International

	ISIS Neutron and Muon Source do Laboratório Rutherford Appleton/Harwell Science and Innovation Centre, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC, Reino Unido) (W. Kockelmann, S. Parker, V. Garcia Sakai). Study of several systems of biological interest by inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy (Inelastic Neutron Scattering, INS) and by quasi-elastic neutron diffraction (QENS) – biogenic polyamines and their complexes with Pt(II) and Pd(II), phytochemicals antioxidants, human bones. Collaboration with this Group has been ongoing for over 17 years (J. Tomkinson, former supervisor of the Molecular Spectroscopy Unit, S. Parker and V. Garcia-Sakai). This laboratory houses the most powerful neutron beam in the world, which allows cutting-edge research to be carried out, namely obtaining rigorous structural information on biologically relevant compounds through the use of vibrational inelastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering spectroscopy (INS and QENS), which allows the detection of low-frequency modes not accessible to optical vibrational Raman and infrared methods. This type of information is extremely useful in studies of compounds with therapeutic/preventive potential.
	Diamond Light Source/Harwell Science and Innovation Centre, STFC (United Kingdom) (G. Cibin, G. Cinque). Study of Pt(II) and Pd(II) anticancer drug adducts (e.g. cisplatin) with DNA by EXAFS/beamline B18. Investigation of vanadium species and their interactions with actin by EXAFS/beamline B18. Study of the biodistribution and metabolic impact of anticancer drugs in human cancer cells by infrared microspectroscopy/beamline B22.
	Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), University of Manchester (UK) (P. Gardner). Infrared spectroscopy imaging of human cancer cells – determining the effect of new Pt(II) and Pd(II) anticancer agents.
	DIT FOCAS Institute, Dublin (Ireland) (H. Byrne).Study of the impact of new anticancer agents on human cancer cells, by Raman microspectroscopy.
	Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Spain (J.C.O. Molina). Studies by SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy): (i) of biogenic amines and their metallic complexes; (ii) flavones and other antioxidant phytochemicals. MicroRaman analysis of Pt(II) and Pd(II) anticancer agents and their impact on human cells. CARS analysis of human tissue samples (cancerous and non-tumorigenic).
	NAST Centre for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology & Innovative Instrumentation, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata” (Italy) (C. Andreani). Osteometric analysis (of human samples) by neutron spectroscopy – applications in Biological Anthropology, Paleontology and Forensic Sciences. Analysis of olive oils from different regions of Italy, using vibrational spectroscopy (optical and neutron).
	Institute for the Structure of Matter, Madrid (Spain) (J.V. Garcia-Ramos and S. Sánchez-Cortés). Study of Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with polyamines by SERS and FT-Raman spectroscopy.
	Humboldt University Berlin (Germany) (J. Kneipp). In vivo localization of cellular compartments by SERS microspectroscopy.
	Department of Chemistry/Center for Studies in Computational Chemistry at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (Brazil) (H.F. Santos). Molecular hybridization in the development of Pt(II)-acridine complexes as new anticancer agents – studies using theoretical methods.

National

	Center for the Study of Materials for X-ray Diffraction (CEMDRX) at the University of Coimbra (Department of Physics of the Faculty of Science and Technology) (F.P.S.C. Gil). Structural study of human bone samples (forensic and archaeological samples).
	Center for Neurosciences and Cellular Biology at the University of Coimbra – Neurosciences and Pathology (I. Nunes, T. Oliveira). Evaluation of cytotoxicity of Pt(II) and Pd(II) compounds in human cancer cells.
	Chemistry Center of the University of Coimbra – Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory (C. Geraldes). Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy study of cisplatin adducts with DNA.
	Electroanalysis and Corrosion Laboratory of the Pedro Nunes Institute (IPN-LEC)/Bioelectrochemistry Group of the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (A.M.O. Brett). Bioelectrochemical and ATM studies of phytochemical antioxidants. Bioelectrochemical study of Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with polyamines – interaction with DNA.
	Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil, Coimbra (H. Gervásio and P. Figueiredo). Melanoma – statistical analysis of clinical cases and comparison with results of academic research. Analysis by vibrational spectroscopy of human samples of cancerous tissues (breast, tongue and ovary) and border regions.
	Associate Laboratory CICECO – Research Center for Ceramic and Composite Materials, University of Aveiro (A. Gil and I. Duarte). Metabonomic studies of Pt(II) and Pd(II) drugs (e.g. cisplatin), by NMR. Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of inorganic complexes included in cyclodextrins in human cancer cell lines.
	Associated Laboratory REQUIMTE – Química Verde, University of Porto (C. Diniz Pereira and I. Ferreira). Ex vivo and in vivo assays of new Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes as potential anticancer agents. Quantification of these complexes in human cancer cells by mass spectrometry.
	Center for Marine Sciences (CCMar/CIMAR) at the University of Algarve – BioVanadium Group (M. Aureliano). Study of vanadium compounds by Raman spectroscopy and EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure).