Support Units

Filipa G. Marques is the Senior Executive Assistant to the Executive Board at the NOVA Institute for Medical Systems Biology (NIMSB), where she supports institutional governance and strategic planning, and coordinates partnerships and international collaborations. In 2026, she was appointed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, leading initiatives to build a more supportive environment for the institute’s community. 

She holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Lisbon School of Medicine. She has worked across research, science policy, and research management, giving her a broad view of the research and higher education sector in Portugal. She has taken part in European-funded projects on institutional change, gender equality, and responsible research and innovation, and she held research management and strategic funding roles at NOVA University Lisbon. Before joining NIMSB, she served as Adviser for Science and European Affairs at the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education. 

Stan Gorski studied biochemistry in Manchester, UK, and received his PhD in biophysics from the University of Leeds, UK. From 2001, he received a National Cancer Institute visiting postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA. In 2007, he became Scientific Editor of the EMBO Journal (Heidelberg, Germany) and in 2012 he moved to the University of Würzburg as Scientific Coordinator for the Research Centre for Infectious Diseases and the Institute for Molecular Infection Biology. During this time, he coordinated the scientific strategy of the pan-European LifeTime Initiative. Since 2019, he has been at the Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine), where he has coordinated several strategic initiatives including the LifeTime science strategy, the Einstein Center for Early Disease Detection, the Berlin Cell Hospital and, together with Ana Pombo, the conceptualization of MDC’s participation in the NIMSB. Dr. Gorski is currently head of the Strategic Initiatives team of the MDC and co-lead of the NIMSB project at MDC.

Juliana Roscito holds a degree in Biological Sciences (2004) and a PhD in Developmental and Evolutionary Biology (2010) from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Her academic career continued with a post-doctorate on evolutionary genomics at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Dresden, Germany), from 2013-2020. In 2020, she transitioned to strategic management of scientific initiatives, starting her non-academic career in the strategy team of the SaxoCell Consortium. From 2021-2024, Juliana took on the role of Scientific Coordinator at the DRESDEN-concept Genome Center; in parallel, she co-led the Dresden side of the SaxoCellOmics platform. Since early 2024, she is the Scientific Manager of the NIMSB at the MDC, in Berlin, being responsible for designing, implementing and coordinating scientific and administrative activities between the two partners for the development of NIMSB as a center of excellence.

Miguel Santos holds a MSc in Chemistry (ODU, USA), a PhD in Biology (ITQB NOVA, PT), and two MBAs (IBM, PT & Rutgers, USA). Miguel has managed and led several innovation projects, both in academic and industry settings and coordinated the settlement of several services and brands in the Biomedical arena, where he held executive positions from COO to CSO, and more recently EVP Head of Innovation and CEO. Miguel is a Founding Partner of Active Site, Lda., PT; an innovation management consulting company; and Regenera Sciences CORP, USA; dedicated to veterinarian regenerative medicine. Miguel has a considerable portfolio of scientific publications and patents, essentially in the area of Regenerative Medicine facing a One-Health perspective. Miguel is currently coordinating the Oeiras Life Science Campus project at NOVA, aiming at building a global Life-Sciences and Deep-Tech innovation ecosystem, while he holds the position of Head of Innovation and Tech-Transfer at NIMSB, where he coordinates NIMSB’s science and technology translation toward positive impact and forthcoming sustainability.

Mariana Santa-Marta holds a PhD in Pharmacy and a degree in Biology, with a scientific background in virology and molecular biology. Following several years as a researcher in Portugal and the United States, she transitioned into research management, where she has accumulated over a decade of experience in competitive research funding. Her career spans several research institutions, supporting more than 500 grant opportunities across diverse national, European and international funding sources, with particular expertise in highly competitive programmes such as ERC, MSCA and Horizon Europe.

As Head of the Research Funding Office at NIMSB, she leads the institute’s research funding strategy, focusing on diversifying funding sources, increasing international competitiveness and strengthening the capture of external funds. Her role includes strategic funding intelligence, development of institutional funding pipelines, tailored support to researchers, and capacity building through training, mentoring and targeted initiatives aimed at strengthening NIMSB’s long-term funding performance and international positioning.

Nataša Lončarević is a scientist and science communicator with a PhD in Neuroscience and extensive experience in research and higher education. Before moving into science communication, she worked as a researcher at the University of Belgrade and NOVA Medical School and taught in the PhD Programme in Neuroscience at the University of Belgrade. She is currently completing an MSc in Science Communication at NOVA University Lisbon.

At NIMSB, Nataša works in Communication & Dissemination, developing and coordinating the institute’s communication strategy and translating its research for diverse audiences. Her work spans institutional and digital communication, scientific storytelling, outreach and public engagement, events, partnerships, and communication support for researchers and research projects. Drawing on her experience on both sides of science communication, she works to make NIMSB’s science accessible, engaging and meaningful while strengthening connections between researchers, institutions and society.

Filipa G. Marques is the Senior Executive Assistant to the Executive Board at the NOVA Institute for Medical Systems Biology (NIMSB), where she supports institutional governance and strategic planning, and coordinates partnerships and international collaborations. In 2026, she was appointed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, leading initiatives to build a more supportive environment for the institute’s community. 

She holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the Lisbon School of Medicine. She has worked across research, science policy, and research management, giving her a broad view of the research and higher education sector in Portugal. She has taken part in European-funded projects on institutional change, gender equality, and responsible research and innovation, and she held research management and strategic funding roles at NOVA University Lisbon. Before joining NIMSB, she served as Adviser for Science and European Affairs at the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education. 

Catarina Valente holds a degree in Management and a master’s in Accounting, both completed at ISCTE. Most recently, she completed a post-graduation in Data for Business at NOVA SBE. 

She began her career in the automotive market at the PSA Group, where she worked as an Assistant Business Controller for three years. Following this experience, she joined NESTLÉ Portugal, working across various businesses as a Business Controller and Sales Analyst, where she stayed for seven years. Afterward, she transitioned to the APECEF group in the Education sector, serving as a Business Controller and managing stocks for three years. 

Subsequently, Catarina joined Nova Medical School at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. After two years in this organizational unit, she applied to NIMSB for the role of Management Controller.  

Currently, she works as a Business Controller at NIMSB, where her main responsibilities include:

• Annual budgeting, monthly P&L variance analysis;

• Monthly analysis of business KPIs, both financial and non-financial, essential for decision-making and strategic planning;

• Analysis and implementation of internal control measures;

• Ad-hoc management analyses to support decision-making.

Paula Simoes holds a degree in Accounting and Financial Management and a postgraduate qualification in Accounting and Public Management. She has developed her professional career in accounting, treasury and administrative support, gaining solid experience in financial procedures, budget monitoring, document management and financial control. Her academic background and professional experience have contributed to a strong understanding of public sector accounting, organisational processes and the importance of accuracy, transparency and compliance in financial management. 

At NIMSB, Paula works in accounting and treasury, supporting the institution’s financial and administrative activities. Her responsibilities include assisting with payments and receipts, maintaining and monitoring accounting records, supporting budget execution, organising financial documentation and ensuring that procedures are carried out in accordance with internal requirements. Through her role, she contributes to the efficiency, reliability and accountability of the financial processes that support NIMSB’s mission and day-to-day operations. 

Sandra Pereira holds a degree in Social and Organisational Psychology from ISPA – Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada and a postgraduate qualification in Human Resources Management from INDEG/ISCTE. She began her career in consultancy firms specialising in recruitment and selection and, since 2000, has gained extensive experience in both the private engineering sector and the non-profit area. Throughout her career, she has held roles as an HR generalist, with responsibilities including payroll, attendance management, training planning, recruitment and selection, onboarding and offboarding processes, and internship management. She values the diversity of tasks involved in working with people as one of the most engaging aspects of her field. 

In July 2024, Sandra joined the NIMSB project, where she works in the Human Resources area, contributing across its different dimensions with a strong commitment to supporting the Institute’s activities and community.

Joana Alves de Sá holds a Law degree from the Catholic University of Portugal and has completed postgraduate programmes: one in Public Procurement Law, International and European Law at ICJP, Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon; and another in Public Regulation and Competition Law at CEDIPRE, Faculty of Law, University of Coimbra. With over 20 years of experience, she has practised law and coordination roles at NOVA FCT, where she coordinated the Contracts Unit and the Public Procurement and Assets Office, leading modernisation of procurement and contract management, driving process optimisation, strengthening compliance frameworks, and supporting institutional partnerships within the higher education and research sector.

At NIMSB Joana heads Office of Public Procurement and Legal Affairs overseeing procedures and ensuring compliance with legislation and regulations. She supports the Institute’s through the planning and management of procurement processes and the drafting of legal instruments, thereby reinforcing governance standards and contributing to a culture of integrity, efficiency, and institutional trust.

Catarina Dagmar Leal holds a Degree in Clinical Psychology, specialising in Systemic Psychology and brings over 12 years of experience in Human Resources, spanning strategic HR consultancy, talent engagement, people operations and organisational development. Before joining NIMSB, she built her experience across different professional environments, including Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência.

At NIMSB, Catarina established the People & Culture Office, with focus on creating a positive, inclusive and supportive employee experience throughout the entire professional journey.

