Languages

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening	Peer-review
Spanish; Castilian (Mother tongue)
English	Upper intermediate (B2)	Advanced (C1)	Upper intermediate (B2)	Advanced (C1)	Advanced (C1)
Portuguese	Elementary (A2)	Intermediate (B1)	Intermediate (B1)	Upper intermediate (B2)	Upper intermediate (B2)

Education

	Degree	Classification
2017/11/18 - 2020/11/30 Concluded	Ph.D. in Food Technology, Nutrition, and Food Science (Doctor) Universidad de Murcia - Campus de Espinardo, Spain "Dietary polyphenols against breast cancer: metabolic and molecular studies in patients, animals, and in vitro models. (POLYSEN trial)" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2019/10/01 - 2020/02/18 Concluded	Certificate (according to Orden ECC/566/2015, 20 of March) for animal handling (Functions A and C), euthanasia (Function B), and design of projects (Function D), including animal procedures. (Postgraduate Certificate) Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Spain
2018/02/14 - 2018/04/30 Concluded	Animal cell cultures course (Postgraduate Certificate) Universidad de Murcia, Spain
2014/10/15 - 2017/09/30 Concluded	Bachelor in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (Bachelor) Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, Spain
2012/10/30 - 2013/09/30 Concluded	M.Sc. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Master) Universidad de Murcia - Campus de Espinardo, Spain
2007/09/30 - 2012/09/30 Concluded	Bachelor in Pharmacy (Bachelor) Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche - Campus San Juan de Alicante, Spain

Affiliation

Science

	Category Host institution	Employer
2023/03/01 - Current	Postdoc (Research)	Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Spain

2021/04/01 - 2023/03/31	Postdoc (Research)	iNOVA4Health, Portugal

2020/12/15 - 2021/03/31	Postdoc (Research)	Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Spain

2020/08/01 - 2020/10/31	Contracted Researcher (Research)	Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Spain
	Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain
2020/01/22 - 2020/06/30	Researcher (Research)	Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Spain
	Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain
2017/12/01 - 2019/11/30	Contracted Researcher (Research)	Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Spain

Projects

Grant

	Designation	Funders
2017/12/01 - 2019/11/30	Dietary polyphenols against breast cancer: metabolic and molecular studies. (POLYSEN trial) 201770E081 PhD Student Fellow Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain	Concluded

Contract

	Designation	Funders
2023/03/01 - Current	- Dairy industry by-products as a sustainable source of extracellular vesicles: nanocarriers for enhancing the bioavailability and bioactivity of (poly)phenols TED2021-130962B-C22 Researcher	Ongoing
2021/04/01 - Current	Chicory as a multipurpose crop for dietary fibre and medicinal terpenes. (Project H2020-NMBP-BIO-2017-760891-2) H2020-NMBP-BIO-2017-760891-2 Post-doc	Ongoing

Other

	Designation	Funders
2023/01/01 - Current	Are the beneficial effects of polyphenols consumption over insulin resistance mediated by the carotid body? 2022.05677.PTDC Researcher
2020/06/01 - Current	Frontier strategies through fecal transplants: Human polyphenol gut microbiota metabotypes, cardiometabolic risk, and cognitive impairment (MetaboGut) PID2019-103914RB-I00 Researcher	Gobierno de España Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Ongoing
2019/04/01 - 2021/03/31	Modulation of the intestinal microbiota and biotechnological production of bioactive urolithins to universalize the benefits of pomegranate: personalized nutrition for cardiovascular risk prevention. 20880/PI/18 Researcher Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Spain	Fundación Séneca Concluded
2018/01/01 - 2019/12/31	Personalized nutrition and physical activity as epigenome modulators in obesity-related pathologies AGL2017-90623-REDT Researcher Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Spain	Gobierno de España Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Concluded
2017/07/01 - 2019/12/31	Dietary ellagitannins as a tool to study the human inter-individual variability of polyphenols metabolism AGL2105-64124-R Researcher	Gobierno de España Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Concluded
2018/11/22 - 2019/11/21	Dietary polyphenols against neurodegenerative diseases 201870I028 Researcher Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain	Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Concluded

