| Acronym: | CyanoFit |
| Cost Center: | 1359 |
| Operation Code: | 2025.06621.AZO |
| Title: | Innovative solutions for the treatment of obesity through cyanobacterial metabolites |
| Start-End: | 02-03-2026 - 01-03-2029 |
| Entidade Beneficiária Principal: | FGF - Fundação Gaspar Frutuoso, FP |
| Gestores da FGF: | Lúcia Cláudio, Ricardo Figueira |
| Responsible Researcher: | VÍtor Manuel da Costa Gonçalves |
| Organic Units: | FCT - Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia |
| R&D Units: | CIBIO-A - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos |
| Entidade | Montante |
|---|---|
| Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (OE) (100.0 %) | 249.998,96 € |
Main Objectives:
This project aims to discover and characterize new cyanobacterial compounds with anti-obesity potential, using innovative approaches and unique biological resources. The results will pave the way for pre-clinical studies in superior models and could lead to the development of safe, sustainable and economically viable therapeutic alternatives, aligned with global health priorities and the responsible use of Rio Grande do Sul's biodiversity.
Project Description:
The CyanoFit project, financed 100% by the State Budget through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), proposes to explore the biomedical potential of selected strains from the BACA collection, through a multidisciplinary approach guided by bioactivity. The main objectives are:
1.Clarification of the chemical and genetic nature of bioactive compounds;
2.Morphological, genetic and metabolomic characterization of bioactive strains;
3. Optimization of the production of biomass and/or active compounds, promoting the circular economy through a biorefinery approach for the valorization of biomass waste;
4. Quantification of bioactivity and identification of functional pathways in zebrafish larvae, by exposure and microinjection.
The CIBIO-A/InBio and GBA/cE3c research team integrates skills in production and characterization of microalgae, chemistry of natural products (e.g. fractionation and elucidation of compounds), molecular genetics (e.g. sequencing, annotation and exploration of BGC) and bioactivity tests with zebrafish. The project also counts on the strategic collaborations of Vítor Vasconcelos, Ralph Urbatzka and Mariana Reis (CIIMAR, Portugal) who bring consolidated experience in bioactive compounds and zebrafish models, and Muriel Gugger (Institut Pasteur, France) who brings in-depth knowledge in cyanobacterial genomics and exploration of BGCs.
