Helena Isabel Martins Pópulo (851F-F209-611C)

Curriculum Vitae

Helena Isabel Martins Pópulo

Helena Pópulo graduated in Biology (1998) in the Faculty of Sciences, Porto University and completed the PhD in Biomedicine (2011) by the Faculty of Medicine, Porto University at IPATIMUP, where she is currently a Researcher (IPATIMUP/i3S). Helena's research focuses on the role of important signalling pathways in melanoma development and the pursuit of new therapeutic targets and possible therapies or combination of therapies for melanoma treatment, namely related with cancer metabolism. Her work has led to the publication of 23 peer-reviewed papers (and two book chapters), with over 4000 citations, on the role of mTOR pathway activation on cutaneous and ocular melanoma development and the association of this pathway with the MAPK pathway and poor prognosis of melanoma patients. Also, she reported the association of the presence of TERT gene mutations with melanoma poor prognosis. Her work has provided important insights about the possibility of targeting metabolism in order to treat melanoma. She was Principal Investigator of a project funded by AstraZeneca, leading a multidisciplinary team on the development of a biomimetic 3D pre-clinical model to assist immunotherapy optimization. She is currently involved in an IST project supported by Google Health, to develop an AI algorithm to predict melanoma BRAF gene mutations by dermoscopy. She had 31 posters accepted in conferences, the majority in international meetings, and presented 11 oral communications, being 7 by invitation. She supervises undergraduate and graduate students and has been involved in teaching in Medicine and Molecular Oncology Master and PhD programs, and in the Basic Course in Molecular Pathology on Oncology, from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, where she is an Affiliated Professor since 2017. She co-supervised 1 PhD thesis, supervised 5 MSc dissertations and co-supervised 2. She has received 4 awards and/or honours and organized 4 events.

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Identification

Personal identification

Full name: Helena Isabel Martins Pópulo

Citation names

Pópulo, Helena
Populo, H

Author identifiers

Ciência ID: 851F-F209-611C
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6353-6879

Knowledge fields

Medical and Health Sciences - Clinical Medicine - Oncology

Languages

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening
English	Intermediate (B1)	Advanced (C1)	Intermediate (B1)	Intermediate (B1)
French	Beginner (A1)	Intermediate (B1)	Beginner (A1)	Beginner (A1)
Spanish; Castilian	Advanced (C1)	Advanced (C1)	Intermediate (B1)	Advanced (C1)

Education

	Degree	Classification
2006/10/01 - 2011/07/12 Concluded	Biomedicine (Doutoramento) Major in Sem especialidade Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal "Relevance of mTOR pathway in the initiation/progression of human tumours" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
1994/09 - 1998/07 Concluded	Biology (Licenciatura) Major in Ramo científico-tecnológico Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal "n/a" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	15

Affiliation

Science

	Category Host institution	Employer
2024/10/01 - Current	Research Assistant (Research)	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal

2017/08/01 - 2023/07/31	Researcher (Research)	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal

2013/01/01 - 2017/07/31	Postdoc (Research)	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal
	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal

Others

	Category Host institution	Employer
2011/08/01 - 2012/12/31	External consultant	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal

2006/10/01 - 2011/07/12	PhD student in Medical Faculty of University of Porto (SFRH/BD/31369/2006) with the thesis “Relevance of mTOR pathway in the initiation/progression of human tumours”.	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal

2004/10/01 - 2006/04/30	Fellow of the project “Structural and functional characterization of specific thrombin inhibitors”, in the Molecular Structure group.	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Portugal

2000/01/01 - 2004/07/31	Fellow of the project “Study of the environmental impact of a dam in the vertebrate community of the river Paiva”.	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências e Tecnologias Agrárias e Agro-Alimentares, Portugal

1998/09/01 - 1999/12/30	Fellow of the project “Molecular biology of NADH:ubiquinone reductase of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (“complex I”)”	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Portugal

Projects

Grant

	Designation	Funders
2004/01/15 - 2006	Structural and functional characterization of specific thrombin inhibitors POCTI/BME/45559/2002 Research Fellow Universidade do Porto Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
2000 - 2004	Study of the environmental impact of a dam in the vertebrate community of the river Paiva Paiva Research Fellow Universidade do Porto Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Portugal	Águas do Douro e Paiva Concluded
1998 - 1999	Molecular biology of NADH:ubiquinone reductase of the mitochondrial respiratory chain NADH:ubiquinone reductase Scientific Initiation Fellow Universidade do Porto Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Concluded