Outputs

Publications

Book chapter	Giménez-Bastida, J.A.; García-Villalba, R.; Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.; Tomás-Barberán, F.; Espín, J.C.; González-Sarrías, A.. "Ellagitannins and Their Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites: Urolithins". In Dietary Polyphenols: Their Metabolism and Health Effects, edited by Tomás-Barberán, F.; González-Sarrías, A.; García-Villalba, R.. 2020. Published
Conference paper	Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.; Giménez-Bastida, J.A.; Espín, J.C.; González-Sarrías, A.. "Phase-II metabolites of resveratrol induce senescence in breast cancer cells through p53/p21 and p16/Rb pathways". Paper presented in II Congreso de Jóvenes Investigadores en Ciencias Agroalimentarias, Almeria, 2019. Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.; García-Villalba, R.; Martínez-Díaz, F.; Ocaña-Castillo, B.; Monedero-Saiz, T.; Torrecillas-Sánchez, A.; Abellán, B.; González-Sarrías, A.; Espín, J.C.. "Metabolic profiling of dietary polyphenols and methylxanthines in normal and malignant mammary tissues from breast cancer patients". Paper presented in IV Jornadas Doctorales de la UM, Murcia, 2019. Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.; Giménez-Bastida, J.A.; Espín, J.C.; González-Sarrías, A.. "Tumor-Senescent chemoprevention induced by physiologically relevant resveratrol metabolites in breast cancer cells". Paper presented in V Jornadas Doctorales de la UM, MURCIA, 2019. González-Sarrías, A.; Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.; Giménez-Bastida, J.A.; García-Villalba, R.; Martínez-Díaz, F.; Ocaña-Castillo, B.; Torrecillas-Sánchez, A.; Abellán, B.; Espín, J.C.. "Understanding the chemoprevention of dietary polyphenols against breast cancer: the challenge to translate a clinical scenario to preclinical research (THE POLYSEN TRIAL)". Paper presented in VI International Student Congress of Food Science and Technology, Valencia, 2019.
Conference poster	Álvarez-Sala, A.; Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.; Cilla, A.; Barberá, R.; Garcia-Llatas, G.; Espín, J.C.; González-Sarrías, A.. "Los esteroles vegetales incrementan el efecto anticancerígeno del fármaco 5-fluorouracilo en células de cáncer de colon". Paper presented in VI Jornadas de Formación en Toxicología en la Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de Valencia, 2018.
Journal article	Catarina J.G. Pinto; María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez; Yilong Lian; Pedro Moura-Alves; Cláudia Nunes dos Santos. "Targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor by gut phenolic metabolites: A strategy towards gut inflammation". Redox Biology (2023): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2023.102622. 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102622 Claudia Barber; Carlos Sabater; María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez; Fernando Vallejo; Rogger Alvaro Bendezu; Laetitia Guérin-Deremaux; Francisco Guarner; et al. "Effect of Resistant Dextrin on Intestinal Gas Homeostasis and Microbiota". Nutrients (2022): https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214611. 10.3390/nu14214611 Carlos Eduardo Iglesias Aguirre; María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez; María Carmen López de las Hazas; Alberto Dávalos; Juan Carlos Espín. "Exosome-Containing Extracellular Vesicles Contribute to the Transport of Resveratrol Metabolites in the Bloodstream: A Human Pharmacokinetic Study". Nutrients (2022): https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/17/3632. 10.3390/nu14173632 Diogo Carregosa; Catarina Pinto; María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez; Paulo Bastos; David Berry; Cláudia Nunes Santos. "A look beyond dietary (poly)phenols: The low molecular weight phenolic metabolites and their concentrations in human circulation". Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (2022): https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.13006. 10.1111/1541-4337.13006 María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez; Carlos Rafael-Pita; Naiara Fernández; João Baixinho; José D. Anastácio; Katarina Cankar; Dirk Bosch; Cláudia Nunes dos Santos. "Targeting proteases involved in the viral replication of SARS-CoV-2 by sesquiterpene lactones from chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)". Food & Function (2022): https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO00933A. 10.1039/D2FO00933A María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez; Antonio González-Sarrías; Francisco Martínez-Díaz; Beatriz Abellán; Alejandro José Martínez-Torrano; Antonio José Fernández-López; Juan Antonio Giménez-Bastida; Juan Carlos Espín. "Disposition of Dietary Polyphenols in Breast Cancer Patients’ Tumors, and Their Associated Anticancer Activity: The Particular Case of Curcumin". Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (2021): 2100163-2100163. https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202100163. 