Cristina J. Dias obtained her BSc (2015), MSc (2015) and PhD (2025; FCT fellowship SFRH/BD/150676/2020) in Biochemistry, all from the University of Aveiro (UA). Her doctoral research focused on the design, synthesis and preclinical validation of chlorophyll-derived photosensitizers (PS) for poorly responsive solid tumors, namely triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). She conceived and developed the molecular structures, optimized PDT protocols and led phototoxicity, intracellular localization and dose–response studies. A distinctive aspect of her work was the systematic use of advanced 3D tumor models, including tumorspheres and pancreatic co-culture systems with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), enabling evaluation of therapeutic performance in biologically relevant tumor microenvironments. From 2018 and 2020, she contributed to the FCT-funded PREVINE project, contributing to the synthesis of porphyrin derivatives for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. During this period, she gained solid experience in organic synthesis, photochemistry and in vitro biological evaluation. In 2020, she completed a COST Action research stay at the University of Florence (2020), contributing to the design and synthesis of a,a'-dioxothione–porphyrin conjugates. This experience resulted in a peer-reviewed publication and represented her first international scientific output. In 2023, she completed an EEA funded internship at Oslo University Hospital (Norwegian Radium Hospital), receiving specialised training in Photochemical Internalization. This experience expanded her expertise in light activated therapeutic strategies and strengthened her international research network. Her PhD work led to a national patent application and subsequent PCT submission, where she was one of the main scientific contributors. Cristina participated in two Proof of Concept grants (UACOOPERA 2024 and 2025), contributing to experimental validation, technology maturation and definition of translational milestones. Her work was recognized with the Empreende+ Award (1st prize, 2024). In 2025, Cristina secured her first independent funding as Principal Investigator through a CanSERV approved project, to evaluate one of her photosensitisers in a patient derived xenograft model. This marks the beginning of her transition to scientific independence. Currently, she is a postdoctoral student at the UA, where she had the opportunity to work, during two months, in collaboration with the Cellularis Biomodels spin off. She is consolidating an independent research line focused on drug delivery platforms that integrate molecular design with advanced biological validation. To date (January 31, 2026), Cristina is the author/co-author of 15 scientific papers (3 as first author) published in international peer-reviewed journals (h-index = 9), 1 book chapter, 14 poster communications and 17 oral communications. These publications have been cited 465 times (source: Web of Science). She is also the co-inventor of 1 national patent application (PT119725; pending) and a PCT application (PCT/IB2025/059786; pending). She has supervised and mentored Master’s (3) and Bachelor’s (4) students.