Maria de Fátima Pereira Duarte

Maria F. Duarte was born in Porto, Portugal (1978), graduated in Biochemistry by the University of Porto in 2001 reports beginning of scientific activity on 2000, as trainee in breast pathology group at IPATIMUP. In 2006, she got her PhD degree on Health Sciences from University of Minho, with all the laboratory work done at Maine Medical Center Research Institute, US, under supervision of Thomas Maciag. Her post-doctoral studies were developed at Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, at University of Minho, under supervision of Fernando Schmitt addressing the importance of new angiogenesis regulation mechanisms in tumor neovascularization process. In 2008 MF Duarte established her own research group at Centro de Biotecnologia Agrícola e Agro-Alimentar do Alentejo (CEBAL). In 2010 MF Duarte joined the research team of CICECO/University of Aveiro, participating in Sustainability and Biomaterials research line.

Since her graduation MF Duarte completed the supervision of 5 Masters students and 1 Post-Docs, with 26 papers published in international peer review journals, with 187 citations. MF Duarte is one of the inventors of a patent on vascular biology entitled “Novel isolated nucleic acid encoding Jagged1 or Delta1 intracellular domain polypeptide, useful for inhibiting or preventing angiogenesis, for induction apoptosis, and induction or inhibition senescent-like cell phenotype” (WO2006125001-A2).

After 8 years involved on human health sciences, since 2008 works as Principal Investigator at CEBAL (Centro de Biotecnologia Agrícola e Agro-Alimentar do Alentejo), addressing the relevance of phytochemicals on human diseases, with special focus on phytotherapy and breast tumor angiogenesis, and new thrombin inhibitors. She has participated in several projects, being the responsible investigator R&D project financed by FCT, and participates in 2 other FCT projects. In the past was the responsible investigator of a R&D project in co-promotion with industry, and a POCTEP (Border Cooperation Portugal/Spain). She has also been actively involved with installation and growth of CEBAL and in the main interactions with the surrounding community and industries (particularly relevant in the regional context of CEBAL).

Biochemistry and Health Sciences:

Member of the Lignocellulosic and Macromolecular Materials Group, and responsible of the Bioactive Research Group at CEBAL

Supervisor or co-supervisor of 1 Pos-doctorate student, 3 PhD student and 1 research fellowship

Armando Silvestre, Carmen Freire, Iola Duarte e Isabel Marrucho, University of Aveiro

Joana Paredes, IPATIMUP

Fátima Baltazar e Cristóvão Lima, University of Minho

Igor Prudovsky, MMCRI, ME, US

"BIOECOS – Valorização Integrada da Biomassa” ALENT-09-0140-FEDER-000705 (QREN), as part of the research team 2009-2013

"RefinOlea: Valorização integrada de resíduos e subprodutos da extracção de azeite" a project in ADI Co-promotion (ref. FCOMP-01-0202-FEDER-005450), as part of the research team, CEBAL Coordinator 2009-2013

"Removal of cytotoxic chemotherapy compounds from pharmaceutical/hospital wastewaters by combined membrane processing and advanced electro-oxidation treatment", as participant institution (PTDC/AAC-AMB/100960/2008),  2010-2013.

RitecaII - Research network Portugal-Spain - including Extremadura, Centro e Alentejo (Phase II), as part of the research team, CEBAL Coordinator, POCTEP, 2011-2013

"NEW PROTECTION: NativE, Wild PRObiotics sTrain EffeCT in Olives in briNe" as participant institution (PTDC/AGR-ALI/117658/2010), 2011-2015

 "NeucBark: New Valorization Stratagies for Eucalyptus spp. Bark Extracts." as responsible investigator (PTDC/AGR-FOR/3187/2012), 2013-2015

"Desenvolvimento da fileira da romã - Da planta ao bago pronto a comer", as part of the research team. ProDeR 2013-2014

"MITIC: Modernización e innovación tecnológica con base TIC en sectores estratégicos y tradicionales", as part of the research team, CEBAL coordinator, POCTEP 2013-2015

Schmitt, F.C., Reis-Filho, J.S., Milanezi, F., Soares, R., Duarte, F., Seixas, C. and Cameselle-Teijeiro, J.F. Pathology of hereditary breast cancer. Revista de Senologia y Patología Mamaria, 2001; 14:29-35.

Duarte, F., Cameselle-Teijeiro, J.F., Soares, R., Seixas, C., Cortizo-Torres, M.E. and Schmitt, F.C., Analysis of mutations in genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 among patients with breast and ovarian cancer in northern Portugal and Galicia. Rev. Clinica. Española, 2002, 202:259-263.

Cortizo-Torres, M.E., Duarte, F., Schmitt, F.C., Cameselle-Teijeiro, J.F. and Lopez-Touza, A., Criteria for definition of hereditary breast cancer in a clinic perspective. The Breast Journal, 2002; 8:402-403.

Cortizo-Torres, M.E., Cameselle-Teijeiro, J.F., López-Touza, A., Duarte, F. and Schmitt, F.C., Chronobiology and Breast Cancer. The Breast Journal, 2003; 9:453-454.

Prudovksy, I., Mandinova, A., Soldi, R., Bagalá, C., Graziani, I., Landriscina, M., Tarantini, F., Duarte, M., Bellum, S., Doherty, H. and Maciag, T. The non-classical export routes: IL1 alpha; and FGF1 and IL1 alpha; point the way. Journal of Cell Science, 2003; 116 (24):4871-4881.

