Over the past 30 years I have studied the molecular mechanisms that regulate the faithful segregation of chromosomes during cell division in eukaryotes. My lab has concentrated in the identification and characterization of essential proteins that regulate this process, namely the organization of the mitotic spindle, its interaction with kinetochores and the spindle assembly checkpoint. One of my main achievements was the identification and study of the Polo-like kinase family of proteins that play a fundamental role in the orchestration of mitosis in all eukaryotes. In the context of the Cancer program we contribute with our understanding of the mechanisms that ensure the maintenance of genome stability during cell proliferation that are known to be dysregulated in many types of tumours. My group has published more than more than 110 papers in peer reviewed journals, including top international journals. I am currently de Director of the Institute for research and Innovation in Health – i3S.
