Marta Figueiredo, PhD, managing science editor —

Marta holds a biology degree, a master’s in evolutionary and developmental biology, and a PhD in biomedical sciences from the University of Lisbon, Portugal. She was awarded a research scholarship and a PhD scholarship, and her research focused on the role of several signaling pathways in thymus and parathyroid glands embryonic development. She also previously worked as an assistant professor of an annual one-week embryology course at the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Medicine.

Articles by Marta Figueiredo

Cancer-suppressing Molecule May Be PF Therapeutic Target

The levels of a cancer-suppressing molecule called microRNA-326 (miR-326) are reduced significantly in the lungs of a mouse model of silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a study shows. Increasing the levels of miR-326 in these mice lessened lung scarring (fibrosis) and suppressed the production of pro-fibrotic molecules, highlighting miR-326 as a…

First Healthy Volunteer Dosed in Trial Testing ISM001-055 for IPF

The first healthy volunteer has been dosed in a trial evaluating ISM001-055, Insilico Medicine’s artificial intelligence (AI)-discovered therapy candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). “We are very pleased to see Insilico Medicine’s first antifibrotic [treatment] candidate entering into the clinic,” Feng Ren, PhD, Insilico’s chief strategy officer, said…

Nuformix’s NXP002 for IPF Shows Promise in Preclinical Studies

NXP002, Nuformix’s experimental inhaled therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), achieves significant levels in the lungs and lowers the production of molecules that promote scarring, according to preclinical studies involving rats, the company announced. “We’re delighted with the positive readout of this data so far and it further…

New Robust 3D Microtissue Model May Better Screen IPF Therapies

Scientists have developed a new lab-grown three-dimension (3D) microtissue model that replicates the key features of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) microenvironment better than other cellular and animal models, and that enables more robust screening of potential therapies. When the model was generated using lung cells collected from IPF…

High-flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Increased Exercise Tolerance

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) increases exercise tolerance — improving endurance times and reducing leg fatigue — in adults with stable idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) having exercise-induced low blood oxygen levels, according to a small trial in Japan. Notably, HFNC’s benefits were superior to those of standard oxygen therapy,…

ResBiotic Subsidiary Alveolus Bio Focused on Lung, Gut Health

The biotech startup ResBiotic has created a lung disease-focused pharmaceutical spin-off — Alveolus Bio — and launched its first probiotic-based consumer health product called resB Lung Support. The parent company, based in Birmingham, Alabama, and its subsidiary are using $4.5 million in seed funding “to transform the respiratory care landscape…

Vitamin D Helped Reduce Lung Fibrosis in IPF Mice

Vitamin D lessenened lung scarring (fibrosis) in a mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) by suppressing the activity of the PSAT1 enzyme, and subsequently the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, a study shows. PSAT1 is an enzyme that links metabolic and amino acid production pathways. The MAPK pathway is…

Study Findings Support Furtherance of GED-0507 for IPF

GED-0507, Nogra Pharma’s experimental therapy, significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory and pro-scarring molecules, while suppressing the maturation of myofibroblasts — the main drivers of lung scarring (fibrosis) — to a similar or greater extent as two approved anti-fibrotic therapies. These findings, based on data from mice with induced…