Kolev, K., Kacer, D., Trifonova, R., Small, D., Duarte, M., Soldi, R., Graziani, I., Sideleva, O., Larman, B., Maciag, T. and Prudovsky, I. The intracellular domain of Notch ligand Delta1 induces cell growth arrest. FEBS Lettters 2005; 579:5798-5802.

Graziani, I., Bagalá, C., Duarte, M., Soldi, R., Kolev, K., Tarantini, F., Kumar, T.K.S., Doyle, A., Neivandt, D., Yu, C., Maciag, T., and Prudovsky, I. Release of FGF1 and p40 Synaptotagnin 1 correlates with their membrane destabilizing ability. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2006; Oct 13; 349(1):192-198.

Duarte M., Kolev, V., Soldi, R., Kirov, A., Graziani, I., Oliveira, S.M., Kacer, D., Friesel, R., Maciag, T., and Prudovsky, I. Thrombin induces rapid PAR1-mediated non-classical FGF1 release. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2006; Nov 24; 350(3):604-9.

Di Serio, C., Pellerito, S., Duarte, M., Massi, D., Naldini, A., Micucci, I., Doria, L., Mirone, P., Cirino, G., Prudovsky, I., Santucci, M., Geppetti, P., Masotti, G., and Tarantini, F. Protease-activated receptor 1-selective antagonist SCH79797 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by a protease-activated receptor 1-independent mechanism. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology 2007; 101(1):63-69.

Duarte, M., Longatto Filho, A. and Schmitt, F.C. Angiogenesis, haemostasis and cancer: new paradigms old concerns. Journal Brasileiro de Patologia Médica Laboratorial, Review Paper. 2007; 43(6):441-449.

Soldi, R., Mandinova, A., Venkataraman, K., Hla, T., Vadas, M.A., Pitson, S.M., Duarte, M., Graziani, I., Kolev, K., Kacer, D., Kirov, A., Maciag, T., and Prudovsky, I. Sphingosine Kinase 1 is a critical component of the copper-dependent FGF1 export pathway. Experimental Cell Research 2007; 313(15):3308-3318.

Nikopoulos, G.N., Duarte, M., Kubu, C.J., Bellum, S., Friesel, R., Maciag, T., Prudovsky, I., and Verdi, J.M. Soluble Jagged1 attenuates lateral inhibition allowing for the clonal expansion of neural crest stem cells. Stem Cells. 2007; 25(12):3133-3142.

Longatto Filho, A., Duarte, M. and Schmitt, F.C.Lymphangiogenesis: from the pig embryos to cancer. Journal Brasileiro de Patologia Médica. 2007;44(3):215-220.

Duarte, M., Kolev, V., Kacer, D., Graziani, I., Soldi, R., Maciag, T., and Prudovsky, I. Thrombin cleaves Jagged1, forming a soluble Jagged1 form biologically active. Molecular Biology of the Cell 2008 Nov;19(11):4863-4874.

Mota, I., Pinto, P.C.R, Novo, C., Sousa, G., Guerreiro, O., Guerra, A., Duarte, M.F., and Rodrigues, A. E. Extraction of polyphenolic compounds from Eucalyptus globulus bark: process optimization and screening for biological activity. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2012 May; 51(20):6991-7000.

Tiburcio, M., Costa, M.A.S., Duarte, M., Schmitt F.C., Longatto Fillho, A. Characterization of PAR1 and FGFR1 Expression in Invasive Breast Carcinomas: Prognostic Significance. Oncology Letters 2012; (4):647-657.

Kirov, A., Duarte, M., Guay, J., Karolak, M., Yan, C., Oxburgh, L., and Prudovsky, I. Transgenic expression of nonclassically secreted FGF suppresses kidney repair. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e36485. Epub 2012 May 14.

Guerreiro, O., Velez, Z., Alvarenga, N., Matos, C., and Duarte, M. Molecular screening of ovine mastitis in different breeds. J Dairy Science. 2013; 96(2): 752-760.

Velez, Z., Campinho, M.A., Guerra, A., Garcia, L., Ramos, P., Guerreiro, O., Felicio, L., Schmitt, F., Duarte, M., Biological Characterization of Cynara cardunculus L. Methanolic Extracts: Antioxidant, Anti-proliferative, Anti-migratory and Anti-angiogenic Activities. Agriculture. 2012; 2(4): 472-492.

Ramos, P., Santos, S.A.O., Guerra, A.R., Guerreiro, O., Felicio, L., Jerónimo, E., Silvestre, A.J.D., Neto, C.P., Duarte M. Valorisation of olive mill residues antioxidant and breast cancer antiproliferative activities of hydroxytyrosol-rich extracts derived from olive oil by-products. Industrial Crops and Products 2013; (46) 359-368.

Gomes, F.P., Silva, N., Trovatti, E., Serafim L.S., Duarte, M.,Silvestre,A.J.D., Freire C.S.R. Production of Bacterial Cellulose by Gluconacetobacter sacchari using dry olive mill residue. Bioenergy and Biomass. 2013; 55:205-211.


Domingues, R.M.A., Guerra, A.R., Duarte, M., Freire, C.S.R., Neto, C.P., Silva, C.M.S., and Silvestre, A.J.D. Bioactive triterpenic acids: from agroforestry biomass residues, to promising therapeutic tools. Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry (in press).