Magda Henriques
Researcher
About
Magda Henriques is a First-Level Doctorate Researcher at Fardilha’s Lab, iBiMED – University of Aveiro, working within the FCT-funded project SpermXYSort – Immunological-based sperm sexing technique for targeted animal production. She holds a BSc (2014) and MSc (2016) in Biochemistry from the University of Aveiro and completed her PhD in Biology in 2024 at the same institution, in collaboration with iBiMED, CESAM, and the Aveiro local hospital.
Her doctoral research focused on uncovering the molecular mechanisms through which lifestyle factors and environmental pollutant exposure affect human reproductive health in the population of the Aveiro region (Portugal). To date, she has authored or co-authored 13 peer-reviewed articles in international journals, as well as a book chapter, a conference proceedings paper, and six conference abstracts. She has contributed to the development, execution, and management of seven research projects, establishing collaborations at both national and international levels.
Magda currently co-supervises an MSc student in Cellular and Molecular Biology and contributes to teaching activities as a lecturer and guest lecturer in the BSc programmes in Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering. She is also actively engaged in science communication and in the organisation of scientific meetings.
Her main research interests include human fertility and reproduction, environmental pollutants, lifestyle factors, and biomarker discovery.
Publications
Papers
1. Henriques, Magda Carvalho; Santiago, Joana; Patrício, António; Herdeiro, Maria Teresa; Loureiro, Susana; Fardilha, Margarida. Corresponding author: Henriques, Magda Carvalho. "Mercury Exposure and Male Fertility: Studying the Impact of Environmental Bioaccumulation on Semen Quality". Food and Chemical Toxicology (2025): 115798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2025.115798.
2. Henriques, Magda Carvalho; Santiago, Joana; Patrício, António; Herdeiro, Maria Teresa; Loureiro, Susana; Fardilha, Margarida. Corresponding author: Fardilha, Margarida. "Smoking Induces a Decline in Semen Quality and the Activation of Stress Response Pathways in Sperm". Antioxidants 12 10 (2023): 1828. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antiox12101828.
3. Henriques, Magda Carvalho; Carvalho, Inês; Santos, Cátia; Herdeiro, Maria Teresa; Fardilha, Margarida; Pavlaki, Maria D.; Loureiro, Susana. "Unveiling the molecular mechanisms and developmental consequences of mercury (Hg) toxicity in zebrafish embryo-larvae: A comprehensive approach". Neurotoxicology and Teratology (2023): 107302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2023.107302.
4. Henriques, Magda Carvalho; Loureiro, Susana; Fardilha, Margarida; Herdeiro, Maria Teresa. "Exposure to mercury and human reproductive health: A systematic review". Reproductive Toxicology 85 (2019): 93-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2019.02.012.
Book chapter
Henriques, Magda C.; Loureiro, Susana; Fardilha, Margarida; Herdeiro, Maria Teresa. "The Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Male Fertility Decline". In Male Reproductive Health. IntechOpen, 2019. Doi: 10.5772/intechopen.88330