Marta Fernandez da Cunha (6B14-7024-658B)

Curriculum Vitae

Marta Fernandez da Cunha

Marta Fernandez da Cunha embarked on her academic journey with a Bachelor's degree in Biology-Geology from the University of Minho. In October 2020, she successfully completed her Master's degree in Plant Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, and Bioentrepreneurship at the same university. In 2021, Marta was awarded a research grant as part of the project MACAU/0003/2019, titled Fishmuc - "Bioactive properties of external mucus isolated from coastal fishes from Macau and Portugal." This grant paved the way for her to pursue a Ph.D. in Biotechnology at the Faculty of Biotechnology, Universidade Católica Portuguesa. As a research fellow at the Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), Marta joined the Bioactive and Bioproducts research group led by Professor Manuela Pintado. Her doctoral research focuses on investigating the bioactive properties of proteins and peptides derived from fish mucus. Marta's diverse research interests encompass Health Sciences, Biotechnology, Biomedicine, Microbiology, Bioproducts, and Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Products.

Read full resume ↓

Identification

Personal identification

Full name: Marta Fernandez da Cunha

Citation names

Cunha, Marta
Marta Fernandez Cunha
Marta Cunha

Author identifiers

Ciência ID: 6B14-7024-658B

Email addresses

mfcunha@ucp.pt (Professional)

Knowledge fields

Engineering and Technology
Natural sciences - Biological Sciences

Languages

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening	Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English	Advanced (C1)	Advanced (C1)	Advanced (C1)	Advanced (C1)	Advanced (C1)

Education

	Degree	Classification
2024/09/01 - 2028/12/31 Ongoing	Biotecnologia (Doutoramento) Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Portugal
2017/09/11 - 2020/10/26 Concluded	Biologia Molecular, Biotecnologia e Bioempreendedorismo em Plantas (Mestrado) Universidade do Minho, Portugal "Production and Validation of Opuntia ficus-indica derived cosmeceuticals" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	16
2014/09/15 - 2017/09/08 Concluded	Biologia-Geologia (Licenciatura) Universidade do Minho, Portugal

Affiliation

Others

	Category Host institution	Employer
2021/07/01 - Current	Researsh fellow	Universidade Católica Portuguesa Portuguesa Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Portugal
	Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Portugal

Projects

Grant

	Designation	Funders
2021/07/01 - 2024/02/01	MACAU/0003/2019 - FISHMUC - Bioactive properties of external mucus isolated from coastal fish of Macao and Portugal MACAU/0003/2019 PhD Student Fellow Universidade Católica Portuguesa Portuguesa Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Ongoing

Other

	Designation	Funders
2025/01/01 - 2027/12/31	Advancing the Understanding of Submarine Hydrothermal Processes by a Multidisciplinary Study of Portuguese Deep-Sea Fields COMPETE2030-FEDER-00762700 Research Fellow Universidade Católica Portuguesa Portuguesa Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Portugal Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Submitted
2024/09/01 - 2025/12/31	EcoSorb: Eco-friendly Sorbents for Next-Generation Solid-Phase Extraction in Biotechnology 2023.13522.PEX Research Fellow Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), Portugal Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Submitted

Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract	Marta Fernandez Cunha; Ezequiel Coscueta; Maria Emilia Brassesco; Almada, Frederico José Oliveira de; Goncalves, David. "Bioaccessibility of novel bioactive peptides from the body mucus of the Lusitanian Toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus using an in vitro digestion model". Paper presented in 8th International Conference on FOOD DIGESTION, Porto, 2024. Published M. Fernandez Cunha; E. R. Coscueta; M. E. Brassesco; F. Almada; D. Gonçalves; M. Pintado. "Bioactive potential and chromatographic characterization of body mucus from Portugal coastal fish halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 47th FEBS Congress, Tours, 2023. Published Marta Cunha; Ezequiel Coscueta; Maria Emilia Brassesco; Almada, Frederico José Oliveira de; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado. "First bioactive characterization of the skin mucus from Portugal coastal fish Halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 3.º BioIberoAmerica 2022, Braga, 2022. Published Marta Cunha; Ezequiel R. Coscueta; Maria Emilia Brassesco; Frederico Almada; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado. "First bioactive characterization of the skin mucus from Portugal coastal fish halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 3.º BioIberoAmerica 2022, Braga, 2022. Published Marta Fernandez Cunha; Luís Giraldo-Silva; Alberto Carlos Pires Dias. "International Conference on Medicinal and Food Plant Research & 3rd Sino-CPLP Symposium on Natural Products and Biodiversity Resources". Paper presented in International Conference on Medicinal and Food Plant Research & 3rd SINO-CPLP Symposium on Natural Products and Biodiversity Resources, Braga, 2021. 10.3389/978-2-88966-548-8
Conference paper	M. Cunha; E. R. Coscueta; M. E. Brassesco; F. Almada; D. Gonçalves; M. Manuela Pintado. "P82 Peptide fraction identification by SE-HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis of the body mucus from Portugal coastal fish Halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 12º Encontro Nacional de Cromatografia, Aveiro, 2022. Published
Conference poster	Marta Fernandez Cunha; Ezequiel R. Coscueta; María Emilia Brassesco; Frederico Almada; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado; Almada, Frederico José Oliveira de; Goncalves, David. "Bioaccessibility of novel bioactive peptides from the body mucus of the Lusitanian Toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus using an in vitro digestion model". Paper presented in 8th International Conference on FOOD DIGESTION, 2024. Marta Fernandez Cunha; Ezequiel Coscueta; Maria Emilia Brassesco; Almada, Frederico José Oliveira de; David Gonçalves; Manuela Esteves Pintado. "Bioactive potential and chromatographic characterization of body mucus from Portugal coastal fish Halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 47th FEBS Congress - Palais des Congrès de Tours , Tours, France, 2023. Marta Cunha; Ezequiel R. Coscueta; María Emilia Brassesco; Frederico Almada; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado. "Bioactive potential and chromatographic characterization of body mucus from Portugal coastal fish halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 47th FEBS Congress, 2023. Marta Cunha; Ezequiel Coscueta; Maria Emilia Brassesco; Almada, Frederico José Oliveira de; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado. "Peptide fraction identification by SE-HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis of the body mucus from Portugal coastal fish Halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 12º Encontro Nacional de Cromatografia & XIV WARPA, 2022. Marta Cunha; Ezequiel R. Coscueta; María Emilia Brassesco; Frederico Almada; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado. "Peptide fraction identification by SE-HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis of the body mucus from Portugal coastal fish Halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 12º Encontro Nacional de Cromatografia, 2022. Marta Cunha; Ezequiel R. Coscueta; María Emilia Brassesco; Frederico Almada; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado. "First bioactive characterization of the skin mucus from Portugal coastal fish Halobatrachus didactylus". Paper presented in 3.º BioIberoAmerica 2022, 2022. Marta Cunha; Luís Giraldo-Silva; Alberto Carlos Pires Dias. "Evaluation of the antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and phytochemical analysis of cladodes hydroalcoholic extract from Opuntia ficus-indica". Paper presented in International Conference on Medicinal and Food Plant Research & 3rd SINO-CPLP Symposium on Natural Products and Biodiversity Resources, 2021. Marta Cunha; Bárbara Ferreira; Luís Giraldo-Silva; Alberto Carlos Pires Dias. "Production and in vivo skin hydration evaluation of a cosmeceutical containing Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill cladodes hydroalcoholic extract". Paper presented in Natural Products Applications Congress: Health, Cosmetic and Food, 2021. Marta Cunha; Luís Giraldo-Silva; Bárbara Ferreira; Alberto Carlos Pires Dias. "Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of Opuntia spp. cladodes hydroalcoholic extract". Paper presented in IberPhenol - International Conference, 2020. Marta Cunha; Luís Giraldo-Silva; Magalhães, Vanessa; Alberto Carlos Pires Dias. "In vitro antioxidant assays of Arbustus unedo (L.) leaves and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill cladodes". Paper presented in #04 Jornadas INTERACT, 2019.
Journal article	Marta Fernandez Cunha; Ezequiel R. Coscueta; María Emilia Brassesco; Frederico Almada; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado. "Methods for the collection of fish mucus: a systematic review". Reviews in Fisheries Science and Aquaculture 32 2 (2024): 334-368. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/43374. Open access • Published • 10.1080/23308249.2023.2289012 Marta Fernandez Cunha; Ezequiel R. Coscueta; María Emilia Brassesco; Rita Marques; José Neto; Frederico Almada; David Gonçalves; Manuela Pintado. "Exploring bioactivities and peptide content of body mucus from the lusitanian toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus". Molecules 28 18 (2023): http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/42643. Open access • Published • 10.3390/molecules28186458