10.1002/mnfr.202100163 Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.; Giménez-Bastida, J.A.; González-Sarrías, A.; Espín, J.C.. "Evidence for health properties of pomegranate juices and extracts: a systematic review of human studies". Trends in Food Science & Technology (2021): Under revision María Ángeles Ávila-Gálvez; Juan Antonio Giménez-Bastida; Antonio González-Sarrías; Juan Carlos Espín. "New Insights into the Metabolism of the Flavanones Eriocitrin and Hesperidin: A Comparative Human Pharmacokinetic Study". Antioxidants 10 3 (2021): 435-435. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10030435. 10.3390/antiox10030435 Carlos E. Iglesias-Aguirre; Adrián Cortés-Martín; María Á. Ávila-Gálvez; Juan A. Giménez-Bastida; María V. Selma; Antonio González-Sarrías; Juan Carlos Espín. "Main drivers of (poly)phenol effects on human health: metabolite production and/or gut microbiota-associated metabotypes?". Food & Function (2021): https://doi.org/10.1039/D1FO02033A. 10.1039/D1FO02033A Ávila-Gálvez, M.Á.; Giménez-Bastida, J.A.; Espín, J.C.; González-Sarrías, A.. "Dietary phenolics against breast cancer. A critical evidence-based review and future perspectives". International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21 16 (2020): 1-33. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85089407924&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.3390/ijms21165718 Giménez-Bastida, J.A.; Ávila-Gálvez, M.Á.; Espín, J.C.; González-Sarrías, A.. "The gut microbiota metabolite urolithin A, but not other relevant urolithins, induces p53-dependent cellular senescence in human colon cancer cells". Food and Chemical Toxicology 139 (2020): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85081652498&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111260 Ávila-Gálvez, María. "Kinetic disposition of dietary polyphenols and methylxanthines in the rat mammary tissue". Journal of Functional Foods (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.103516. 10.1016/j.jff.2019.103516 Ávila-Gálvez, María. "Conjugated Physiological Resveratrol Metabolites Induce Senescence in Breast Cancer Cells: Role of p53/p21 and p16/Rb Pathways, and ABC Transporters". Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201900629. 10.1002/mnfr.201900629 Ávila-Gálvez, M.A.; Giménez-Bastida, J.A.; González-Sarrías, A.; Espín, J.C.. "Tissue deconjugation of urolithin A glucuronide to free urolithin A in systemic inflammation". Food and Function 10 6 (2019): 3135-3141. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85067582329&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1039/c9fo00298g Ávila-Gálvez, M.Á.; García-Villalba, R.; Martínez-Díaz, F.; Ocaña-Castillo, B.; Monedero-Saiz, T.; Torrecillas-Sánchez, A.; Abellán, B.; González-Sarrías, A.; Espín, J.C.. "Metabolic Profiling of Dietary Polyphenols and Methylxanthines in Normal and Malignant Mammary Tissues from Breast Cancer Patients". Molecular Nutrition and Food Research 63 9 (2019): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85061046462&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1002/mnfr.201801239 Álvarez-Sala, A.; Ávila-Gálvez, M.Á.; Cilla, A.; Barberá, R.; Garcia-Llatas, G.; Espín, J.C.; González-Sarrías, A.. "Physiological concentrations of phytosterols enhance the apoptotic effects of 5-fluorouracil in colon cancer cells". Journal of Functional Foods 49 (2018): 52-60. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85051625261&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1016/j.jff.2018.08.016 González-Sarrías, A.; Núñez-Sánchez, M.A.; Ávila-Gálvez, M.A.; Monedero-Saiz, T.; Rodríguez-Gil, F.J.; Martínez-Díaz, F.; Selma, M.V.; Espín, J.C.. "Consumption of pomegranate decreases plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels, a marker of metabolic endotoxemia, in patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer: A randomized controlled clinical trial". Food and Function 9 5 (2018): 2617-2622. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85047417665&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1039/c8fo00264a Ávila-Gálvez, M.Á.; Espín, J.C.; González-Sarrías, A.. "Physiological Relevance of the Antiproliferative and Estrogenic Effects of Dietary Polyphenol Aglycones versus Their Phase-II Metabolites on Breast Cancer Cells: A Call of Caution". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66 32 (2018): 8547-8555. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85050601339&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b03100 Ávila-Gálvez, M.Á.; González-Sarrías, A.; Espín, J.C.. "In Vitro Research on Dietary Polyphenols and Health: A Call of Caution and a Guide on How to Proceed". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66 30 (2018): 7857-7858. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85050950410&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b03377
Thesis / Dissertation	Ávila-Gálvez M.Á.. "Polifenoles de la dieta frente al cáncer de mama : estudios metabólicos y moleculares en pacientes, animales y modelos celulares.(Estudio Polysen)". PhD, 2021. https://digitum.um.es/digitum/handle/10201/101381.

