Personal information

marine biology, histopathology, environmental toxicology, molecular biology, marine biotechnology, nanotoxicology, genotoxicology, biomarkers

Biography

I am a biologist specialised in Environmental Toxicology, being dedicated especially to genotoxicology, toxicopathology and molecular toxicology. I am dedicated to the environment -human interface and I am nowadays putting the skills as toxicologist in service to drug discovery and marine natural products, especially animal toxins. I graduated in Biology from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL), followed by an M.Sc. in Ecological Modelling from Instituto Superior Técnico of Lisbon (IST-UTL) and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from NOVA University of Lisbon (2010).

Within Toxicology, I am particularly interested in the dynamics of contaminant interactions, genotoxicants and the relation between pollutants and cancer. My current model of choice is the zebrafish. Developing studies involving multiple and multi–level biomarkers has been a paramount approach to investigate the intricate problems of exposure to realistic mixtures of toxicants, which may involve metals and many classes of organic toxicants, including potential carcinogens and emergent pollutants. I am particularly interested in the mechanisms of DNA damage and repair and how these relate to toxicopathological effects, from inflammation to carcinogenesis. More related to human health risk, I have also done extensive work within the domains of nanotoxicology, nanosafety and even nanomadicine, a field to which I was dedicated during my second post-doc, at the Karolinska Institute of Stockholm, Sweden (2015-1016).

Within Marine Biotechnology I am particularly interested in marine biological toxins and other bio-reactive compounds, their origins, modes-of-action and potential applications. I am particularly interested in venomous or poisonous marine invertebrate eumetazoans, especially among the Polychaeta and the Mollusca.

To address more mechanistic issues of toxicological pathways, either regarding pollutants or marine bioproducts, I have been dedicated to studies in vitro (with human and murine cell lines) and in vivo (using models such as marine bivalves, Daphnia, the zebrafish, murines and many more unconventional models). Molecular Biology, Bioninformatics, Genotoxicology and, especially, Histopathology have become my main technical expertise. I founded and lead the SeaTox Lab@UCIBIO in late 2017, based in the Department of Life Sciences of the School of Science and Technology of NOVA University of Lisbon, where I am an Auxiliary Professor since 2019, which succeeded a position as Auxiliary Researcher awarded in 2016.

Activities

Employment (8)

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa : Caparica, Setúbal, PT

2019-12-18 to present | Auxiliary Professor (i4HB / UCIBIO / Departamento de Ciências da Vida)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa: Caparica, PT

2016-10-01 to 2019-12-17 | Auxiliary Researcher (UCIBIO / Departamento de Ciências da Vida)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Karolinska Institutet: Stockholm, SE

2015-09 to 2016-08 | Post-Doctoral Researcher (Institute for Environmental Medicine)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

MARE - Marine And Evironmental Sciences Centre: Caparica, PT

2014 to 2015-08 | Post-Doctoral Researcher (DCEA/FCT-UNL)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Instituto Nacional de Saude Dr Ricardo Jorge: Lisboa, PT

2011 to 2015 | Post-Doctoral Researcher (Departamento de Genética)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Instituto Piaget, CRL: Almada, PT

2007 to 2015 | Invited Auxiliary Professor
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

IMAR - Instituto to Mar (IMAR-CMA): Caparica, PT

2011 to 2014 | Post-doctoral Researcher (DCEA/FCT-UNL)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

IMAR - Instituto to Mar (IMAR-CMA): Caparica, PT

2005 to 2011 | Fellowship researcher, PhD Student (DCEA/FCT-UNL)
Employment
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Education and qualifications (3)

Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa: Caparica, PT

2011 | Ph.D.
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Universidade Técnica de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico: Lisboa, PT

2005 | M.Sc.
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciencias: Lisboa, PT

2001 | Degree
Education
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Professional activities (3)

Clarivate Analytics: Philadelphia, PA, US

Publons Top Reviewer award 2017 - 2019
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

SPMICROS - Sociedade Portuguesa de Microscopia : Coimbra, PT

2012 to present | Effective member
Service
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

CICTA 2008 / Garnier: Lisboa, PT

2008 | Best Oral Presentation Award
Distinction
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa

Funding (21)

