Adriana Sánchez-Danés, PhD

Principal Investigator

Adriana Sánchez-Danés received her BSc degree in Biotechnology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain (BS extraordinary Award and Spanish Ministry extraordinary award). Adriana obtained her PhD in Biomedicine (cum laude distinction) from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain. Her  PhD thesis work focused on modelling Parkinson’s Disease in vitro. 

Adriana performed a postdoctoral training at the laboratory of Prof. Cédric Blanpain, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Beldium. During this period she investigated the most common human cancer, the basal cell carcinoma. Adriana identified the specific cell type from which this skin cancer arises and the cancer cell population that resists upon therapy, leading to tumour relapse. 

In October 2019, Adriana started her own lab at the Champalimaud Foundation as the ERA Chair Holder of the QuantOCancer Project (funded by the European Commision). The Sánchez-Danés lab is focussed on studying the biology of skin cancers and paediatric solid tumours. Adriana has been awarded the Maratona da Saude Junior Award, AstraZeneca Award and Portuguese League against Cancer Award to develop her research. 

Patricia das Neves Borges, PhD 

Senior researcher

Patrícia obtained her PhD in Bioengineering from Imperial College London in 2016. In February 2020, Patrícia joined our lab as senior researcher to uncover the mechanisms that drive initation, progression and resistance to therapy in medulloblastoma.

Ana Lúcia Rebelo, PhD

Postdoctoral researcher

Ana Lúcia obtained her PhD from the National University of Ireland Galway in Biomedical Engineering with focus on neuroscience (2021). Ana Lúcia joined our laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow in March 2022. Her project is focused on the mechanisms behind tumor initiation and progression in medulloblastoma. Ana Lúcia was awarded a ERA fellowship to pursue her postdoctoral studies.

Ana Sofia Marques, MSc

PhD Student

Sofia obtained her BSc in Biochemistry in 2017 and then a MSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2019, both from the University of Lisbon. Sofia joined our laboratory as a PhD student in September 2020 to uncover the differences/similarities in paediatric and adult melanoma formation and progression. Sofia has been awarded an FCT fellowship to pursue her PhD.

Sara Ferreira, MSc

PhD Student

Sara Ferreira obtained her MSc from University of Porto, in the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar in 2019. She joined our laboratory as a PhD Student in April 2022 to uncover the mechanisms involved in neuroblastoma progression and resistance to therapy. Sara has been awarded FCT fellowship to undertake her PhD studies.

Angelina Sanderson, MSc

PhD Student

Angelina Sanderson obtained her MSc in Clinical Neuroscience at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology in 2020. She joined our laboratory in May 2023 as a PhD student to uncover the mechanisms that drive medulloblastoma initiation and progression. 

Adrianna Bielowka, MSc

PhD Student

Adrianna obtained her MSc in Imperial College London in 2019. She joined our laboratory in February 2024 as a PhD student to uncover the mechanisms that drive neuroblasoma initiation and progression. Adrianna has been awarded a FCT fellowship to undertake her PhD studies.

Ana Martins, MSc

PhD Student

Ana Martins obtained her BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2020 at the University of Toronto, and a Master's degree in Biotechnology in 2023 from the University of Guelph. Ana joined our laboratory in April 2024 as a PhD student. Ana aims at uncovering the differences/similarities in paediatric and adult melanoma formation.

Maria Lourenço, MSc

Research technician

Maria completed her BSc in Criminal and Forensic Sciences in 2022 at the Egas Moniz School of Health and Science. In 2024, she obtained her MSc in Biochemistry and Biomedicine from the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon. In February 2025, she joined the Sánchez-Danés Lab to provide support to the members of the lab.