Research on gastric cancer, malaria and anesthetic gas awarded with L'Oréal Medals

Researchers Inês Gonçalves, from the Biomedical Engineering Institute (INEB), Joana Tavares, from the Molecular and Cellular Biology Institute (IBMC) and Luísa Neves, from the Chemistry and Technology Network REQUIMTE, are the most recent laureates of the "L'Oréal Portugal Medals of Honor for Women in Science" award, which this year celebrates its 10th edition.

Inês Gonçalves intends to remove Helicobacter pylori bacteria from the stomach, which in cases of persistent infection has been associated with gastric cancers. Her research project involves building a new biomaterial, in the form of microspheres, capable of binding to this bacterium and removing it from the gastrointestinal tract. The researcher hopes to develop a treatment that can be used as an alternative to antibiotics.

Joana Tavares will deepen her research on the malaria parasite. The researcher intends to identify the molecule (or molecules) responsible for the process that allows the parasite, in the form injected by the mosquito, to overcome the host's defenses and install itself in the liver, once in the bloodstream. Through this study, he hopes to be able to interfere with the parasite's ability to stay in the liver circulation and contribute new knowledge to a vaccine for malaria.

Luísa Neves' project brings together the areas of health and environmental sciences and aims to develop a system that allows the purification of anesthesia gas and the capture of carbon dioxide. In a surgery, the carbon dioxide produced every time the patient exhales contaminates the anesthetic gas. The process to be developed by the researcher intends to remove carbon dioxide efficiently and safely, which will enable the reuse of the anesthetic gas, contributing to the reduction of hospital costs in surgery.

Since 2004, the Medals of Honor for Women in Science have already supported 31 young scientists, in a partnership between the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), L'Oréal Portugal and the National UNESCO Commission (CNU). The awarded researchers will receive, in addition to the Medal of Honor, 20 thousand euros of funding to support their research project.