Expertise
Expert in Natural Products and Phytochemistry with research skills in Drug Discovery. Skills in Chromatography and Spectroscopy.
- Chemistry (CHE)
- Life Sciences (LIF)
- Environmental and Geosciences (ENV)
Author
Patrícia Rijo
Associate Professor with habilitation
Lusófona University
Lisbon, Portugal
7 profile visits
I am an Associate Professor in Medicinal Chemistry, with a Master's and PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. I focus on natural products chemistry and pharmacology.
My organisation
Lusófona University is the largest private university in Portugal, situated in the heart of Lisbon. Managed by COFAC - Cooperativa de Formação e Animação Cultural, Lusófona University operates as a not-for-profit educational entity. COFAC is legally responsible for overseeing the university's development and administration. It is recognized as the largest educational cooperative in Portugal that does not rely on state funding.
Lusófona University's reach extends beyond Portugal, with affiliated universities and colleges located in Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, and Mozambique, reflecting its commitment to fostering education within the Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) community worldwide.
This description highlights both the central role of Lusófona University in higher education and COFAC's involvement as a leading educational organization.
About me
I am an Associate Professor, having graduated in Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (1999). I obtained a Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Therapy from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon (2003), followed by a PhD with honors and distinction in Pharmacy (Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Therapy) from the same institution in 2011. In 2024, I completed my habilitation.
I began my career at Universidade Lusófona (UL) in the School of Health Sciences and Technologies (ECTS) in 2001 as an Assistant Trainee, a position I held until 2011. From 2011 to 2020, I served as an Assistant Professor, and in 2020, I was promoted to Associate Professor, a role I currently hold.
Regarding scientific and academic management, I have been a part of the CBIOS board since its establishment in 2011, first serving as Director for Technology until 2017, then as Scientific Director for Communication and External Relations, and since 2022, as Director of Research and Innovation. I have also been the International Coordinator of the ECTS (since 2019), Director of the Master's in Natural Bioactive Chemistry at UL (since 2023), and have coordinated the operational domain and Natural Bioactives Laboratory at CBIOS since 2016.
Since 2014, I have held the position of Secretary-General of the Portuguese Society of Phytochemistry and Phytotherapy (SPFito). I have been a member of the Scientific Council (SC) of ECTS-UL since 2014, served on the SC of UL from 2013 to 2017, and have been a member of the Pedagogical Council of ECTS-UL since 2023.
My research focuses on key areas of natural products chemistry, including the development of methods for isolating, identifying, and characterizing various natural compounds. I also investigate their pharmacological potential, particularly in the fields of cancer and infectious diseases, with a strong emphasis on sustainable resource use. In addition, I work on modifying natural product analogs to enhance their pharmacological and therapeutic properties.
My organisation
Lusófona University