Nuno Empadinhas holds a degree in Biology and a PhD in Biochemistry with a specialization in Microbiology from the University of Coimbra (UC). He is Principal Investigator and Group Leader at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC) and at the Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB). Since 2024, he is the Coordinator of the PhD Program in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (PDBEB). His work has elucidated microbial stress adaptation mechanisms, uncovering genes, enzymes, and pathways for glycosidic compatible solute biosynthesis in extremophilic archaea and bacteria, and critical steps in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). He has identified genes and enzymes that led to the recognition of 17 new enzyme families in the IUBMB Nomenclature. He currently investigates the health risks of drinking water microbiota (especially NTM) and gut microbiome dysbiosis in Parkinson’s disease, including microbial biosynthesis of neuroactive metabolites. He has published over 80 peer‑reviewed articles, mentored more than 25 MSc and PhD students, and co‑organized several national and international scientific meetings. In 2012, he became the first Portuguese scientist to receive the prestigious Mizutani Glycoscience Grant, a Japanese award established in 1993. Other honors include the Mantero Belard Award (2016), the Thomé Villar Award (2017), and the Pfizer Award in Basic Research (2023).