Professor
Professor Auxiliar
Principal Investigator
Jacinta Serpa holds a Biology degree from the University of the Azores (1997) and a PhD in Human Biology, specializing in glycobiology and gastric cancer, from the University of Porto (2005). With over 20 years of experience in cancer biology, she has been a faculty member at NOVA Medical School since 2008 and a senior researcher at the Portuguese Oncology Institute (IPOLFG) since 2006.
Her research focuses on cancer metabolism, specifically the metabolic reprogramming that supports cancer cell survival in specific microenvironments and influences therapeutic response. Since 2015, she has led the Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Laboratory at NOVA Medical School and IPOLFG. Her work centers on identifying metabolic biomarkers linked to chemoresistance and prognosis, and discovering therapeutic targets based on tumor metabolic vulnerabilities, with metabolomics playing a crucial role. JSerpa aims to understand cancer within its pathophysiological context, uncovering key metabolic processes that drive tumor growth and resistance, contributing to the development of targeted therapies. She has published 55 peer-reviewed papers (37 as senior or corresponding author), with a significant impact reflected by an h-index of 29 and nearly 2,900 citations.
Recently, she filed a national and PCT patent for a novel therapy targeting glutamine dependence in glioblastoma, overcoming previous treatment challenges like blood-brain barrier penetration and toxicity. The international patent phase begins in March 2026. In addition to research, J Serpa is committed to teaching and academic leadership, coordinating oncology-related courses and a postgraduate program in Clinical Genetics and Genomics at NOVA Medical School.