Profile
Helena Santos: graduated in Chemical Engineering, IST, 1974 (grade 18/20); PhD in structure/function relationship of proteins by NMR (1984). Professor of Biochemistry and Head of the Cell Physiology & NMR Lab at ITQB NOVA between 1989 and 2022. She was the Coordinator of two EU Projects, Coordinator of the Leaf comprising 13 partners in the EU Project “Extremophiles as Cell Factories”, BIOTECH Program, and team leader in 15 other European projects. Supervised 25 PhD theses. Principal Organizer of 10 International Congresses. Delivered 110 invited lectures in International Conferences. President of the “International Society for Extremophiles” from 2010 to 2015; Co-author of six European Patents and over 260 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters (WoS database, h=59; 10393 citations).
Her Research Group focused on Microbial Physiology, especially on metabolism, metabolic engineering and life adaptation to high temperature.
In vivo and in vitro Nuclear Magnetic Resonance is the main tool used for structural determination of proteins and metabolites and to guide metabolic engineering strategies for production of chemicals with industrial relevance. The activity of the Team in the area of Extremophiles is amply recognized. We focused on microorganisms adapted to temperatures around 100 ºC. Novel metabolites were identified, their biosynthetic pathways characterized and potential applications in biotechnology were explored. We identified over a dozen of novel stress metabolites, demonstrated their usefulness as protein protectors and studied their mode of action (effect on protein structure and dynamics). Yeast models of the Parkinson´s disease were used to confirm the efficacy of these solutes in the intracellular milieu, suggesting their potential usefulness as lead compounds for treatment/prevention of protein misfolding diseases. It was our interest in the biosynthesis of these exquisite compatible solutes from hyperthermophiles, such as di-myo-inositol-phosphate, that led us to the last research topic of novel antituberculosis drugs. She was distinguished with several honors and awards: 1998. Prémio Gulbenkian de Ciência, Applied Sciences and Technology; 2004. “Estímulo à Excelência”, Prize for scientific productivity, Portuguese Ministery of Science, Innovation and High Education; 2007. “Prémio Câmara Pestana”; 2009. Correspondent Member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences; 2014. Medal of Merit awarded by the Torres Vedras Municipality; 2016. Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Extremophiles, Kyoto, Japan; 2019. Medal of Scientific Achievement, Ministry of Science and Technology; 2019. Prize António Xavier. Sponsor: Bruker Biospin, Germany, for scientific contributions in the area of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; 2019. Prize Nicolau van Uden. Portuguese Microbiology Society; 2019. Effective Member of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences.
