Metabolic Medicine and Oxygen Therapy UNIT
Daniela Martins Mendes, MD, PhD
Team Coordination

Daniela Mendes, MD, PhD
Group Leader




Research Topics
1. Diabetology
Diabetes is a very common disease in Portugal, affecting about a month of the population. More than a quarter of people over the age of 60 are diabetic.
2. Obesity
Type 2 diabetes is one of the main chronic diseases associated with obesity. It is estimated that 60% to 90% of patients with T2DM are obese, with a higher incidence after the age of 40.
3. Diabetic foot
An important fraction of these patients end up with changes in the lower limbs, such as sensory and motor deficits (diabetic neuropathy), changes in the position of the foot joints (diabetic arthropathy) and foot wounds and infections (diabetic foot).
4. Wound regeneration and angiogenesis
Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in wound healing by forming new blood vessels from preexisting vessels by invading the wound clot and organizing in to a microvascular network throughout the granulation tissue.
5. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves exposing the body to 100% oxygen at a pressure that is greater than normal. . Wounds need oxygen to heal properly. Exposing a wound to 100% oxygen may speed healing.
Team

Pedro Barata, MD, DPharm, PhD
Professor
Clinical Pathology and Pharmacology

Joana Rigor, MD
Internal Medicine Specialist, PhD Student
Metabolism - FMUP

Carla Luis
PhD student
Metabolism, FMUP

Cátia Almeida, BPharm
PhD Student
Metabolism, FMUP

Ana Catarina Rocha
PhD Student
Metabolism - FMUP

André Sousa
PhD Student
Metabolism - FMUP

Patrick Pais
PhD Student
Chemical and Biological Sciences, UTAD

Rejane Viana
MSc Student
Clinical and Metabolic Biochemistry
Associated Facilities

Biobank

Chemical Biopathology Lab

Molecular Biology Lab

Cell culture Lab