Intellectual property

Patent

Marta Fernandez Cunha; Ezequiel R. Coscueta; María Emilia Brassesco; Manuela Esteves Pintado; Almada, Frederico José Oliveira de; Goncalves, David. 2023. "New peptides and uses thereof".
Ezequiel Ricardo Coscueta; Maria Manuela Estevez Pintado; Marta Fernandez da Cunha; María Emilia Brassesco; Frederico José Almda; David Manuel Gonçalves. 2022. "New peptides from the mucus of halobatrachus didactylus, extract from the mucus of halobatrachus didactylus and uses thereof". Portugal.

Activities

Event organisation

	Event name Type of event (Role)	Institution / Organization
2022/09/23 - 2022/09/23	International Microorganism Day 2022 "More than 500 elementary and high school students celebrated the exciting world of microorganisms with the School of Biotechnology". https://esb.ucp.pt/pt-pt/noticias/mais-de-500-estudantes-do-ensino-basico-e-secundario-participam-na-mostra-do-dia-internacional-do-41826 (2022/09/23) Other (Co-organisor)	Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Portugal
2022/04/20 - 2022/04/22	Semana Aberta 2022: Biotecnologia e Sustentabilidade. Explanation and demonstration of scientific research performed by several ESB research groups to primary and secondary school students. (2022/04/20 - 2022/04/22) Other (Co-organisor)	Universidade Católica Portuguesa Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Portugal
2019/06/17 - 2019/06/21	Symposium "TCM in a New Era" & Workshop on TCM and Herbal Medicine Research (2019/06/17 - 2019/06/21) Symposium (Member of the Organising Committee)	Universidade do Minho, Portugal