Contract

	Designation	Funders
2018/12 - 2019/06	Development of a biomimetic multifunctional pré-clinical model to assist immunotherapy optimization IMUNOMIMETIC Principal investigator Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal	AstraZeneca Produtos Farmacêuticos Lda Concluded
2016 - 2019	Advancing cancer research: from basic knowledgment to application NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000029 Researcher Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal	Concluded
2013 - 2015	Microenvironment, metabolism and cancer NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000023 Researcher Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal	Concluded
2006 - 2010	Molecular and functional characterization of the mTOR pathway in papillary thyroid carcinoma PTDC/SAU-OBD/69787/2006 Researcher Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Concluded
2004 - 2006	Structural studies of mechanisms of reaction of human Biliverdin beta reductase POCTI/BME/38118/2001 Other Universidade do Porto Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Concluded

Other

	Designation	Funders
2020/06/01 - Current	A CNN Model To Predict BRAF Mutational Status In Melanoma Patients DeepMutation Researcher	Google Inc Ongoing

Outputs

Publications

Book chapter	Pópulo, Helena; Prof. Paula Soares; Prof. José Manuel Lopes. "Vias de sinalização e novas perspetivas terapêuticas em melanoma cutâneo". In Melanoma 2013. Lisboa, Portugal: Manuel José Guedes da Silva, Lda, 2014. Published Pópulo, Helena; Prof. Paula Soares; Prof. José Manuel Lopes. "Vias de sinalização e novas perspetivas terapêuticas em melanoma ocular". In Melanoma 2013. Lisboa, Portugal: Manuel José Guedes da Silva, Lda, 2014. Published
Conference paper	Rita Verdelho; Simão Gonçalves; Luisa Gonçalves; Catarina Costa; Lopes, José Manuel; Maria Coelho; João Alexandre; et al. "Predictive Biomarkers in Melanoma: Detection of BRAF Mutation Using Dermoscopy". Paper presented in 11th Workshop on Clinical Image-Based Procedures, 2022. Published Vinagre, João; Pópulo, Helena; Azevedo, Filomena; Prof. Paula Soares; Prof. José Manuel Lopes. "Expression of pS6 Ser235/236 effector of mTOR pathway may be a prognostic parameter in patients with cutaneous melanomas". Paper presented in 23rd European Congress of Pathology, Helsinki, 2011. Published Vinagre, João; Pópulo, Helena; Faustino, Alexandra; Tavares, Sandra; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares. "BRAF and GNAQ mutation cellular effects in mTOR pathway activation in human cells (BRAF mutational status is a candidate biomarker for response to mTOR inhibitors therapy)". Paper presented in 23rd European Congress of Pathology, Helsinki, 2011. Published
Conference poster	Luisa Gonçalves; Catarina Costa; MARTINS, CÉSAR; Maria Isabel Andrade; João Alexandre; Lopes, José Manuel; Paula Soares; Barata, Catarina; Pópulo, Helena. "Molecular characterization of primary and metastatic cutaneous melanoma". Paper presented in 28th Porto Cancer Meeting – Extracellular Vesicles, Cell Communication and Cancer, Time to Prick the Bubble, 2022. Francisco Martins; MARTINS, CÉSAR; Margarida Sá Fernandes; Maria Isabel Andrade; Lopes, José; Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. "Comparison between TERT promoter mutational status and sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of cutaneous melanoma.". Paper presented in 27th Porto Cancer Meeting – Stemness & Metastasis: Advances in Research and Clinical Translation, 2021. Sampaio, Cristina; Domingues, Beatriz; Soares, Paula; Lopes, José Manuel; Pópulo, Helena. "Metabolic modulation combined with mTOR pathway inhibition may overcame cutaneous melanoma resistance to MAPK inhibitors treatment". Paper presented in 32nd EORTC/NCI/AACR Symposium - On Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, 2020. Cristina Sampaio; Beatriz Domingues; Regina Caldas; Joana Pardal; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. "Dichloroacetate metabolic modulation improve cutaneous melanoma treatment.". Paper presented in Basic and Translational Research Conference on Tumor Microenvironment, EACR/AACR/ASPIC, 2020. Francisco Martins; Margarida Fernandes; César Martins; Maria Isabel Andrade; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. "TERT promoter molecular status in primary and metastastatic cutaneous melanoma". Paper presented in I3S Retreat, 8th annual meeting, 2019. Beatriz Domingues; Cristina Sampaio; Prof. Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. "New therapeutic strategies to overcame cutaneous melanoma resistance to MAPK inhibitors treatment". Paper presented in 7º Simpósio de melanoma, 2019. Beatriz Domingues; Cristina Sampaio; Prof. Paula Soares; Helena Pópulo. "New therapeutic strategies to overcame cutaneous melanoma resistance to MAPK inhibitors treatment.". Paper presented in I ASEICA-ASPIC International Meeting: Current Trends in Immunotheraphy Research and Treatment, 2019. Beatriz Domingues; Cristina Sampaio; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. "Possible combination therapies to overcome resistance to MAPK inhibitors in BRAF mutant melanoma cell lines.". Paper presented in I3S Retreat, 7th annual meeting, 2018. Beatriz Domingues; Cristina Sampaio; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. "Possible combination therapies to overcome resistance to MAPK inhibitors in BRAF mutant melanoma cell lines.". Paper presented in 10º Simpósio de Metabolismo, 2018. Beatriz Domingues; Prof. Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. "Possible new therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance to MAPK inhibitors treatment in cutaneous melanoma patients.". Paper presented in 3nd ASPIC International Congress, 2018. Cristina Sampaio; Prof. Paula Soares; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Pópulo, Helena. "New therapeutic strategies to improve cutaneous melanoma treatment.". Paper presented in 25th Porto Cancer Meeting: Cancer Wars: The Immune Force Awakens, 2018. Beatriz Domingues; Cristina Sampaio; Prof. Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. "Dichloroacetate and everolimus as possible therapies to overcome resistance to MAPK inhibitors treatment in cutaneous melanoma patients.". Paper presented in IJUP, 2018. Cristina Sampaio; Prof. Paula Soares; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Pópulo, Helena. "Dichloroacetate metabolic modulation improve cutaneous melanoma treatment in combination with approved therapeutics.". Paper presented in IJUP, 2017. Cristina Sampaio; Prof. Paula Soares; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Pópulo, Helena. "Dichloroacetate metabolic modulation improve cutaneous melanoma treatment in combination with approved therapeutics.". Paper presented in I3S Retreat, 5th annual meeting, 2016. Pópulo, Helena; Rui Baptista; Cristina Sampaio; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares. "SDHD promoter mutations are rare events in cutaneous melanomas but SDHD protein expression is a possible marker of prognosis in cutaneous melanoma.". Paper presented in 2nd ASPIC International Congress, 2016. Pópulo, Helena; Joao Vinagre; Rui Baptista; Regina Caldas; Joana Pardal; Filomena Azevedo; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Manuel Sobrinho Simões; Prof. Paula Soares. "TERT promoter mutations: a possible worse prognosis marker in cutaneous melanoma.". Paper presented in 1st ASPIC International Congress, 2014. Pópulo, Helena; Joao Vinagre; Rui Baptista; Regina Caldas; Joana Pardal; Filomena Azevedo; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Manuel Sobrinho Simões; Prof. Paula Soares. "TERT promoter mutations: a possible worse prognosis marker in cutaneous melanoma.". Paper presented in I3S Retreat, 4th annual meeting, 2014. Pópulo, Helena; Alexandra Faustino; Sandra Tavares; Joana Nunes; Filomena Azevedo; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares. "Activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway in cutaneous melanoma and its association with BRAF mutations.". Paper presented in 18th ESPCR, 2013. Pópulo, Helena; Alexandra Faustino; Sandra Tavares; Joana Nunes; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares. "Differential activation of the mTOR pathway in BRAF and GNAQ human transformed cells.". Paper presented in XXI Porto Cancer Meeting: Metabolism and Cancer: from etiopathogenesis to therapy, 2012. Pópulo, Helena; Susana Guimarães; Filomena Azevedo; Fernando Pardal; Prof. Paula Soares; Prof. José Manuel Lopes. "Prognostic value of the mTOR pathway activation in cutaneous and ocular melanoma.". Paper presented in XXI Porto Cancer Meeting: Metabolism and Cancer: from etiopathogenesis to therapy, 2012. Alexandra Faustino; Joana Couto; Pópulo, Helena; Ana Sofia Rocha; Fernando Pardal; Fernando Mota; José Cameselle-Tejeiro; et al. "mTOR pathway overactivation in BRAF mutated papillary thyroid carcinoma.". Paper presented in XXI Porto Cancer Meeting: Metabolism and Cancer: from etiopathogenesis to therapy, 2012. Pópulo, Helena; Alexandra Faustino; Sandra Tavares; Prof. José Manuel Lopes; Prof. Paula Soares. "Evaluation of melanoma cell lines sensitivity to RAD001 treatment.". Paper presented in XX Porto Cancer Meeting: Drug Resistance in Cancer: from biology to molecular targets and drugs, 2011. Joao Vinagre; Pópulo, Helena; Hugo Seca; Ricardo Celestino; Prof. Manuel Sobrinho Simões; Prof. Paula Soares. "Status of GNAQ (guanine nucleotide-binding protein-q) gene in thyroid tumours.". Paper presented in XXXV Jornadas Portuguesas de Genética, 2010. Joao Vinagre; Pópulo, Helena; Hugo Seca; Ricardo Celestino; Prof. Manuel Sobrinho Simões; Prof. Paula Soares. "Status of GNAQ (guanine nucleotide-binding protein-q) gene in thyroid tumours.". Paper presented in 34th Annual Meeting of the European Thyroid Association (ETA), 2009. Alexandra Faustino; Ana Sofia