Other

Other output

A bioactive sesquiterpene lactone from chicory with anti-inflammatory potencial modulating NF-kB and AHR pathways. 3rd International Conference on FOOD BIOACTIVES & HEALTH. 2022. Ávila-Gálvez M.Á..

Activities

Oral presentation

	Presentation title	Event name Host (Event location)
2021/10/18	Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory potential of sesquiterpene lactones from Chicory for its application in inflammatory diseases	CEDOC/NMS 3rd symposium CEDOC-NMS
2019/10/22	Phase-II metabolites of resveratrol induce senescence in breast cancer cells through p53/p21 and p16/Rb pathways	II Congress on Agri-Food Science for young researchers Univeristy of Almeria (Almeria, Spain)
2019/05/31	Tumor-senescent chemoprevention induced by physiologically relevant resveratrol metabolites in breast cancer	V Jornadas Doctorales UM University of Murcia (Spain)
2018/09/06	Metabolic profiling of dietary polyphenols and methylxanthines in normal and malignant mammary tissues from breast cancer patients	3rd International PSE Symposium on Natural Products in Cancer Prevention and Therapy Trends in Methods and Modelling Phytochemical Society of Europe (Naples)

Event organisation

	Event name Type of event (Role)	Institution / Organization
2021/11/01 - 2022/05/31	Organizing committee member of the general assembly of CHIC project in Lisbon (2021/11/01)	Nova Medical School, Portugal

Event participation

	Activity description Type of event	Event name Institution / Organization
2022/09/30 - Current	Volunteer in 2022-2023 European Researchers’ Night placed at Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência (MUHNAC) Lisbon (Portugal)
2019/10/19 - Current	A talk entitled: "Breast cancer: State-of-the-art" Workshop	Boticas 23 Pharmacy , Spain
2022/10/24 - 2022/10/30	Organization and participation in the workshop “Humans and Health” during the Our Bio-Tech Planet: Future of Plants and Humans event
2019/11/08 - 2019/11/10	CSIC Science Week. Scientific activity wih the objective of bringing science to the public of all ages, stimulating the interest for scientific knowledge and the participation. Workshop	How much do you know about food safety? Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain
2018/05/29 - 2018/05/31	The International Doctoral School of the UM (EIDUM), in conjunction with the International Doctoral School of the UPCT (EINDOC-UPCT) and the Mare Nostrum Campus (CMN), organize the V International Doctoral Conference on the 29th, 30th and 31th of May 2020 Congress	IV International Doctoral Conference Universidad de Murcia, Spain

Association member

	Society Organization name	Role
2021/11/01 - Current	COSTAction CA20113 - A sound proteome for a sound body: targeting proteolysis for proteome remodeling	Researcher collaborator WP1 and WP2

Committee member

	Activity description Role	Institution / Organization
2021/11/01 - Current	Post-doctoral Committee at Nova Medical School. The aim of the Postdoctoral Committee is to represent and support the specific interests of Postdocs/Early Career Research Fellows in the NMS context, promote a sense of community and contribute to a solid institutional environment. The CEDOC-NMS Postdoctoral Committee aims to assist in the professional development of all NMS postdocs, encourage them to take advantage of the activities and development opportunities offered by NMS and NOVA and implement the identified action points in conjunctio Member
2021/09/01 - Current	Guest editor of the special issue “(Poly)phenols: The Missing Piece in the Puzzle of Inflammation” from International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Conference scientific committee

	Conference name	Conference host
2022/06/01 - 2023/06/30	Scientific committee member of the ProteoCure COST Action annual meeting

Evaluation committee

	Activity description Role	Institution / Organization	Funding entity
2021/11/01 - Current	Review panel member of NZ9, PRELUDIUM Projects, National Science Centre, Poland.
2022/12/04 - 2022/12/04	External evaluator of the thesis “Remote Ischemic Conditioning (RIC) against ischemic stroke: functional validation of conditioned plasma in human cells” (Candidate: Catarina Cardoso Pires). Program in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, FCT-UNL, Lisbon, Portugal

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

	Activity description	Newspaper / Forum
2020/11/21	Dissemination of the results obtained on my Doctoral Thesis	La Verdad

Mentoring / Tutoring

	Topic	Student name
2022/09/01 - Current	M.Sc. project from Biochemistry program at the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.	Bernardo André Botelho Soares Rocha
2022/02/01 - 2022/06/25	Project of the Biochemistry Degree	Marta Cruz Bastos Vaz
2021/07/01 - 2021/08/31	Internship Network NuBioq FCT-NOVA	Catarina Alexandra Fernandes da Costa Bento

Distinctions

Award

2022	ITC Conference Grant from ProteoCure COST Action. Reference: E-COST-GRANT-CA20113-797cc642-281270
2022	Team award as a member of the Post-doctoral Committee in the “X-Ray to NOVA Medical School Research” campaign
2018	Travel Grant Phytochemical Society of Europe, Italy