Guest lecture by dr Chris Franco at the Faculty of Chemistry
On 6 October, dr Chris Franco from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon (Portugal) will give a lecture at the Faculty of Chemistry. Dr Franco’s visit is part of the Visiting Professors programme organised by the IDUB Office of the University of Wrocław. The lecture entitled Blueprints of Bioactivity: From Structures to Antimicrobial Resistance will begin at 10:15 a.m. in room IIEF. The event is organised by the Department of Inorganic Chemistry (dr Sabina Jaros).
Bio
Dr Chris Franco earned his PhD in Chemistry from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Brazil, in 2018, specialising in the synthesis and catalytic applications of coordination polymers and X-ray crystallography. Following his doctorate, he worked as a lecturer in Brazil, developing his teaching and research skills and establishing national scientific collaborations.
In 2021, he moved to Portugal, where at Instituto Superior Técnico – University of Lisbon (IST-ID) he focused on the synthesis, structural characterisation, and applications of functional coordination polymers in catalysis and antimicrobial materials. He is a co-supervisor of a PhD project under CHAIR (Marie Curie, EU) and participates in research projects such as CATCH4LIFE and other international initiatives.
In 2024, Dr Franco co-founded MINDLab (Molecular Design & Innovation Lab), dedicated to the development of coordination polymers and new materials for applications in health, sustainable development, and functional innovations. He has also delivered visiting lectures at UFABC, Brazil.
His research encompasses coordination chemistry, catalysis, crystal engineering, and bioinorganic chemistry, including the development of novel catalysts, antimicrobial agents, and functional materials. He is a co-author of over 36 scientific publications, including five journal covers in prestigious international journals (2024–2025), and a co-inventor of an international patent on biomass technology.
About the lecture:
The lecture will focus on new strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major threat to public health and development. It will cover recent advances in the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of coordination polymers, metal complexes, and organic compounds as potential antibiotics. The lecture will also discuss research on hybrid materials containing coordination polymers, which can enhance the efficacy and stability of antimicrobial action.
Dr Franco will present the interdisciplinary approach adopted at MINDLab – Molecular Innovation & Design Laboratory, combining chemistry and biology in the design of new bioactive compounds.
Date of publication: 29.09.2025
Added by: M.K.
