PARTNERS

Carla Brites (Senior Researcher)

Specialized in Food Science & Technology, with expertise in biodiversity, functional, and molecular quality of cereals and legumes. Serves as a Research & Innovation Officer for the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) and is a member of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR). In addition to DXHub, she actively contributes to three Horizon projects, RefreSCAR, Agroecology and FutureFoodS partnerships focused on sustainability and innovation.

Helga Waap (Researcher and head of the National Reference Laboratory for Parasites)

Her research focuses on helminthology, protozoology, and entomology, with an emphasis on vector-borne and zoonotic food-borne diseases. She primarily works on the epidemiology and diagnostics of livestock, wildlife species, and companion animals. She previously participated in the H2020 One Health EJP projects Toxosources, MeMe, and PARADISE. In addition to DXHub, she currently participates in the Horizon project KNOW-PATH under the EUP-AHW – European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare.

Ana Botelho (Senior Researcher and head of the Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratory at the National Reference Laboratory for Animal Health)

Her main research interests include developing molecular tools for diagnosing infectious and zoonotic diseases in production animals, wildlife, and pets, with a focus on animal tuberculosis, molecular epidemiology, host-pathogen interactions, and antimicrobial resistance studies. She previously participated in the H2020 One Health EJP projects DiSCoVeR, IDEMBRU and ADONIS. In addition to DXHub, she is currently involved in the Horizon project BETO-Better Tools for Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases under the EUP-AHW–European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare.

Sandra Cavaco (Senior Researcher at the National Reference Laboratory
for Animal Health)

Her research focuses on zoonotic diseases, particularly tuberculosis, brucellosis, and leptospirosis, within a One Health framework. She is part of the team responsible for implementing the national eradication program for animal tuberculosis. She previously participated in the H2020 One Health EJP projects COHESIVE and IDEMBRU. Currently, she is a member of the General Assembly of the Horizon EUP-AHW-European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare and the PREZODE initiative (Preventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence). In addition to DXHub, she is involved in the Horizon project BETO (Better Tools for Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases) and the European Network for Wild Mammals and Birds under the EUP-AHW.

Fábio Abade dos Santos (Junior Researcher holds a Master’s in Veterinary Medicine (University of Lisbon), dual PhDs in Veterinary Sciences and Molecular and Cellular Biology (University of Oviedo), and a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence in Health (CEMP/University of Murcia)

Since 2023, he has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiology, being an ABVS specialist in Virology and Immunology. He is an editor/reviewer in several scientific journals of the SCI, co-author of more than 35 articles, 10 national/international awards, several book chapters and patents. Responsible for leporid and some ruminant viral diseases. In addition to DXHub he is participant of IberConejo (LIFE program) and SIVIZ a European initiative under the EU4Health Programme (EU4H) aimed at developing an integrated surveillance and alert system for zoonotic diseases in Portugal.

Margarida Dias Duarte (Senior Researcher leading the Virology Laboratory within the Strategic Research and Animal Production and Health Services Unit)

Her research focuses on animal infectious diseases, including ASFV, canine parvovirus, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, myxoma virus, and herpesvirus, with expertise in pathogenesis, phylogenetics, evolution, novel diagnostic methods, and vaccine innovation. She is actively involved in three national projects—one addressing the national-level notification of neglectable diseases and two focused on wildlife. In addition to DXHub, she participates in two European projects: IberConejo (LIFE program) and KNOW PATH (Better tools for diagnosing infectious diseases) under the EUP-AHW – European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare.

Maria L. Inácio (Senior Researcher and head of the National Reference Laboratory for Nematology (NemaINIAV)

Overseeing the planning and management of multiple projects focused on plant-parasitic nematodes, their impact on agroforestry systems, and the development of innovative diagnostic tools and control strategies. She and her team are responsible for implementing national surveillance programs for several quarantine nematodes, including potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis) and various root-knot nematode species (Meloidogyne spp.).

Eugénia de Andrade (Researcher and head of the National Reference Laboratory for GMOs and Molecular Biology, with expertise in Plant Breeding, Developmental Biology, and Molecular Biology)

Her current research focuses on the molecular variability of plant pest species—including insects, fungi, nematodes, and parasitic weeds—to develop targeted real-time PCR and LAMP detection methods. Additionally, she investigates strategies to enhance tomato resistance to mycotoxigenic fungi using CRISPR technology. Previously, she contributed to the SmartAgriHubs H2020 project, and in addition to DxHub, she is currently involved in the NaturaAgro (LIFE program) project.

Paula S. Coelho (Researcher in Horticulture, specializing in resistance to downy mildew disease)

Her research focuses on disease resistance, Brassica germplasm collections (cabbage, broccoli, radish, wild rocket), plant-pathogen interactions, plant breeding, histology and race identification. She previously contributed to the H2020 SmartProtect project (Smart farming for innovative crop protection: leveraging advanced methodologies and technologies). In addition to her involvement in DXHub, she is responsible for planning and developing research activities across various nationally funded projects and for establishing research protocols with the private sector to enhance sustainable crop protection practices.