Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa

Their core work

The Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Lisbon is a Portuguese academic institution specializing in pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry, and liver disease research. Their H2020 work centers on two pillars: understanding non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through mitochondrial biology and biomarker development, and training the next generation of chemists in sustainable organic synthesis and protein modification. They bridge fundamental biomedical research with applied chemistry, contributing both diagnostic tool development and green chemistry methodologies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Between 2015 and 2019, FFUL concentrated heavily on liver disease biology — mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolism, and NAFLD biomarker discovery across multiple interconnected projects. From 2021 onward, a clear pivot emerged toward green chemistry training (Biomass4Synthons) and institutional internationalization through the UNITE! European university alliance. This shift suggests the faculty is broadening from a niche biomedical research profile toward becoming a more structurally connected, training-oriented institution with strengths in sustainable chemistry.

FFUL is transitioning from a biomedical research contributor toward coordinating training networks in sustainable chemistry while deepening its European institutional integration through university alliances.

How they like to work

FFUL operates predominantly as a partner rather than a leader — only one of six projects was coordinated, and one was a third-party contribution. With 104 unique partners across 21 countries, they plug into large, well-established consortia rather than building their own. Their willingness to join as a specialist contributor in large networks makes them a low-friction partner for consortium builders who need pharmaceutical or chemistry expertise from Portugal.

FFUL has collaborated with 104 unique partners across 21 countries, giving them a broad European network built primarily through large MSCA training networks and the multi-institutional LITMUS consortium. Their reach is wide but driven by joining existing consortia rather than assembling their own.

What sets them apart

FFUL offers an unusual combination of deep NAFLD/liver disease expertise alongside emerging capabilities in sustainable organic chemistry — two areas rarely found in a single faculty. Their Biomass4Synthons coordination shows they can lead, not just participate, particularly in training-focused projects. For consortium builders, they provide a Portuguese partner with strong pharmaceutical sciences credentials and a proven track record in MSCA training networks.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Biomass4Synthons
  Their only coordinated project (EUR 292,569) — signals leadership ambitions in sustainable chemistry training and bio-renewable valorization.
• LITMUS
  Part of a major EU-wide effort to develop standardized biomarkers for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a growing clinical priority.
• mtFOIE GRAS
  Focused specifically on mitochondrial profiling for NAFLD diagnostics — a highly specialized niche bridging cell biology and clinical tools.