Cristina began her research career at the Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology. During her PhD she collaborated with Prof. Michael Boarder from the Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, Leicester, UK and examined the regulation of Ca2+ channels and membrane receptors by protein kinase C. She is a professor of Physiology in Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra where she studies the pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications in diabetic animal models. She has characterized several antioxidants and lipid-lowering therapies in endothelial dysfunction as well as in renal and hepatic functions in type 2 diabetes animal models. In recent years her research interests have extended to obesity-induced vascular dysfunction and the underlying mechanisms in the vascular wall. She has a strong background in cellular, imaging and electrophysiology techniques and developed the vascular biology laboratory in Faculty of Medicine where vascular function in different blood vessels is evaluated ex vivo. Cristina Sena was the principal investigator of 10 funded projects. Over the last five years Cristina was the Principal Investigator on 2 externally funded Research Grants. Total Funded Awarded as principal Investigator: 400.000 euros. Web of Science: 103 publications, h-index 23, 1982 citations. Google Scholar: 117 publications, h-index 28, 3098 citations; i10 51. Scientific Interests: Vascular dysfunction has a major impact in obesity and diabetes. Current pharmacological approaches are limited. Hence, increased knowledge on novel therapeutic targets is fundamental. We are interested in discovering new strategies for prevention vascular diseases in metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus and help to prevent the rise of vascular complications through therapeutic agents in rodent animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes. In addition, we aim to understand the role played by endothelium, vascular smooth muscle cells and perivascular adipose tissue in vascular disease associated with obesity and diabetes and evaluate oxidative stress and inflammation in this context.