Maria Teresa Duarte

Maria Teresa Duarte is a Full Professor and Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. She leads the X-ray Diffraction Facility at Centro de Química Estrutural and coordinates the Chemistry and Toxicology of Bioactive Molecules group, part of the Biological, Medicinal and Environmental Chemistry Thematic Line.

Her research focuses on applying Crystal Engineering principles and supramolecular synthesis to design pharmaceutical molecules with enhanced properties. She has pioneered approaches to improve drug stability, solubility, and bioavailability through co-crystallization techniques and BioMOFs development. Her work addresses critical challenges in pharmaceutical development, particularly in controlling polymorphism and enhancing drug delivery systems.

Professor Duarte's scientific contributions span crystal engineering, mechanochemistry, and pharmaceutical formulation. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on sustainable synthesis methods, antimicrobial applications of metal-organic frameworks, and innovative approaches to polymorph control using ionic liquids.

• Fulbright Fellow
• Alexander von Humboldt grantee
• Senior Fellow of Institute of Advanced Studies of University of Bologna (2017)
• Selected among Portugal's "100 Women in Science" (2016)

With over 230 peer-reviewed journal articles and 380+ conference presentations, Professor Duarte is a leading figure in pharmaceutical crystal engineering. She currently coordinates the Portuguese site in the IMPACTIVE European Project focused on Innovative Mechanochemical Processes for synthesizing green ACTIVE pharmaceutical ingredients.