Directory Board

Luís Monteiro Rodrigues

Chairman of Board

Professor of Human Physiology and Pathology, started his academic career at the University of Lisboa, where he obtained his PhD (1992). His cooperation with Group Lusófona dates back to 1997, when the foundations of the group's health project were established.

He currently leads CBIOS – The U Lusofona’s Research Center in Biosciences and Health Technologies, and manages the PhD Program in Health Sciences with the U Alcalá (Spain).  He has produced more than 450 scientific papers in specialized journals, and approximately 400 communications (national and international). He has been distinguished with several prizes, and is part of several editorial boards in reference  journals in his areas of expertise.

      Patrícia Rijo

Board Treasurer 

Degree in Chemistry from the University of Lisbon (Faculty of Sciences), and a Master and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Chemistry in the same University (School of Pharmacy). She is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Health Sciences and Technologies at Universidade Lusófona, where she is responsible for Organic Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy. Associate editor of Phytomedicine and Frontiers in Pharmacology. Director of Research and Innovation at CBIOS (Research Center at Universidade Lusófona), where she leads the Laboratory of Natural Bioactives (Bio.Natural). Published more than 140 articles in international journals, has more than 300 communications (oral and panel) presented at national and international meetings and conferences. She holds three registered patents. 

     Regina Menezes 

Board Secretary

Regina Menezes earned her Ph.D. in Genetics from UFRJ (Brazil) with research at HHUD (Germany) on molecular reprogramming governing carbon source utilization in eukaryotic cells. As a Post-Doc at Universidade NOVA Lisboa (Portugal), she studied the molecular intricacies of adaptive responses to environmental insults. Since 2016, her research has focused on IAPP-induced pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and the role of dietary (poly)phenols in counteracting this process and promoting alpha-cell transdifferentiation into insulin producers. As an Assistant Researcher at CBIOS (Universidade Lusófona), she leads the Diabetes team of the Models & Molecular Mechanisms Lab and serves as Director of Societal Impact and Community Engagement.

General Assembly

Manuel de Almeida Damásio

Founder and Chairman of the General Assembly of ALIES         

PhD in History, Master's in Economics, Graduated in Sociology and Bachelor's in Social Politics. Regarded as one of the progenitors of the private high education system in Portugal (U Livre, U Autonoma), he is the founder and CEO of Grupo Lusófona, created in 1994/95, which includes several universities, technical and professional schools in Portugal and in the Portuguese-speaking countries universe.

   João Feliciano Costa

General Assembly Secretary

João Costa completed an Integrated Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon (FFUL) in 2008. He achieved a Specialization in Quality Control and Food Toxicology at FFUL in 2013. He holds a PhD in Health Sciences - Experimental and Clinical Pharmacy, from the University of Alcalá de Henares, 2018. João is an Assistant Professor at the School of Health Sciences and Technologies (ECTS), Lusófona University since 2013. He is a researcher and integrated member of CBIOS. João is a member of the Lusófona University and ECTS Ethics Committees and a member of the Scientific Councils of ECTS and CBIOS. His areas of research are related to Pharmacology, Toxicology and Food Toxicology.

Fiscal Council

       António Raposo

President of the Fiscal Council

António Raposo graduated in Nutritional Sciences in 2009 and concluded his PhD in Animal Health and Food Safety in 2013 (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain). He is integrated member of CBIOS and Assistant Professor at Lusófona University, Lisbon. His main research interests are Food Safety, Food Security, Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Natural Food Products. He has been invited by several institutions as a speaker (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; University of Coimbra) and published more than 100 papers indexed in JCR Web of Science, more than 100 communications in international conferences, and has a registered patent. António Raposo serves as editor for various internationally recognized journals such as Archives of Public Health (BMC); Advances in Public Health (Hindawi); Sustainability (MDPI); International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI); Nutrients (MDPI).

     Ana Morato

Rapporteur of the Fiscal Council 

Ana Morato earned a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Lisbon and the University of Bern, in 2007, and a degree in Technological Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences of ULisboa (1999).  She is currently the General Coordinator of the Lusófono Institute for Research and Development at Universidade Lusófona, where she is responsible for ensuring administrative and management support throughout all project phases, from pre- to post-award. Her role includes leading research management, supervising both national and international projects, as well as advising on applications for funding from organisations such as FCT, La Caixa and Horizonte Europa.

    Maria Lídia Palma

Secretary of the Fiscal Council

Maria Lídia Palma is an Assistant Professor with a background in Pharmaceutical Sciences, with experience in academia and industry. PhD in Biomedicine (U Alcalá, Spain), with a strong research interest in natural ingredients and the development of sustainable food products. Current Director of Beauty and Wellness program at U.Lusófona (baccalaureate).