ExtremeOceans - Unravelling evolutionary physiology landscapes of coastal marine fauna under extreme temperatures using a multi-layer Systems Biology approach

2021-04 to present | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

SeaSenseX - Next-generation microsensors for marine mutagens and carcinogens

2021-02 to present | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER: MACAU/0002/2019
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Eastern Tropical Pacific reef fish on the move: biodiversity reorganisation and societal consequences (EASMO)

2020-01 to present | Grant
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Bonn, DE)
GRANT_NUMBER: 451461575
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

The MARVEN Project: The Portuguese biotechnological database for marine animal venoms and toxins

2020-01 to 2021-12 | Contract
Fundo Azul (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

FA_05_2017_007

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

WormALL– Marine invertebrates as source of novel biotoxins: Investigating function and application through Polychaeta venomics

2018-10 to present | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/BTA-BTA/28650/2017

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

MBSTox - Multifunctional biomolecular systems for new methods of decontamination, protection and toxicological assessment

2018 to 2021 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/BIA-MIB/31864/2017

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Colours and Toxins - A biotechnological approach to the value of marine annelids in biomedical research

2016-10 to 2019-12 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

IF/00265/2015

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

3Qs for quality - Development of molecular sensors and technologies for seafood quality assessment

2016-06 to present | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/MAR-BIO/6044/2014

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Of pigments and toxins: an integrative approach to the biotechnological potential of a marine polychaete

2016-01-01 to 2018-12-31 | Grant
Foundation for Science and Technology (Lisbon, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa via DimensionsWizard
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

PLASTOX - Direct and indirect ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on marine organisms

2015 to present | Contract
JPI Oceans (Brussels, BE)
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

SUN - Sustainable Nanotechnologies Project

2015 to 2016 | Contract
European Comission CORDIS (Brussels, BE)
GRANT_NUMBER:

EU FP7 contract nº 604305

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

RD Units Strategic Plan - 2013/2015 - OE

2014 to present | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Lisbon, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

UID/MAR/04292/2013

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Chlorophyll-like pigments in a marine polychaete – evolutionary relevance and biotechnological value

2013-06 to 2014-09 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Lisbon, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

EXPL/MAR–EST/1236/2012, FCT

Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

A proteomic study on the combined effects of pCO2 and temperature on different life stages of the marine fish Sparus aurata.

2012-03 to 2015-08 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisbon, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Analysis of the genotoxic potential of estuarine sediments and the DNA repair and apoptosis-related responses in human HepG2 cells

2011-05 to 2015-09 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Lisbon, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

SFRH/BPD/72564/2010

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

HERA – Environmental Risk Assessment of a contaminated estuarine environment: A case study

2009 to 2012 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

PTDC/SAU-ESA/100107/2008

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Integrating molecular approaches into marine biodiversity research in Portugal: implementing DNA barcoding and investigating phylogeographic patterns

2008-11-01 to 2012-04-30 | Grant
Foundation for Science and Technology (Lisbon, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa via DimensionsWizard
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Biomarkers in Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858 exposed to contaminated estuarine sediments: a multi–level approach

2007-05 to 2011-04 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Lisbon, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

SFRH/BD/28465/2006

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE (WOE) APPROACHES FOR SEDIMENT RISK ASSESSMENT: SADO ESTUARY CASE STUDY

2005-11-01 to 2007-12-31 | Grant
Foundation for Science and Technology (Lisbon, PT)
Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa via DimensionsWizard
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Development of an Information and environmental management system for Sado Estuary

2001-09 to 2005-06 | Contract
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisbon, PT)
Source: check_circle
CIÊNCIAVITAE
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

CORRAM - Octopodid cephalopods: relation of the resources with the marine environment.

1999 to 2002 | Grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Lisboa, PT)
GRANT_NUMBER:

POCTI/CTA/1707/95

Source: Self-asserted source
Pedro M. Costa
grade
Preferred source (of 2)‎

Peer review (15 reviews for 8 publications/grants)

Review activity for Aquatic toxicology. (2)
Review activity for Ecotoxicology. (6)
Review activity for Environmental research. (2)
Review activity for Environmental science & technology. (1)
Review activity for Marine drugs. (1)
Review activity for Nature water. (1)
Review activity for PloS one. (1)
Review activity for Science of the total environment. (1)