NMR at FCT NOVA

NMR at FCT NOVA The (Bio)Molecular Structure and Interactions by NMR is a research group in UCIBIO, FCT-NOVA, Caparica.

Main focus: application and development of solution state (NMR) spectroscopy for structural analysis and the study of intermolecular interactions.

We’re thrilled to share our new work, “MGL Based Drug Conjugate: A Novel Glycan Targeting Strategy for Potential Precisi...
18/05/2026

We’re thrilled to share our new work, “MGL Based Drug Conjugate: A Novel Glycan Targeting Strategy for Potential Precision Cancer Therapy.”
We engineered an MGL based drug conjugate (mMGL vcMMAE) that preserves the stability and specificity of native MGL while selectively targeting Tn/STn expressing cancer cells. It also recognizes colorectal cancer tissues and shows enhanced apoptotic activity compared to the free drug.
These findings highlight the promise of glycan guided delivery to improve precision and reduce off target toxicity in cancer therapy.

https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ceur.70288

UCIBIO - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy
NOVA FCT - Universidade NOVA de Lisboa

An engineered macrophage galactose-type lectin (MGL)-based conjugate (mMGL-vcMMAE), incorporating an exposed cysteine for site-specific drug linkage, preserves stability, binding profile, and affinit...

Honored to see our Co-Leader, Filipa Marcelo, highlighted on World Cancer Day by the European Research Executive Agency ...
08/02/2026

Honored to see our Co-Leader, Filipa Marcelo, highlighted on World Cancer Day by the European Research Executive Agency (REA).

Proud to be part of a team committed to impactful research and collaboration.

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: 𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 🔬

At UCIBIO, we celebrated the by sharing a major scientific breakthrough led by our researcher Filipa Marcelo, co-leader of the NMR at FCT NOVA Lab at UCIBIO - NOVA FCT.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆, 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘑𝘈𝘊𝘚 𝘈𝘶, 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀. The team discovered that the MGL protein acts as a "universal detector," recognizing specific alterations in sugars (truncated glycans) on the surface of cancer cells. It is not just the type of sugar that matters, but the organization of the receptor on the cell surface. This finding opens new doors for early cancer detection, designing more precise immunotherapies, and targeted drug delivery systems.

This work is a result of a collaborative effort involving NOVA FCT - Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, CIC bioGUNE Bilbao, University of Amsterdam / Universiteit van Amsterdam UMC, and Umeå University Research Projects.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: 🔗 https://bit.ly/4knnwov

🗞️ 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮: The relevance of this study has been highlighted by several national media outlets, including:
Lusa: https://bit.ly/46kSWGa
JN: https://bit.ly/4rwRl8r
Atlas da Saúde: https://bit.ly/4ayQT3K
SAPO: https://bit.ly/4a1BuJf
HealthNews: https://bit.ly/4tkyJKs
SaudeMais: https://bit.ly/4toQ8lq

📷 by João Lima

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Caparica

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