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Paulo Félix (PF) earned his BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Coimbra (2021, 16/20), where he developed skills in microbiology, focusing on virulent genes, antibiotic resistance, and antimicrobial properties of natural compounds. Motivated to explore biotechnology at the intersection of research and industry, he pursued a Master’s in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at UC’s Faculty of Pharmacy, graduating in 2023 with a final grade of 18/20. His master’s thesis focused on the evaluation of the immunomodulatory potential of toll-like receptor agonists encapsulated in glucan particles as adjuvants in an oral vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. This work resulted in a first-author publication in Vaccine (Q1, IF 4.5) (doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127078). PF gained technical expertise in polymeric nanoparticles, cell culture (cell lines and primary cells – mice and human), ELISA, and cell transfection. He presented his work at several scientific meetings, including oral and poster presentations at national and international conferences in 2023. Additionally, he engaged in science outreach through public events and school-targeted activities. Currently, PF is a research fellow in the Horizon Europe PathFinder project Piezo4Spine (Ref: 101098597), developing mRNA nanoformulations for spinal cord injury. His work includes spinal cord organotypic cultures, injury model development, immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopy. His research interests span biotechnology, nanomedicine, regenerative therapies, biomaterials, and immunology. Through this project, he continues to expand his technical and translational research skills, especially in nanomedicine applied to neuroregeneration.
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Paulo Miguel Almeida Félix

Citation names

  • Félix, Paulo

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
8F1A-A3E8-16B9
ORCID iD
0009-0007-7032-9599

Email addresses

  • paulo.f.miguel0273@gmail.com (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Biomaterials
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Health-Related Biotechnology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Technologies Involving the Manipulation of Cells, Tissues, Organs or the Whole Organism
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Immunology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2024/10 - 2025/06
Ongoing
Training Course - Scientific Research Methodologies (Pós-Graduação)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
2021/10 - 2023/10
Concluded
Biotecnologia Farmacêutica (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
"Exploring the immunomodulatory potential of toll-like receptor agonists encapsulated within glucan particles as vaccine adjuvants" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
18/20
2021/09/19 - 2021/10/07
Concluded
Biotecnologia Molecular (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
17/20
2018/09 - 2021/06
Concluded
Bioquímica (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Avaliação do potencial antibacteriano de extratos de chá preto, café e café descafeinado sobre Staphylococcus aureus" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
16/20
2021/03 - 2021/05
Attended
I Curso de Medicina Legal (Outros)
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Brazil
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution
Employer
2024/10 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia, Portugal
2022/06/01 - 2022/07/29 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2021/03/01 - 2021/07/30 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2020/09 - 2020/12 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2024/10 - Current Piezo4Spine - Piezo-driven Theramesh: A revolutionary multifaceted actuator torepair the injured spinal cord
101098597
Research Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia, Portugal
European Commission
Ongoing
2022/08/29 - 2022/09/28 Design and construction of new adjuvants for therapeutic vaccines through the association of 2 or more immunopotentiating compounds
IT137-22-062
Scientific Initiation Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Panão Costa, João; Colaço, Mariana; Félix, Paulo; Melo, Alexandra A.; Lebre, Filipa; Cruz M. T.; Alfaro-Moreno, Ernesto; Moreira J. N.; Borges, Olga. "b-glucan polymeric microparticles: innovating cancer immunotherapy through targeted antigen delivery". Paper presented in 6th Portuguese Association for Cancer Research (ASPIC) International Congress, 2024.
  2. Félix, Paulo; Panão Costa, João; Colaço, Mariana; Borges, Olga. "The immunomodulatory potential of a dual TLR agonist strategy as an oral vaccine adjuvant for SARS-CoV-2". Paper presented in iMED Conference 15.0, 2023.
  3. Félix, Paulo; Panão Costa, João; Colaço, Mariana; Borges, Olga. "The immunomodulatory potential of a dual TLR agonist strategy as a vaccine adjuvant". Paper presented in 4th SPLC-CRS Young Scientists Meeting, 2023.
Journal article
  1. Félix, Paulo; Melo, Alexandra A.; Panão Costa, João; Colaço, Mariana; Pereira, Dina; Núñez, Jisette; Pereira de Almeida, Luis ; Borges, Olga. Corresponding author: Borges, Olga. "Exploring TLR agonists as adjuvants for COVID-19 oral vaccines". Vaccine 53 (2025): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127078.
    Open access • Published
  2. Melo, Alexandra A.; Colaço, Mariana; Panão Costa, João; Félix, Paulo; Figueirinha, Artur ; Borges, Olga. "The Immunomodulatory Effect of the Roots of Withania Somnifera Encapsulated Into ß - Glucan Particles". International Journal of Pharmaceuticals (2025):
    Submitted
  3. Panão Costa, João; Colaço, Mariana; Félix, Paulo; Melo, Alexandra A.; Gomes, Célia; Borges, Olga. "Dual Oral Vaccine Formulation for Chronic Hepatitis B: Leveraging Glucan Particles to Target the Liver and Enhanced Cellular Immune Response". (2025):
    Submitted
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. "Exploring the immunomodulatory potential of toll-like receptor agonists encapsulated within glucan particles as vaccine adjuvants". Master, Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, 2023.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2023/10/28 Toll-like Receptor Ligands as Oral Vaccine Adjuvants: Immunomodulatory Effects against SARS-CoV-2 X Iberoamerican Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia (Coimbra, Portugal)

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event
Event name
Institution / Organization
2025/03/31 - 2025/03/31 Brain Awareness Week 2025 activity CIBB Event in at the Solum Sul School's Center, where students got to play interactive games related to science and manipulate scientific equipment. Activity reach out: 61 students (1st grade) + 5 teachers.
Workshop
Brain Awarness Week 2025
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia, Portugal
2025/03/13 - 2025/03/13 Participation on the "Feira de Ciência" at Escola Secundária José Falcão - Speed dating with middle and high school students with the title "Reconectar para Voltar a Sentir: Novas Terapias para Lesões da Medula Espinhal"
Other
Feira da Ciência, Escola Secundária José Falcão
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia, Portugal
2023/10/26 - 2023/10/28 Participation at X Iberoamerican Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Congress
X Iberoamerican Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2023/10/20 - 2023/10/22 Participation at iMED Conference 15.0
Conference
iMED Conference 15.0
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Medical School, Portugal
2023/09/30 - 2023/09/30 Participation on "PicNic com Saúde", as representative of Advanced Therapies Group of Centre for inovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CiBB) at the University of Coimbra Polo III
Exhibition
PinNic com Saúde
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/02/06 - 2023/02/07 Participation at 4th SPLC-CRS Young Scientists Meeting
Congress
4th SPLC-CRS Young Scientists Meeting
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2025/01/01 - 2025/01/31 Master's student Andreia Areias
2024/04/01 - 2024/07/31 Master's student Maria Estela Vieira
2024/04/01 - 2024/07/31 Master's student Dafne Simões de Oliveira