Rocha; Pópulo, Helena; Prof. Paula Soares; Prof. Manuel Sobrinho Simões. "Overactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is observed in thyroid benign diseases.". Paper presented in 34th Annual Meeting of the European Thyroid Association (ETA), 2009. Pópulo, Helena; Prof. Paula Soares; Ana Sofia Rocha; Paula Silva; Prof. José Manuel Lopes. "The mTOR pathway in ocular (uvea and conjunctiva) melanoma.". Paper presented in 7th World Congress on Melanoma & 5th Congress of the European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO), 2009. Alexandra Faustino; Ana Sofia Rocha; Pópulo, Helena; Prof. Paula Soares. "What can we learn from animal models that can be useful in human thyroid pathology?". Paper presented in Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO) Cancer Conference: Signalling upstream of mTOR, 2008. Pópulo, Helena; Nuno Gomes. "O rio Paiva – Na fronteira entre o Atlântico e o Mediterrâneo.". Paper presented in Colóquio Região do Porto: Áreas Naturais para o século XXI, 2002. Margarida Duarte; Pópulo, Helena; U Schulte; Arnaldo Videira. "Mutants of Neurospora complex I as models of human mitochondrial disease.". Paper presented in Neurospora Conferences 2000, 2000. Nuno Gomes; Elisabete Silva; Pópulo, Helena; Marta Leite. "Utilização dos excrementos de lontra (Lutra lutra) no estudo da comunidade de peixes do rio Paiva (Bacia do rio Douro, Portugal) – Resultados preliminares.". Paper presented in IV Jornadas Españolas de Conservación y Estudio de Mamíferos, 1999. Pópulo, Helena; Margarida Duarte; Arnaldo Videira. "Complex I assembly in Neurospora null-mutants in the conserved subunits of the peripheral arm of the enzyme.". Paper presented in Gordon Research Conference on Bioenergetics, 1999.
Journal article	Bruno Nunes; H Populo; Lopes, JM; Marta Reis; Gilvan Nascimento; Ana Giselia Nascimento; Janaina Fernandes; et al. "Connexin Expression in Pituitary Adenomas and the Effects of Overexpression of Connexin 43 in Pituitary Tumor Cell Lines". Genes (2022): https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/4/674. 10.3390/genes13040674 Pópulo, Helena; Domingues, B; Sampaio, C.; Lopes, José; Paula Soares. Corresponding author: Pópulo, Helena. "Combinatorial Therapies to Overcome BRAF/MEK Inhibitors Resistance in Melanoma Cells: An in vitro Study.". Journal of Experimental Pharmacology 13 (2021): 521-535. Published Francisco Martins; MARTINS, CÉSAR; Margarida Sá Fernandes; Maria Isabel Andrade; Lopes, José; Paula Soares; Pópulo, Helena. Corresponding author: Pópulo, Helena. "TERT Promoter Mutational Status in the Management of Cutaneous Melanoma: Comparison with Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy.". Dermatology 21 (2021): 1-10. Published Mesquita, Patrícia; Freire, Ana F.; Lopes, Nair; Gomes, Rosa; Azevedo, Daniela; Barros, Rita; Pereira, Bruno; et al. "Expression and Clinical Relevance of SOX9 in Gastric Cancer". Disease Markers 2019 (2019): 1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/8267021. 10.1155/2019/8267021 Domingues, Beatriz; Lopes, Jose; Soares, Paula; Populo, Helena. "Melanoma treatment in review". ImmunoTargets and Therapy Volume 7 (2018): 35-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/itt.s134842. 10.2147/itt.s134842 Costa Campos, Manuel António; Fernandes Massa, António; Varela, Paulo; Moreira, Ana; Sanches, Agostinho; Pópulo, Helena; Soares, Paula; Baptista, Armando. "Trends of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Hospital of Gaia (2004-2013)". (2018): https://revista.spdv.com.pt/index.php/spdv/article/view/919. Populo, H.; Batista, R.; Sampaio, C.; Pardal, J.; Lopes, J.M.; Soares, P.. "SDHD promoter mutations are rare events in cutaneous melanomas but SDHD protein expression is downregulated in advanced cutaneous melanoma". PLoS ONE 12 6 (2017): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85021655014&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1371/journal.pone.0180392 Pópulo, H.; Nunes, B.; Sampaio, C.; Batista, R.; Pinto, M.T.; Gaspar, T.B.; Miranda-Alves, L.; et al. "Inhibitory Effects of Antagonists of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) in Thyroid Cancer". Hormones and Cancer 8 5-6 (2017): 314-324. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85029580437&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1007/s12672-017-0307-4 Ferreira-da-Silva, A.; Valacca, C.; Rios, E.; Pópulo, H.; Soares, P.; Sobrinho-Simões, M.; Scorrano, L.; Máximo, V.; Campello, S.. "Mitochondrial dynamics protein Drp1 is overexpressed in oncocytic thyroid tumors and regulates cancer cell migration". PLoS ONE 10 3 (2015): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84926639320&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1371/journal.pone.0122308 Pópulo, H.; Caldas, R.; Lopes, J.M.; Pardal, J.; Máximo, V.; Soares, P.. "Overexpression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase supports dichloroacetate as a candidate for cutaneous melanoma therapy". Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets 19 6 (2015): 733-745. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84929577070&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1517/14728222.2015.1045416 Pópulo, H.; Lopes, J.M.; Sobrinho-Simões, M.; Soares, P.. "RE: TERT promoter mutation status as an independent prognostic factor in cutaneous melanoma". Journal of the National Cancer Institute 107 4 (2015): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84930688430&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1093/jnci/djv049 Vinagre, J.; Pinto, V.; Celestino, R.; Reis, M.; Pópulo, H.; Boaventura, P.; Melo, M.; et al. "Telomerase promoter mutations in cancer: An emerging molecular biomarker?". Virchows Archiv 465 2 (2014): 119-133. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84905966100&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1007/s00428-014-1608-4 Pópulo, H.; Boaventura, P.; Vinagre, J.; Batista, R.; Mendes, A.; Caldas, R.; Pardal, J.; et al. "TERT promoter mutations in skin cancer: The effects of sun exposure and X-irradiation". Journal of Investigative Dermatology 134 8 (2014): 2251-2257. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84904458479&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1038/jid.2014.163 Vinagre, J.; Almeida, A.; Pópulo, H.; Batista, R.; Lyra, J.; Pinto, V.; Coelho, R.; et al. "Frequency of TERT promoter mutations in human cancers". Nature Communications 4 (2013): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84884524540&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1038/ncomms3185 Pópulo, H.; Tavares, S.; Faustino, A.; Nunes, J.B.; Lopes, J.M.; Soares, P.. "GNAQ and BRAF mutations show differential activation of the mTOR pathway in human transformed cells". PeerJ 2013 1 (2013): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84885166168&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.7717/peerj.104 Pópulo, H.; Soares, P.; Lopes, J.M.. "Insights into melanoma: Targeting the mTOR pathway for therapeutics". Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets 16 7 (2012): 689-705. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84862516323&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1517/14728222.2012.691472 Pópulo, H.; Lopes, J.M.; Soares, P.. "The mTOR signalling pathway in human cancer". International Journal of Molecular Sciences 13 2 (2012): 1886-1918. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84857675728&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.3390/ijms13021886 Faustino, A.; Couto, J.P.; Pópulo, H.; Rocha, A.S.; Pardal, F.; Cameselle-Teijeiro, J.M.; Lopes, J.M.; Sobrinho-Simões, M.; Soares, P.. "mTOR pathway overactivation in BRAF mutated papillary thyroid carcinoma". Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 97 7 (2012): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84863566153&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1210/jc.2011-2748 Vala, H.; Pópulo, H.; Mesquita, J.R.; Esteves, F.; Santos, C.; Soares, P.; Lopes, J.M.. "Melanocytic Tumour in a Black Sheep never exposed to Ultraviolet Radiation". Journal of Comparative Pathology 146 2-3 (2012): 160-164. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84858620489&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1016/j.jcpa.2011.04.001 Pópulo, H.; Vinagre, J.; Lopes, J.M.; Soares, P.. "Analysis of GNAQ mutations, proliferation and MAPK pathway activation in uveal melanomas". British Journal of Ophthalmology 95 5 (2011): 715-719. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79954995050&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1136/bjo.2009.174417 Pópulo, H.; Soares, P.; Faustino, A.; Rocha, A.S.; Silva, P.; Azevedo, F.; Lopes, J.M.. "mTOR pathway activation in cutaneous melanoma is associated with poorer prognosis characteristics". Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research 24 1 (2011): 254-257. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-78651444805&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2010.00796.x Pópulo, H.; Soares, P.; Rocha, A.S.; Silva, P.; Lopes, J.M.. "Evaluation of the mTOR pathway in ocular (uvea and conjunctiva) melanoma". Melanoma Research 20 2 (2010): 107-117. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-77949545648&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1097/CMR.0b013e32832ccd09 Duarte, M.; Pópulo, H.; Videira, A.; Friedrich, T.; Schulte, U.. "Disruption of iron-sulphur cluster N2 from NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase by site-directed mutagenesis". Biochemical Journal 364 3 (2002): 833-839. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0037096980&partnerID=MN8TOARS. 10.1042/BJ20011750
Thesis / Dissertation	Pópulo, Helena Isabel Martins. "Relevance of mTOR pathway in the initiation/progression of human tumours". PhD, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10216/56843.

