(Chemical) Bonding is what makes life possible

Luís Alberto E. Batista de Carvalho (January 1961, Coimbra, Portugal) received his BSc (Hons) from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra (1984) and his PhD in Chemistry, specialty Physical-Chemistry, from Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon (1993). He is currently associate professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra and head of the “Molecular Physical-Chemistry” R&D Unit. Throughout his career he has developed several scientific research projects, in collaboration with national and international groups, in the areas of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry/Forensic Anthropology with special emphasis on the application of spectroscopic techniques: i) to the structural analysis of compounds of biological interest; ii) the development of new anti-cancer agents containing Pt and Pd (in particular, the determination of new therapeutic targets in order to optimize efficacy and minimize side effects and acquired resistance); iii) the study of drug/cell interactions in model systems (cancer cell lines) with a view to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cytotoxic activity; and iv) the analysis of changes induced by burning processes in human skeletons. He has preferably used vibrational spectroscopy, optical and with neutrons, including microRaman spectroscopy and FTIR with synchrotron radiation. Recently, and in conjunction with the aforementioned themes that he continues to develop, he started a research project that aims to apply vibrational spectroscopy techniques to the early diagnosis of cancer and rigorous determination of surgical margins (in the removal of malignant tumours). This subject involves not only methodological development but also the construction of a new Raman spectroscopy apparatus that increases the speed of diagnosis with a view to translate this technology to the clinics in the near future.