“Behind every research project are scientists who care deeply about bringing change to improve the lives of people with CF”

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

I started my research career in Portugal specialising in tuberculosis (TB), a condition that is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacteria is similar to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) that cause lung infections in people with CF.  

When I moved to Cambridge, I started using my skills and expertise in drug discovery and microbiology to help develop new treatments for mycobacterial infections. I was struck that unlike for TB, for which there are several therapies available, for NTM there's absolutely nothing approved. 

My interests aligned with those of Professor Andres Floto – my drug discovery background, his background in clinical research – and we started working together to find new therapies for CF lung infections. 

Can you tell us what your research is about? 

For antibiotics to work they need to get inside the bacteria themselves, and that’s extremely difficult due to the barriers and defense mechanisms of bacteria. We don't understand how some antibiotics get inside bacteria and others don't.  

Researchers have known about this problem for many years but no one has ever figured out how to study it at the scale needed to develop predictive models of compound entry in bacteria. Now, we’ve developed new methods combining chemical analysis and AI. We’ve tested 10,000 chemicals for their ability to get into the bacteria and how much of each chemical stays there. We hope to use our knowledge of the properties of the chemicals that get into the bacteria and apply this to the design of new medicines.  

What’s a typical day like for you? 

It can vary a lot. There's always a lot going on – experiments, analyzing data, coordinating with partners, meetings to keep things going and keep the project running. It's intense. It takes a lot of creativity, attention to detail, teamwork and a massive dose of perseverance, but it's also deeply rewarding. 

What do you love most about working in research? 

I think it's the sense of discovery. The moment when after long periods of work – weeks or months – you finally get a breakthrough and start understanding the problem. It's a bit like being an explorer – you're pushing the unknown and expanding the boundaries of what we know. Ultimately, it’s knowing that what we do will have a real impact on people's lives. It goes beyond science and we are really hoping that this can be transformative. 

How do you relax at the end of the day? 

I enjoy playing music to unwind and be creative in a different way. I have hobbies that are a bit scientific as well, like archaeology, history and the evolution of societies. I also enjoy spending time with friends and family. It’s really important to recharge and then go back to the lab with fresh ideas. 

What does Cystic Fibrosis Trust mean to you? 

The Trust has really helped me develop my career. It provided the means to explore challenging ideas and risky projects – this was a risky project since nobody has done this before. As well as being risky, it has huge potential to transform and improve the lives of people with CF.  

The projects I’m working on are large scale and involve a lot of different expertise, so collaborations are really important to get things done. I have access to a network of collaborations made possible by Trust funding.  

What would be your festive wish for the CF community? 

My wish would be for continued  progress. Whether it's big or small, I’d wish for new discoveries and new reasons to feel hopeful about better treatments. Small changes in everyday life can help a lot. And, of course, for people to enjoy their time with their loved ones. 

What would you say to our supporters who help fund research like yours?

Every bit of support really does make a difference. Behind every research project that you support are scientists who care deeply about their results and about bringing change to improve the lives of people that live with CF.  

Donations to Cystic Fibrosis Trust really help to make that possible, your support can turn these ideas into real progress for people living with CF.