Activities

Oral presentation

	Presentation title	Event name Host (Event location)
2020/02/12	The importance of TERT promoter molecular status in the disease management of metastatic cutaneous melanoma.	11th annual meeting IJUP (Porto, Portugal)
2019/10/10	mTOR inhibition improves cutaneous melanoma treatment.	EORTC Melanoma Group Meeting EORTC Melanoma Group (Florence, Italy)
2018/04/12	TERT promoter mutations are associated with worse prognosis features in cutaneous melanoma.	EORTC Melanoma Group Meeting EORTC Melanoma Group (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
2017/11/09	Dichloroacetate metabolic modulation can reverse resistance to BRAF inhibitors in melanoma.	I3S Retreat, 6th annual meeting I3S (Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal)
2017/10/05	Dichloroacetate improve treatment effectiveness of cutaneous melanoma approved therapeutics.	EORTC Melanoma Group Meeting EORTC Melanoma Group (Warsaw, Poland)
2016/10/29	Insights on new combinatorial therapies for melanoma - DCA as a possible therapy for cutaneous melanoma in combination with approved therapeutics.	4º Melanoma Symposium Portuguese Melanoma Intergroup (Lisbon, Portugal)
2016/10/28	SDHD promoter mutations and SDHD protein expression in cutaneous melanoma.	EORTC Melanoma Group Meeting EORTC Melanoma Group (Lisbon, Portugal)
2015/10/30	Avanços na biologia molecular de melanoma - Alterações da telomerase.	3º Melanoma Symposium Portuguese Melanoma Intergroup (Aveiro, Portugal)
2015/04/17	Genética do Melanoma: alterações moleculares de melanoma cutâneo, da conjuntiva e da úvea.	Portuguese Meeting of Ocular Inflammation, Neurophthalmology and Oncological Pathology and Ocular Genetics Groups Portuguese Ocular Inflammation, Neurophthalmology and Oncological Pathology and Ocular Genetics Groups (Curia, Portugal)
2014/11/01	Oncogénese do melanoma: aspetos relevantes na prática clínica.	2º Melanoma Symposium Portuguese Melanoma Intergroup (Coimbra, Portugal)
2014/02/13	Alterações moleculares em melanoma – Mutações no promotor do gene TERT.	2 º Oncology Perspectives Portuguese Oncology Group (Porto, Portugal)
2013/06/29	Relevância da via de sinalização do mTOR em melanoma, com enfase nas implicações em prognóstico e terapêutica.	1º Melanoma Symposium Portuguese Melanoma Intergroup (Lisboa, Portugal)

