I hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Lisbon (1991) and an MSc in Biotechnology from the University of Newcastle upon-Tyne, UK (1991). My academic journey led me to a Ph.D. in viral pathogenesis at the University of Cambridge, completed in 1994, followed by a 3-year Wellcome Trust Fellowship at the same institution. From 1996 to 2021, I held academic positions at esteemed institutions, including Assistant Professor at the University of Porto and Assistant and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon. In 1999, I established a laboratory as a Principal Investigator at the Gulbenkian Institute of Science, focusing on the molecular links between gammaherpesvirus latent infection and lymphomas, stemming from research in Cambridge. Subsequently, in 2004, I relocated my laboratory to participate in the launch of the Institute for Molecular Medicine (iMM) in Lisbon, where I remained until 2021. I have also held various management positions, among which I highlight the Scientific Directorship of the Rodent Facility at iMM. More recently, I ran alongside Carlos Moedas for the Lisbon City Council Executive, and following his election as Mayor of Lisbon in September 2021, I was elected as a replacement City Councilor. In 2021, I was appointed Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, where I also serve as a member of the Dean’s and of the Scientific Board, with plans for a full Professorship by 2024. The pinnacle of my leadership track is the founding the Católica Biomedical Research Centre (CBR) in 2021. My vision recognizes the pivotal role of fundamental investigator-led research in driving long-term translational research, fostering innovation, and advancing technology. Despite the increasing anticipation for fundamental science to promptly yield practical applications, I firmly embrace this vision. Hence, I launched the CBR with a mission to Advance Health Through Fundamental Research.