Her work brings together recruitment, onboarding, international talent integration, career and professional development, learning and training, performance management, employee engagement and wellbeing. She is particularly committed to developing people-centred practices that address the specific needs and challenges of a diverse, international scientific community.

Combining empathy, strategic thinking and a practical approach, Catarina helps create a collaborative environment where all NIMSBies feel valued, supported and empowered to grow, thrive and contribute to the Institute’s scientific mission.

Ana Roberto holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Planning from ISCTE and has over twenty years of professional experience in research management within higher education and research institutions in Portugal. Her experience includes the administrative and financial management of national and European-funded research projects, ensuring compliance with funder requirements.

Since 2023, she has been a Project Management Officer at the NOVA Institute for Medical Systems Biology (NIMSB), where she provides management support for national and European-funded research projects throughout the project lifecycle. Her responsibilities include administrative and financial project management, budget monitoring, reporting, and ensuring compliance with funder and institutional requirements. She works closely with research teams and institutional support services and contributes to the ongoing development of PMO processes and project management practices.

Telmo Pereira holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences with over ten years of experience in core facility management and research support, bridging biology, engineering, and computational science. He is a Certified Data Steward with hands-on experience implementing FAIR data practices, managing large-scale scientific storage systems, and supporting researchers across the full data lifecycle. He brings a strong background in computational analysis, machine learning, and deep learning applied to scientific imaging, and is an active member of national and international research infrastructure networks, with direct exposure to European Open Science strategy and best practices.

At NIMSB, Telmo serves as Data Management and Research Computing Officer, responsible for implementing and maintaining data management practices across the research data lifecycle, administering digital infrastructures and storage systems, and ensuring compliance with GDPR and funders’ guidelines. He supports research teams in adopting Open Science policies and provides specialized technical assistance in the use of platforms and tools for data collection, analysis, and sharing.

Mariana Oliveira is completing a PhD in Engineering and Management at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), following an MSc in Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses on operations, logistics and process optimisation, particularly in healthcare systems. She has published in specialised journals and book chapters, supervised MSc students, and taught Operations and Logistics Management. She also gained experience as a Data Analyst in the healthcare sector, producing data-driven insights to support decision-making. 

At NIMSB, Mariana Oliveira serves as Executive Assistant to the Scientific Director, playing a key role in enhancing organisational efficiency and supporting the institute’s digital transformation. She optimises internal processes, implements streamlined workflows for documentation and approvals, and manages complex administrative and governance processes. Through effective coordination of meetings, communications and institutional procedures, she strengthens alignment between leadership, stakeholders and teams, contributing to a more agile, efficient and digitally enabled organisation. 

Susana Pascoal holds a PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Minho and has built a multidisciplinary scientific career spanning more than two decades in developmental biology, regenerative medicine, translational oncology and disease modelling. She has held research and leadership positions in leading academic and biotechnology institutions in Portugal, Austria and Spain. Her expertise encompasses stem cell technologies, zebrafish disease models, organoids, personalised medicine, immunotherapy and preclinical drug development. Throughout her career, she has contributed to internationally funded research projects, published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, and supervised and mentored students and research teams.

As Operations Research Manager at NIMSB, Susana Pascoal is responsible for the organisation and management of research laboratories, ensuring their efficient operation, regulatory compliance and safety. She supports institutional research development, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and contributes to strategic research initiatives. Her activities also include facilitating scientific coordination helping to strengthen NIMSB’s research environment and scientific excellence.

Rute Salvador holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, where her research focused on the development and evaluation of immunotherapeutic strategies for breast cancer. She also holds a Master’s degree in Oncobiology – Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer from the University of the Algarve and has completed specialised training in Clinical Trials Coordination. Her academic and professional background combines basic, translational and clinically oriented cancer research, with experience in patient-related studies, research ethics, clinical documentation and scientific communication. Her technical expertise includes flow cytometry, primary and three-dimensional cell culture models, microscopy, ELISA and a range of molecular and cellular biology techniques. She has presented her work at national and international scientific meetings and has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications and conference communications in the fields of cancer biology and tumour immunology.

She is currently a Junior Researcher in the Cellular Plasticity in Regeneration and Cancer Lab and a member of the Lab Operations Team at the NOVA Institute for Medical Systems Biology (NIMSB). Her research activities focus on cancer immunology, tumour metabolism, cellular plasticity and mechanisms associated with treatment response and resistance. She contributes to the design and implementation of translational research projects, including the development of experimental models, analysis of patient-derived samples and coordination of clinical and laboratory workflows. As part of the Lab Operations Team, she also supports the organisation of laboratory activities, shared resources, equipment and procedures, helping to promote efficient, collaborative and high-quality research across NIMSB.

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