Supervision

	Thesis Title Role	Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2024/10/01 - Current	Genetic profiling of cutaneous melanoma Supervisor	Biology degree internship (Other) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2024/09/01 - Current	Molecular analysis of cutaneous melanoma Supervisor	Laboratory Techniques in Biopathology – Molecular Pathology (Master) Instituto Politécnico do Porto Escola Superior de Saúde, Portugal
2020 - Current	Identification of molecular biomarkers of metastasis in cutaneous melanoma. Co-supervisor	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
2022/09 - 2023/12/18	Molecular charecterization of cutaneous melanoma Supervisor	Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Portugal
2021/07 - 2022/11	Study of genetic alterations in cutaneous melanoma Supervisor	Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2019 - 2020	The importance of TERT promoter mutational status in the management of cutaneous melanoma Supervisor	Medicina (Master) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2017 - 2018	DCA as a possible therapy to overcome resistance to MAPK inhibitors treatment in cutaneous melanoma patients Supervisor	Bioquímica (Master) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2015 - 2016	DCA as a possible therapy for cutaneous melanoma in combination with approved therapeutics Supervisor	Medicina e Oncologia Molecular (Master) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2013 - 2015	2013 - 2015 - Co-supervisor of the master thesis "Overexpression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases discloses DCA as a possible cutaneous melanoma therapeutics", developed by Ana Regina Caldas in the Medical Master Degree at Medical Faculty, University of Porto. Co-supervisor	Medicina (Master) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2010 - 2011	2010 - 2011 - Assistance of the master thesis “Identification of therapeutic biomarkers in Melanoma”, developed by Sandra Tavares in the Molecular Biomedicine Master Degree at University of Aveiro, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Paula Soares. Co-supervisor	Biomedicina Molecular (Master) Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2000 - 2001	2000 - 2001 - Assistance of the trainee Marta Leite in the project “Study of the environmental impact of a dam in the vertebrate community of the river Paiva”, of the Biology Degree at Faculty of Science, University of Porto, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Nuno Ferrand. Co-supervisor	Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2000 - 2001	2000 - 2001 - Assistance of the trainee Elisabete Silva in the project “Study of the environmental impact of a dam in the vertebrate community of the river Paiva”, of the Biology Degree at Faculty of Science, University of Porto, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Nuno Ferrand. Co-supervisor	Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Event organisation

	Event name Type of event (Role)	Institution / Organization
2018/06 - 2018/12	Career Development Workshop for researchers in biosciences (2018/12/12 - 2018/12/14) Workshop (Member of the Organising Committee)	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2018/05 - 2018/10	Moving from Academia to Industry workshop (2018/10/09 - 2018/10/31) Workshop (Member of the Organising Committee)	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2017/01 - 2017/05	Writing your way into the right job - a CV skills workshop (2017/05/29 - 2017/05/29) Workshop (Member of the Organising Committee)	Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal

Event participation

	Activity description Type of event	Event name Institution / Organization
2024/04/19 - Current	Moderator of Session I: From Clinical Diagnosis to Molecular Biology of Melanoma: Where Are We Headed? at the 1st Meeting of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Study Group of SPO, on April 19, 2024, in Coimbra. Congress	1st Meeting of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Study Group Sociedade Portuguesa de Oncologia, Portugal
2022 - Current	Science Dissemination: I am involved in a cycle of conferences that aims to reintroduce the topic of cancer into public discussion. Round table	Tratar o cancro por tu Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal
2014 - 2015	Science Dissemination: I participated in an exhibition organized by IPATIMUP at Porto City Hall and at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, for the promotion of the scientific culture for the society, stimulating knowledge about cancer prevention and early diagnosis. Exhibition	Cancro Ponto e Vírgula Universidade do Porto Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Portugal

