FARDILHA'S
LAB

About

Renato Manuel da Silva Rodrigues holds a BSc in Biomedical Sciences (2023) and an MSc in Molecular Biomedicine (2025), both from the University of Aveiro. He has concluded a Specialisation Course in Leadership and Health Management (2026), holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research in Health Services (2025) and completed international training in Remote Entrepreneurship through the European SEVERE consortium (2022). Since November 2025, Renato is a Research Fellow at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), performing his work in collaboration with the Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro.

He has been transitioning his research focus toward reproductive health and fertility (COMPETE2030-FEDER-00851600). Participation in this project has provided him with specialized experience in handling and analyzing sperm cells to develop through the project "SpermXYSort - Immunological-based sperm sexing technique for targeted animal production" (innovative sexing technologies. His technical expertise includes: cell culture and cell viability assays, western blot, Wound healing assay, colony formation assay and Immunocytochemistry (ICC). Additionally, his participation in a public health project addressing the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among Portuguese adolescents has broadened his multidisciplinary research perspective.

Renato’s scientific production includes peer-reviewed publications in international journals such as JNCI Cancer Spectrum and Therapeutics, addressing the role of Galectin-3 (Gal-3) and PP1-docking motif-mimetic peptides in prostate cancer and engages in public scientific discourse, having published in the Portuguese national newspaper Observador. He frequently presents his laboratory-based research at scientific forums, including the 12nd SINAL-Meeting on Signal Transduction (Porto, Portugal) and the Health Congress: Bridging Research and Clinical Practice (Aveiro, Portugal). Alongside his experimental research, Renato has developed a strong profile in pedagogical innovation. This is highlighted by his recent participation in the 20th International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED 2026) in Valencia (Spain), as well as his contributions to the International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'24) and several National Congresses on Pedagogical Practices (CNaPPES).

He is deeply involved in institutional governance, serving as a member of the Pedagogical Council and the Permanent Commission for Pedagogical Evaluation and Quality (CPAQP) at the University of Aveiro. Previously, he contributed to the Department of Medical Sciences (DCM) as a member of the Departmental Council (2022-2024) and the Quality Management System Subcommittee (SubGQ_UC, 2022-2023). This commitment to academic community engagement began early in his training, evidenced by his tenure as Coordinator of the Biomedical Sciences Student Group at the Academic Association of the University of Aveiro (AAUAv). His leadership is further demonstrated by his role in organizing committees for major events, such as the XXII National Biochemistry Congress (2024, Aveiro) and the upcoming International Symposium on Sperm Biology (2027, Aveiro). He is a member of the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (IRHEC/ESHRE), the European Society for Clinical Investigation, and the Network for Young Researchers in Andrology (NYRA). He also holds ICH Good Clinical Practice (R2 and R3), Scientific Writing from Stanford University and other relevant certifications.