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Biography
Dr. Hélder A. Santos (https://research.rug.nl/en/persons/helder-almeida-santos) is a physical chemist specialized in electrochemistry, biological mimetic models and soft interfaces. In 2003, he obtained his MSc in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry, University of Porto (Portugal). In 2007, he obtained his DSc in Chem. Eng. from the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Helsinki University of Technology (Finland, now named Aalto University). In 2007, Dr. Santos joined the University of Helsinki, Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, as a Postdoctoral Fellow and later Academy of Finland Post-doc. In 2019 he was appointed Associate Professor and in June 2020, he was appointed Full Professor in Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology until Sept. 2021.
Currently, he is a Full Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Head of Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Also, he is a Group Leader/Research Director and the Head of the Nanomedicines and Biomedical Engineering Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki. In 2013, Dr. Santos received the ERC starting grant for 2013-2017 worth of 1.5 M€.
Dr. Santos' research is focused on nanobiomaterials, including nanoporous silica/silicon materials, liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery, diagnostics and therapy (http://www.helsinki.fi/~hsantos/research.htm). He is the author/co-author of +450 publications (+21000 citations, h-index = 86) and more than 254 conference proceedings/abstracts. He has supervised several undergraduate students and more than 50 MSc students. He supervised/co-supervised more than 30-PhD students, mentor more than 20 post-docs and is currently the supervisor of 4 MSc students, 12 PhD students and mentor of 7 post-doctoral researchers. He has also given more than 210 invited/selected talks in national/international meetings/conferences/lectures. In 2010, he received the "Talent Prize in Science" awarded by the Portuguese Government (TV-broadcasted for more than 15 million people), in 2013 and 2014 he received the Young Researcher Award 2013 and was distinguished by the exceptional scientific productivity, respectively, by the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Helsinki, and in 2016 he was awarded the Academy of Finland Award for Social Impact. He has several national and international research collaborations in the areas of biomedical nano/micro-technology, controlled drug delivery, nanomedicine and cancer therapy, and innovative therapeutic modalities. He has acted as invited Guest Editor for several international journals. He is also an active referee for more than 85 international journals and evaluator for more than 14 international research foundations. Dr. Santos is also an Editorial Board Member for the journals of Drug Delivery Letters, Biomatter, International Journal of Nanotechnology and Nanoscience, World Journal of Pharmacology, and Journal of Biopharmaceutics and Biotechnology. He is also the Editor of a recently launched Mesoporous Biomaterials journal, Editor of BioMed Research International Journal, Academic Editor of PLOS ONE, and an Editor of a book entitled "Porous Silicon for Biomedical Applications" (Elsevier). Dr. Santos’ research career and development portfolio since 2009 totals over 10M€ (European Research Council, H2020-MSCA-ITN-EJD, Academy of Finland, Tekes/Business Finland, CIMO, Biocentrum Helsinki, Finish Cultural Foundation, University of Helsinki Research Funds, etc.).
Curriculum Vitae (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki)
- Full Professor (1.9.2021 ->)
- Visiting Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China (2021–2023)
- Visiting Professor, University of Tartu, Estonia (2021–2022)
- Visiting Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Italy (2020–2021)
- Visiting Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Università degli studi “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, Italy (2019–2020)
- Co-founder and Chairman of Capsamedix Oy start-up company (2019–current)
- Head of Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, (2018-2021)
- Director of the Doctoral Programme in Drug Research, (2018-2021)
- Director of the FinPharmaNet (2020-2022)
- Head of the Preclinical Drug Formulation and Analysis group, (2016-2019).
- Head of the Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Chemical Microsystems (NAMI) Research Unit, (1.1.2014 -31.12.2017)
- ERC PoC grant for 1.1.2019-30.6.2020 worth of 1.5 M€
- ERC starting grant for 1.1.2013-31.12.2017 worth of 1.5 M€
- 2016 Academy of Finland Award for Social Impact
- Reward by the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, as a result of Dr. Santos exceptionally productive research work in 2014 (> 30 publications)!
- Young Researcher's Award 2013 by the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki.
- Nominated and Winner of the Talent Prize in Science (23.7.2010) attributed by the Portuguese Government.