Exploratory research: latest projects at ITQB NOVA

Oeiras, 12^th January 2026

Eight projects, led by ITQB NOVA researchers, have been selected for this year’s Science and Technology Foundation Call for Exploratory Projects in all scientific domains. Américo Duarte, Ana Confraria, Ana Petronilho, Beatriz Royo, Diogo Martins, Helena Sapeta, Omar Vergara, Rita Ventura were amongst the 404 projects selected nationally, from over 2500 proposals. 

The projects will run for up to 1 year and a half, with a maximum funding of €60,000 per project. In total, the eight ITQB NOVA projects will receive about half million euros to develop innovative ideas that address key challenges in health, agriculture, and sustainability:

• Américo Duarte (Bacterial Energy Metabolism Lab) is investigating sustainable approaches to ammonia production by combining whole microbial cells with light-responsive materials that use sunlight to drive the process.
• Ana Confraria (Plant Cell Biotechnology Lab) is working to better understand how flowering time is regulated in plants, focusing on the role of the central sugar-sensing mechanisms.
• Ana Petronilho (Bioorganometallic Chemistry Lab) aims to repurpose a byproduct of protein-labelling technologies as a tool for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs while simultaneously enabling protein tracking.
• Beatriz Royo (Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis Lab) is developing synthestic catalysts protected within tiny structures so they can carry out useful chemical reactions inside the body without being damaged by its complex environment. 
• Diogo Martins (Microbial Development Lab) aims to identify the environmental signals that trigger sporulation in Clostridioides difficile, a human pathogen associated with serious bowel issues. 
• Helena Sapeta (Plant Functional Genomics Lab) is exploring whether brief exposure of developing pollen to mild heat stress can improve plant reproductive success under high temperatures. 
• Omar Vergara (Plant Ecophysiology and Metabolism Lab) is using sensor-based technologies and molecular analysis to identify cereal crops with greater potential for resilient and sustainable agriculture in Portugal. 
• Finally, Rita Ventura (Bioorganic Chemistry Lab) is developing innovative, highly efficient, and genuinely sustainable methods for making molecules, with the goal of simplifying drug synthesis and discovering new anticancer and antiviral compounds. 

Every year FCT calls for exploratory projects in all scientific domains with the goal of consolidating and reinforcing the National System of Science and Technology, improving national and international competition, as well as contributing for innovation and knowledge transfer in line with the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development e Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).