Raquel Monteiro Marques da Silva

Raquel Monteiro Marques da Silva is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), where she conducts research in the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS). She is a member of the SalivaTec platform, focusing on biomarker research and diagnosis in saliva. Previously, she served as an Invited Assistant Professor at the Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro (2013-2019), and as a Research Associate in the Population Genetics group at IPATIMUP (2008-2013).

Her academic background includes:

• PhD in Biology from the University of Aveiro (2005), with research on molecular mechanisms involved in genetic code alteration

Dr. Silva's research spans multiple disciplines within biomedical sciences, with a strong focus on molecular mechanisms of disease. Her work integrates biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics to investigate NAD metabolic networks, antifungal resistance mechanisms in Candida species, and biomarker discovery in saliva. She has developed computational tools for genome rearrangement detection and pathogen signature identification. Her current research at the SalivaTec platform aims to translate biomarker discoveries into clinical diagnostic applications, particularly in dental and oral health contexts.

Analysis of her recent publications (2020-2023) reveals a strong focus on integrating computational and experimental approaches to address biomedical challenges. Her work spans NAD metabolism research, antifungal resistance mechanisms, biomarker discovery (particularly in saliva), and the development of bioinformatics tools for genomic analysis. Notably, she has contributed to SARS-CoV-2 detection strategies using saliva samples and research on Alzheimer's disease biomarkers. Her publications demonstrate a consistent interdisciplinary approach bridging molecular biology, bioinformatics, and clinical applications.

Dr. Silva has supervised and collaborated on numerous research projects investigating fungal pathogenesis, particularly Candida species resistance mechanisms, and NAD metabolic pathways. Her work has contributed to understanding the molecular basis of antifungal resistance, which has implications for developing new therapeutic strategies. She has secured research funding supporting her work on biomarker discovery in saliva and computational approaches to genomic analysis.

As a researcher in the CIIS SalivaTec platform at UCP's Faculty of Dental Medicine, Dr. Silva collaborates with interdisciplinary teams focused on translating biomarker research into clinical dental applications. Her work bridges basic science and clinical dentistry, with particular emphasis on how molecular diagnostics can improve oral health outcomes. She is actively involved in research that examines the interaction between saliva and dental materials, aiming to enhance implant integration and overall dental treatment efficacy.