Nanomedicine & Clinical Oncology

OncoNanoLab is an interdisciplinary research group bridging cutting-edge nanomedicine with clinical oncology, focused on tackling some of the most pressing challenges in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.

We engineer smart, bioresponsive nanomaterials for precision therapy, immunomodulation, and image-guided interventions, integrating AI-driven design and translational frameworks to accelerate clinical impact.

Our work spans from fundamental cancer biology, including tumor heterogeneity, drug resistance, and metastasis, to real-world applications, such as health equity, patient quality of life, and global cancer burden analyses. Through collaboration with clinicians, public health experts, and global science consortia, we aim to develop personalized and accessible cancer solutions for diverse populations.

Backed by over 150 publications in leading journals (Nature, The Lancet, Nature Materials, The Lancet Oncology, Nature Nanotechnology, JAMA Oncology, Advanced Materials, JACS, Matter, PNAS, Trends in Cancer, among others), OncoNanoLab is driven by innovation, translation, and a deep commitment to advancing both science and society.

Our research, conducted at NOVA Medical School and Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) from United Nations, particularly with Goal 3 of Agenda 2030 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, as well as aligned with Goal 9 promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Projects

LISBOA2030-FEDER-01317200 – Preclinical-to Clinical Innovation Hub for Nova Medical School (2025-2027). Coordinator. Funding 3.2M€
Haddad Nova Medical Innovation Center – The Haddad Foundation (2025-2029). Co-coordinator. Funding 3.25M€
FCT Grant LISBOA2030-FEDER-00862500-14998 – OncoNanoAI: Artificial intelligence to discover the next generation of personalized nanoparticles for triple-negative breast cancer therapy (2025-2027). Funding 250K€
RNA-based cancer therapies. By Vector Bioscience Cambridge and Astrazeneca - European Innovation Council – EIC Transition Grant (2023-2026). Funding 2.5M€
Clinical validation of NANO-PL: a hydrogel-based formulation of a small molecule for a highly targeted therapy against Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). By TargTex SA - European Innovation Council – EIC Accelerator. Funding 14M€
Exploring the role of biomechanical forces in synapse formation as a strategy to combat neurodegeneration. FCT Grant, LISBOA2030-FEDER-16494-SYN3D (2025-2027, as consultant).
Specific RANK pathway inhibition for breast cancer-targeted therapy. FCT Grant, LISBOA2030-FEDER-00677700-15681(2025-2027).
Innovative signaling inhibition in breast cancer using folate-targeted lipid nanoparticles. Gilead GÉNESE, 26592 (2025-2027).

Publications

Li H, Jin W, Liu J, Zhou Y, Shan X, Zhang Y, Kou Y, Deng C, Jin C, Lau YL, Huang B, ***Conde J***, Kuang J, Lin Q. Tumor immunotherapy targeting immune cell mitochondria. *Trends Cancer*. 2025. [doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2025.100798](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trecan.2025.100798)
Fang H, You P, Wu Y, Liang F, Chen C, Hou Z, Wang Z, Lin J, Chen L, Zhang S, Chen X, Lu F, ***Conde J***, Huang H, Pan Y. ANXA1 mRNA-loaded bio-liposomes alleviate acute pancreatitis by suppressing STING pathway. *Nat Nanotechnol*. 2025. [doi:10.1038/s41565-025-01822-1](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-025-01822-1)
Mendes BB, Prasad R, ***Conde J***. Bridging the innovation gap and rethinking translation in biomaterials science. *Matter*. 2025. [doi:10.1016/j.matt.2025.05.003](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2025.05.003)
Yao E, Li Y, Deng K, He W, Ashrafizadeh M, ***Conde J***, Yang L. Folic acid-targeted macrophage membrane-coated carbon quantum dots for osteosarcoma therapy. *Chem Eng J*. 2025. [doi:10.1016/j.cej.2025.153786](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.153786)
Feng X, Luo Z, Zhang W, Wan R, Chen Y, Li F, He Y, Lin Z, Hui JH, Li Y, ***Conde J***, Chen S, Zhao Z, Wang X. Zn-DHM nanozymes enhance muscle regeneration. *Adv Funct Mater*. 2025. [doi:10.1002/adfm.202412345](https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202412345)
Peixoto D, Ravasco JM, Blanco-Fernández B, Veiga F, Concheiro A, ***Conde J***, Paiva-Santos AC, Alvarez-Lorenzo C. Enzyme-responsive vitamin D-based micelles for paclitaxel delivery. *Mater Today Bio*. 2025. [doi:10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.100678](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.100678)
Prasad R, Ghosh A, Patel V, Peng B, Mendes BB, Win EHA, Delogu LG, Wong JY, et al., ***Conde J***. Voices of Nanomedicine: blueprint for global collaboration. *ACS Nano*. 2025. [doi:10.1021/acsnano.5c04186](https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5c04186)
Mendes BB, Zhang Z, Conniot J, Sousa DP, Ravasco JMJ, et al., ***Conde J***. Machine learning analysis of inorganic nanoparticles in cancer. *Nat Nanotechnol*. 2024. [doi:10.1038/s41565-024-01678-y](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-024-01678-y)
Martins CF, García-Astrain C, ***Conde J***, Liz-Marzán LM. Hydrogel microneedles for personalized nanomedicine. *Drug Deliv Transl Res*. 2024. [doi:10.1007/s13346-024-01412-y](https://doi.org/10.1007/s13346-024-01412-y)
***Conde J***, Langer R, Rueff J. mRNA therapy at the convergence of genetics and nanomedicine. *Nat Nanotechnol*. 2023. [doi:10.1038/s41565-023-01543-7](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01543-7)

Prizes and Awards

2025 - World’s Top 2% Scientists list, Stanford University.
2024 - Basinnov Innovation Award 2024 (honourable mention).
2024 - Bluepharma Innovation Award 2023 (honourable mention).
2023 - World’s Top 2% Scientists list, Stanford University.
2022 - World’s Top 2% Scientists list, Stanford University.
2021 - Nanomaterials 2020 Young Investigator Award.
2021 - Top 2% Most Cited Researchers in Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies, PLOS Biology.
2021 - 2021 Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigators, Royal Society of Chemistry.
2019 - ERC Starting Grant: ERC-StG-2019-848325, European Research Council, EU.
2018 - Junior Investigator: FCT Stimulus of Scientific Employment, (CEECIND/01688/2017) National Science Foundation, PT.
2017 - Wellcome Image Awards 2017: Wellcome Trust, UK.
2016 - Nano-Micro Letters Researcher Award, Nature Research Society.
2016 - National Cancer Institute Image award: Cancer close up, US.
2013 - Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship for Career Development, Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IOF).
2009 - PhD Fellowship - National Science Foundation - PhD Grant (FCT, SFRH/BD/ 62957/2009), PT.

Colaborations

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – USA
Yale University – USA
Harvard Medical School – USA
Harvard University – USA
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard – USA
Brigham and Women's Hospital – USA
University of Washington (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, IHME) – USA
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute – USA
Duke University – USA
University of Pennsylvania – USA
Tel Aviv University – Israel
University of British Columbia – Canada
Johns Hopkins University – USA
Case Western Reserve University – USA
University of Cambridge – UK
University of Oxford – UK
University College London (UCL) – UK
University of Turin – Italy
University Hospital Düsseldorf – Germany
Dublin Institute of Technology – Ireland
Shanghai Jiao Tong University – China
University of Glasgow – UK
Fundação Champalimaud – Portugal
iMed.UL (Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes) – Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra – Portugal