Jury of academic degree

	Topic Role	Candidate name (Type of degree) Institution / Organization
2023/12/18	Member of the jury (as supervisor) of Maria Inês Nunes Master thesis Supervisor	Maria Inês Nunes (Master) Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Portugal
2022/11/25	Member of the jury (as supervisor) of Luísa Gonçalves Master thesis Supervisor	Luísa Gonçalves (Master) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2022/06/06	Member of the jury (as arguer) of Marina Dias PhD thesis (Thesis) Arguer	Marina Dias (PhD) Barretos Cancer Hospital Pio XII Fundation, Brazil
2020	Member of the jury (as supervisor) of Francisco Martins Master thesis Supervisor	Francisco Martins (Master) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2018/11/27	Member of the jury (as supervisor) of Beatriz Domingues Master thesis Supervisor	Beatriz Domingues (Master) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2017/07/11	Member of the jury (as main arguer) of Manuel Campos pHD thesis (Thesis) Main arguer	Manuel Campos (PhD) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2016/12/16	Member of the jury (as supervisor) of Marcia Cristina Sampaio Master thesis. Supervisor	Marcia Cristina Sampaio (Master) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2016/12/15	Member of the jury (as main arguer) of Marta Filipa Ribeiro Master thesis (Thesis) Main arguer	Marta Filipa Ribeiro (Master) Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto Francisco Gentil EPE, Portugal

Association member

	Society Organization name	Role
2016 - Current	Eortc Melanoma group (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer)	Member
2013 - Current	Portuguese Melanoma Group	Member
2013 - Current	Aspic/EACR (Portuguese Association for Cancer Research/ European Association for Cancer Research)	Member
2017 - 2020	i3S fundraising team	Seek philanthropic funding from society
2017 - 2019	i3S Postdoctoral Association	I was involved in the organization of transferable research skills and career development workshops for postdocs and PhD students

Conference scientific committee

	Conference name	Conference host
2021/10/15 - Current	Cutaneous melanoma: from where to where	The Portuguese Cancer League

Course / Discipline taught

	Academic session	Degree Subject (Type)	Institution / Organization
2013 - Current	Medicine and Molecular Oncology Master program	(Mestrado)	Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2013 - Current	Medicine and Molecular Oncology PhD program	(Doutoramento)	Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2013 - Current	Basic Course in Molecular Pathology	Medicina (Mestrado integrado)	Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal

Evaluation committee

	Activity description Role	Institution / Organization	Funding entity
2019/09 - Current	Act as a project reviewer the Cancer Research Trust NZ Evaluator	Cancer Research Trust New Zealand, New Zealand
2018/08 - Current	Act as a project reviewer for the Cancer Research UK Evaluator	Cancer Research UK, United Kingdom

Journal scientific committee

	Journal title (ISSN)	Publisher
2016/03 - Current	Journal of Cellular and Molecular Oncology	Henry
2019/08 - 2019/08	Cancers (2072-6694)	MDPI AG
2012/04 - 2019/01	Melanoma Research (0960-8931)	Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer) - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
2018/07 - 2018/11	British Journal of Dermatology (1365-2133)	Wiley (Blackwell Publishing)
2018/07 - 2018/08	British Journal of Pharmacology (1476-5381)	Wiley (Blackwell Publishing)
2018/05 - 2018/05	Journal of Oncology Research and Therapy (2574-710x)	Gavin Publishers
2017/07 - 2017/08	Cell Biology International (1095-8355)	Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
2016/04 - 2016/05	Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1523-1747)	Elsevier
2016/03 - 2016/04	PeerJ (2167-8359)	PeerJ
2013/05 - 2016/01	International Journal of Cancer (1097-0215)	Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
2014/04 - 2014/12	PLoS ONE (1932-6203)	Public Library of Science
2014/03 - 2014/04	BMC Cancer (1471-2407)	Springer (Biomed Central Ltd.)
2013/01 - 2013/02	British Journal of Cancer (1532-1827)	Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Distinctions

Award

2019	Second best prize for the poster "New therapeutic strategies to overcame cutaneous melanoma resistance to MAPK inhibitors treatment" Portuguese Melanoma Intergroup, Portugal
2018	Honourable mention for the poster "DCA and everolimus as possible therapies to overcome resistance to MAPK inhibitors treatment in cutaneous melanoma patients" IJUP, Portugal
2014	Pulido Valente Ciência 2014 prize for the paper "Frequency of TERT promoter mutations in human cancers" Fundação Pulido Valente, Portugal Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2014	Award for best work in genetics for the paper "Frequency of TERT promoter mutations in human cancers" Portuguese Society of Human Genetics, Portugal