Biography

Ricardo Henriques is a Principal Investigator at ITQB NOVA and Honorary Professor at University College London, where he has spearheaded the application of advanced bioimaging, optical physics and computational methods to the study of cell biology and host-pathogen interactions. He received his Physics Diploma from the University of Lisbon in 2005, followed by a PhD in Biophysics in 2011 that focused on the development of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy approaches to investigate dynamic cellular processes. After completing his doctoral work, he undertook a postdoctoral position at Institut Pasteur in Paris, applying novel imaging techniques to uncover crucial aspects of cell architecture and viral infection in real time. In 2013, he established an independent research group at the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology (LMCB) at UCL, where he rose to Associate Professor in recognition of his contributions to the field. By 2017, he had secured a joint role at the Francis Crick Institute, enabling him to extend his group's efforts in optical instrument development, quantitative imaging, and infectious disease research. In 2019, he was promoted to Full Professor at UCL, further highlighting his achievements in pushing the limits of microscopy and analytics. In 2020, he returned to Portugal, first at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, and in 2024 he moved to ITQB NOVA to lead a laboratory developing innovative super-resolution platforms for broad application in biology and medicine.
He has earned international recognition through his election as an EMBO member in 2024, reflecting his pioneering role in merging super-resolution imaging, cell biology and computational analysis. His research aims to resolve nanoscale structures in living systems while maintaining minimal phototoxicity and preserving physiological conditions. To achieve these goals, he has created new optical methods, culminating in real-time super-resolution techniques that offer unprecedented insights into viral entry, immune cell behaviour, and fundamental cellular mechanisms. Perhaps most notably, his open-source software, QuickPALM, became the first widely adopted tool for single-molecule localisation microscopy in living cells, allowing other laboratories to visualise the nanoscale architecture of macromolecular complexes with relative ease. This early focus on open science reverberates through his subsequent software releases, which include the NanoJ toolbox with modules such as SRRF and SQUIRREL, both of which have become mainstays in the super-resolution community for error detection and image reconstruction. Alongside these imaging-specific tools, he has integrated machine learning approaches into microscopy data analysis. His ZeroCostDL4Mic platform leverages cloud computing and user-friendly interfaces to remove barriers traditionally associated with coding expertise, enabling countless researchers worldwide to apply deep learning to their microscopy data. This platform addresses a critical need for reproducibility and transparency in biomedical image analysis, ensuring that image processing pipelines remain clearly documented and openly accessible.
Ricardo's work has significantly expanded our knowledge of virus-host interactions, including detailed investigations of HIV receptor organisation during cell infection. His laboratory has also revealed new facets of the poxvirus entry machinery, highlighting how these viral particles localise and cluster host membrane factors to drive viral fusion. In recent collaborative studies, he has contributed to uncovering the structural underpinnings of archaeal cell division, providing evidence for the conserved roles of ESCRT-III proteins in maintaining cellular integrity. Beyond virology and cell biology, his R&D strategies have contributed to understanding how disruptions in the nuclear envelope can regulate mitosis and division in fungal and animal cells alike. These findings have propelled a deeper appreciation for how nanoscale protein assemblies are regulated both spatially and temporally, changing the way many researchers conduct imaging and interpret molecular patterns.
His core scientific ideals centre on democratising cutting-edge approaches in microscopy, ensuring that even advanced and technically demanding techniques remain within reach for smaller laboratories and interdisciplinary teams. By releasing software under open licensing and providing accessible protocols, he has nurtured a broader community of scientists dedicated to collaborative problem-solving. His emphasis on reproducibility has also led to the generation of comprehensive user guides, training workshops, and the establishment of best-practice guidelines for quantitative image analysis.
Beyond his research outputs, Ricardo actively engages with governmental and philanthropic bodies, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, photonics, and high-performance computing.