Pharmacist and PhD researcher focused on cardiovascular biomarkers
My name is Catarina Marreiros and I am a pharmacist and PhD candidate in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Algarve (UAlg), supported by a Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) doctoral fellowship.
I obtained my Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from UAlg in 2017. My research focuses on the identification and validation of novel biomarkers for cardiovascular disease, with particular emphasis on Gla-rich protein (GRP), a vitamin K-dependent protein involved in the regulation of pathological calcification and inflammation.
Throughout my PhD, I have investigated the clinical relevance of circulating GRP levels across healthy and disease populations, including individuals with chronic kidney disease. My work has contributed to the establishment of reference values for serum total GRP in healthy adults and to the characterization of GRP associations with cardiovascular and mineral metabolism disturbances.
My broader research interests include cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, vascular calcification, biomarker discovery, clinical cohort studies, and translational research aimed at improving cardiovascular risk assessment and patient stratification.
Articles Published:
Factors associated with Gla-rich protein serum concentrations in healthy adults
Catarina Marreiros, Carla Viegas, Selene Nunes, Ana Paula Silva, Marília Faísca, Leon Schurgers, Dina Costa Simes. Bioch. Med. 2026 Jun 15; 36(2): https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2026.020709
Gla-Rich Protein Is Associated with Vascular Calcification, Inflammation, and Mineral Markers in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.
Catarina Marreiros, Carla Viegas, Ana Paula Silva, Ana Catarina Àguas, Marília Faísca, Leon Schurgers, Dina Costa Simes J Clin Med . 2024 Dec 6;13(23):7429. doi: 10.3390/jcm13237429
Mediterranean Diet Favors Vitamin K Intake: A Descriptive Study in a Mediterranean Population.
Ezequiel Pinto, Carla Viegas, Paula Ventura Martins, Catarina Marreiros, Tânia Nascimento, Leon Schurgers, Dina Simes. Nutrients, 2024 Apr 9;16(8):1098. doi: 10.3390/nu16081098.
Targeting a Silent Disease: Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease
Catarina Marreiros, Carla Viegas, Dina Simes. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Dec 17;23(24):16114. doi: 10.3390/ijms232416114.
Vitamin K as a Powerful Micronutrient in Aging and Age-Related Diseases: Pros and Cons from Clinical Studies.
Dina C Simes, Carla S B Viegas, Nuna Araújo, Catarina Marreiros. Int J Mol Sci . 2019 Aug 25;20(17):4150. doi: 10.3390/ijms20174150.
Vitamin K as a Diet Supplement with Impact in Human Health: Current Evidence in Age-Related Diseases
Dina C Simes, Carla S B Viegas, Nuna Araújo, Catarina Marreiros. Nutrients. 2020 Jan 3;12(1):138. doi: 10.3390/nu12010138.