Catarina Macedo graduated in Applied Biology in 2017 from the School of Sciences at the University of Minho (UM), where she developed a project focused on protein design for application in skin and hair cosmetic formulations. In 2020, she completed a Master’s in Molecular Genetics at the Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and the Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), UM, under the supervision of Professors Raúl Machado and André da Costa. Her thesis was in the field of tissue engineering, specifically on the functionalization and processing of genetically engineered protein-based polymers for the development of advanced biomaterials (extracellular matrix-mimetics) for biomedical applications. Throughout her academic journey, she gained expertise in various fields, including genetics, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology. She has hands-on experience in genetic engineering techniques such as DNA extraction/editing, PCR, and gel electrophoresis, as well as in protein purification methods. Additionally, she has extensive experience in cell culture techniques, particularly in cell viability and adhesion assays and fluorescence microscopy. She has also worked with various software tools, including SnapGene, Microsoft Office, GraphPad, ImageJ, GIMP, and Design-Expert. In September 2021, she started as a volunteer researcher at REQUIMTE/LAQV – Polytechnic of Porto, School of Engineering (ISEP), where she expanded her knowledge in sustainable extraction techniques and in vitro assays for evaluating radical scavenging capacity and antioxidant activity. She later joined the Kiwi4Health project as a research fellow, focusing on the valorization of kiwiberry by-products for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, specializing in Pharmaceutical Technology, at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto. Her PhD project, titled "Soil to Brain – Insights into Environment-Friendly Kiwiberry Extracts to Prevent/Treat Glioblastoma: From In-vitro to In-vivo Approach", investigates the role of phenolic compounds extracted from kiwiberry using green methodologies in glioblastoma development, assessing their potential for prevention and treatment. She has authored six published research articles, three book chapters, and presented four posters at national and international conferences. In recent years, she has also attended more than 20 conferences and workshops and has participated in the organization of four scientific events. She has also completed several advanced courses in diverse fields, including Bionanoparticles and their therapeutic challenges, Microbial genomics and bioinformatics, Biopolymers from renewable sources, Preparation and biophysical characterization of nanoformulations for biomedical uses, and Liquid chromatography: fundamentals and applications. Additionally, from 2017 to 2020, she balanced her academic career with volunteer work as an Emergency Medical Technician at the Portuguese Red Cross, gaining hands-on experience in emergency response and healthcare support while actively participating in social programs.