Event participation

	Activity description Type of event	Event name Institution / Organization
2024/04/09 - 2024/04/11	Poster communication: Bioaccessibility of novel bioactive peptides from the body mucus of the Lusitanian Toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus using an in vitro digestion model.Fernandez Cunha, M., Coscueta, E. R., Brassesco, M. E., Almada, F., Gonçalves, D., Pintado, M. (2024). Porto, Portugal. Poster link: https://ciencia.ucp.pt/ws/portalfiles/portal/97551433/97511301.pdf Conference
2024/04/10 - 2024/04/10	Semana Aberta 2024 Other	Semana Aberta 2024
2023/12/18 - 2023/12/18	DIP4Agri Conference Conference	DIP4Agri Conference
2023/09/15 - 2023/09/15	Dia Internacional do Microrganismo 2023 Other	Dia Internacional do Microrganismo 2023
2023/07/08 - 2023/07/12	47th FEBS Congress Conference	47th FEBS Congress
2023/04/19 - 2023/04/21	Semana Aberta ESB 2023 Exhibition	Semana Aberta ESB 2023
2022/12/06 - 2022/12/08	Poster communication: Peptide fraction identification by SE-HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis of the body mucus from Portugal coastal fish Halobatrachus didactylus. Marta Cunha, Ezequiel R. Coscueta, María Emilia Bassesco, Frederico Almada, David Gonçalves and Manuela Pintado. (2022). Poster link: https://repositorio.ucp.pt/bitstream/10400.14/39777/1/CongressoCromatografiaAveiro_MartaCunha_Vers_oFinal.pdf Abstract link: https://repositorio.ucp.pt/bitstream/10400.14/39820/1/60163147.pdf Conference	12º Encontro Nacional de Cromatografia & XIV WARPA Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2022/12/06 - 2022/12/08	12º Encontro Nacional de Cromatografia Conference	12º Encontro Nacional de Cromatografia Sociedade Portuguesa de Química, Portugal
2022/09/23 - 2022/09/23	International Microorganism Day 2022 Other	International Microorganism Day 2022 Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), Portugal
2022/04/20 - 2022/04/22	Semana Aberta 2022 Workshop	Semana Aberta 2022 Faculty of Biotechnology, Portugal
2022/04/07 - 2022/04/09	Poster Communication: First bioactive characterization of the skin mucus from Portugal coastal fish Halobatrachus didactylus. Marta Cunha, Ezequiel R. Coscueta, María Emilia Bassesco, Frederico Almada, David Gonçalves and Manuela Pintado. (2022). Abstract link: https://repositorio.ucp.pt/bitstream/10400.14/39986/1/61224751.pdf Congress	3.º BioIberoAmerica 2022 International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Portugal Universidade do Minho Centro de Engenharia Biológica, Portugal
2022/04/07 - 2022/04/09	3.º BioIberoAmerica 2022 Conference	3.º BioIberoAmerica 2022 University of Minho, Portugal
2021/04/09 - 2021/04/10	Poster Communication: Evaluation of the antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and phytochemical analysis of cladodes hydroalcoholic extract from Opuntia ficus-indica. Marta Cunha, Luis Giraldo-Silva, Alberto C. P. Dias. (2021). Book link: https://www.frontiersin.org/books/International_Conference_on_Medicinal_and_Food_Plant_Research__3rd_Sino-CPLP_Symposium_on_Natural_P/4689 Conference	International Conference on Medicinal and Food Plant Research & 3rd SINO-CPLP Symposium on Natural Products and Biodiversity Resources Universidade do Minho Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental, Portugal Macau University of Science and Technology State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines, Macau SAR China Shaanxi University of Science and Technology Xianyang Campus, China
2021/02/04 - 2021/02/05	Poster Communication: Production and in vivo skin hydration evaluation of a cosmeceutical containing Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill cladodes hydroalcoholic extract. Marta Cunha, Bárbara Ferreira, Luís Giraldo-Silva, Alberto C.P. Dias. (2021). Poster link: https://esa.ipb.pt/naturalproducts/images/Cosmetic.pdf Congress	Natural Products Applications Congress: Health, Cosmetic and Food Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Portugal
2020/11/05 - 2020/11/06	Poster Communication: Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of Opuntia spp. cladodes hydroalcoholic extract. Marta Cunha, Luís Giraldo-Silva, Bárbara Ferreira, Alberto C.P. Dias. (2020). Conference	IberPhenol - International Conference Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019/04/10 - 2019/04/10	Poster Communication: In vitro antioxidant assays of Arbustus unedo (L.) leaves and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill cladodes. Marta Cunha, Bárbara Ferreira, Luís Giraldo-Silva, Vanessa Magalhães and Alberto Dias. (2019). Exhibition	#04 Jornadas INTERACT Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal

Mentoring / Tutoring

	Topic	Student name
2022/09 - 2023/05	Safety, stability, and bioactive properties of high-value marine collagen peptides for food and cosmetic applications	Nádia Cunha Fernandes (Master Student)
2022/09 - 2023/05	Production and characterization of bioactive peptides from mussel's shells	Daniela Marisa Vale Ferreira (Master Student)
2022/05 - 2022/05	Avaliação da bioatividade do muco de peixes marinhos comparação dos perfis proteicos em C. lyra e H. didactylus	Rita Alexandra Carvalho Marques (Master Student)

Scientific expedition

	Activity description	Institution / Organization
2023/06/10 - 2033/06/25	Within the framework of the FISHMUC project, Marta Fernandez Cunha undertook a mobility assignment to the University of Saint Joseph in Macau, focusing on exploring the distinctive properties of the mucus from the fish species Boleophthalmus pectinirostris.	University of Saint Joseph - Nape Campus, Macau SAR China