Tânia Tavares

Senior Researcher

Research group: Biotechnology

Research position: Assistant Researcher

Background: PhD in Engineering and Technological Sciences - Biochemistry from the Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal

Major research topics

• In vitro and in vivo bioactivities (antihypertensive, antioxidant, antiulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic)
• Functional ingredients
• Novel functional foods
• By-product upgrading aiming to obtain high-added value products
• Protein hydrolysis and extraction processes
• Development and characterization of new enzymes and study of new biotechnological applications

Selected Publications

Ana Rato, Sandra Joaquim, Tânia G. Tavares, Zita E. Martins, A. Catarina Guedes, Luís Pereira, Jorge Machado, A. Margarete Matias, José F.M. Gonçalves, Paulo Vaz-Pires, Leonard J. Magnoni, Rodrigo O.A. Ozório and Domitília Matias (2018). Feasibility of dietary substitution of live microalgae with dry Ulva rigida in broodstock conditioning of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). Biology Open, bio.035923. doi: 10.1242/bio.035923.

Santana, A., Melo, A., Tavares, T. G., and Ferreira, I. M. P. L. V. O. (2016). Biological activities of peptide concentrates obtained from hydrolysed eggshell membrane byproduct. Food & Function, 7, 4596-4604. doi: 10.1039/C6FO00954A.

Tavares, T. G., Spindola, H., Longato, G., Pintado, M. E., Carvalho, J. E., and Malcata, F. X. (2013). Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of whey protein hydrolyzate brought about by proteases from Cynara cardunculus. International Dairy Journal, 32, 156-162. doi:10.1016/j.idairyj.2013.05.010.

Tavares, T. G., Sevilla, M.-A., Montero, M.-J., Carrón, R., and Malcata, F. X. (2012). Acute effects of whey peptides upon blood pressure of hypertensive rats, and relationship with their angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 56, 316-324. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201100381.

Tavares, T. G., Amorim, M., Gomes, D., Pintado, M. E., Pereira, C. D., and Malcata, F. X. (2012). Manufacture of bioactive peptide-rich concentrates from whey: characterization of pilot process. Journal of Food Engineering, 110, 547-552. doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2012.01.009.

Selected Projects

2018-2021 - Team member of research project “DIETimpact – Diet impac on the prevention of chronic diseases: a foodomics approach”. – SAICT/2017 – Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IC&DT). Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.

2018-2021 - Team member of research project “PROMETHEUS –  Probiotics from Regional Olives: Manufacture Enhancement Toward HEalth, via Unique Strains”. – SAICT/2017 – Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IC&DT). Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.

2018-2021 - Team member of research project “Mor2020 –  Valorization of the protein fraction from Moringa oleifera”. – SAICT/2017 – Projetos de Investigação Científica e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (IC&DT). Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.

2016-2019 - Team member of research project “DINOSSAUR – dinoflagelados para a produção sustentada de compostos ativos em fotobiorreactores otimizados” (PTDC/BBB-EBB/1374/2014). Financial support provided by FCT: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

2016-2019 - Institutional coordenation of research project “ZEBRALGRE – do peixe-zebra à corvina: o uso de macro- e microalgas como alimentos funcionais” (PTDC/CVT-WEL/5207/2014). Financial support provided by FCT: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.