CQM Welcomes a New Assistant Researcher
The Madeira Chemistry Research Centre (CQM) is pleased to announce that, within the aim of the 7th edition of the Individual Scientific Employment Stimulus Call by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), another Assistant Researcher contract has been approved, with CQM as the host institution.
Oriana Marques was selected in this highly competitive call, in which only 14.4% of applications were successful, highlighting the scientific excellence and high potential of the approved proposal.
After eight years at Heidelberg University and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany, where she established herself as a specialist in iron metabolism and inflammatory diseases, Dr. Oriana Marques is now returning to Portugal to continue her research at CQM.
The three-year contract aligns with CQM’s strategic priorities for the coming years and will enable the development of innovative nanoparticle-based therapies for Anemia of Inflammation—a condition affecting millions of patients worldwide with chronic inflammatory diseases.
This project combines CQM’s established expertise in developing nanomaterials for biomedical applications with Dr. Oriana Marques’ specialized knowledge in iron biology and immune system regulation. The goal is to create “smart” nanoparticles capable of selectively targeting immune cells, restoring appropriate iron levels in patients, and paving the way for new therapeutic approaches to anemia associated with autoimmune diseases, cancer, and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
Following the approval of two other Assistant Researcher positions in previous calls, this third FCT-funded contract represents further recognition and strengthens CQM’s position in the international landscape of biomedical research and nanomedicine, by integrating into its team a highly qualified researcher with solid scientific experience and established collaborations with leading international institutions.