My research interest is on mechanisms and treatments for chronic inflammatory disorders (CID), with present focus in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). I develop and use innovative microscopy-based tools to look at patterns "inside" and "outside" leukocytes that steer their navigation to inflammation hubs. My scientific career starts in Pardi´s lab (Milan-MI, 2005) investigating core-signaling pathways controlling leukocyte adhesion and transmigration in inflammation, a 2nd author work published in Blood (Molteni R et al., 2007). In 2006, I was awarded a Marie Curie PhD fellowship [EST-MSCA]. During my PhD and 1st postdoc with Pardi (MI; 2006-2014), I specialized on dynamics of leukocyte migration to injury using medaka. I got expert in the intravital imaging potential of the model in Wittbrodt´s lab of excellence at EMBL-Heidelberg (2008) and, then pioneered the know-how at IFOM (MI; 2009-2014). In 2014 in JCS, I am the first to unveil the in vivo role of the PAR complex directing leukocyte polarization and migration to inflammation (Crespo CL et al, 2014). Using high quality quantitative microscopy, I also found new cytoskeletal patterns in leukocytes moving in 3D. Alongside, I was co-author on Cell and Nat. Comm. breakthroughs in 3D cell migration (Maiuri P et al, 2015; Thiam HR et al. 2016), with key gurus in the field (Matthieu Piel, Michael Sixt, Raphael Voituriez), and was invited speaker in 7 scientific meetings in circa 6 yrs. In 2015, I was offered an imaging scientist position at Humanitas Research Hospital (Milan). Here I learnt 2-photon microscopy of gut immunity and skin repair in mice, developed advanced microscopy technology and lectured courses on Bioimaging. In 2016, I moved to CEDOC-NMS (PT) and assumed leadership and management positions in preclinical and clinical research. First, I implemented an ERC PoC project for CID of the gut barrier in Jacinto´s lab, having Thelial Tech. SA as partner, and collaborated with Stefan H. E. Kaufmann into new therapeutic applications for skin regeneration (Lozza L & Moura-Alves P et al. Scient. Rep. 2019). After, I moved to J. Branco´s team, where I conquered reverence in clinical research. This 1-yr work granted 1 review (Valido A et al. 2019) and 13 abstracts in renowned international peer-reviewed journals (e.g. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Osteoporosis International) and a strong network of national experts and authorities. In recent activity separate from academia, I worked for Innovimmune Biotherapeutics as part of the consultancy team in autoimmune disorders (USA, 2018). Here, I operated in the R&D pipeline: lead discovery, preclinical development and fundraising for clinical trials. In 2018-2020, I was invited assistant professor at NMS. Now, I am Principal Investigator of TarGut - "Targeting early stages of gut inflammation" in Jacinto's lab, under a SR&TD FCT project grant [PTDC/BTM-SAL/29377/2017]. I am also scientific responsible of the Animal Welfare Body ORBEA at NMS and direct supervisor of a MSc student. I recently submitted a last author manuscript to a PR journal disclosing a pilot discovery platform for IBD (Silva NV et al). To conclude, as outcome of my scientific and curricular path my main fortes are: 1) 16 yrs. of continuous upgrading in scientific and technological know-how and in research leadership throughout the research ecosystem (i.e. in basic, preclinical and clinical research, and in biotech); 2) Growing establishment of national and international collaborations (A. Jacinto, M. Piel, J. Wittbodt, S. H. E. Kaufmann, R. Pardi, Phillip J. Keller, P. Moura-Alves, C. N. dos Santos, O. Vieira, F.M. Pimentel-Santos and J. Branco, among others); 3) Publications in high impact peer-reviewed journals continuously cited by experts in the field; 4) Scientific excellence recognized with awards and funding by national and international funding agencies (e.g. PTDC/BTM-SAL/29377/2017 by FCT, Seal of Excellence MSCA-IF-2016 by the European Commission).