Dr Adriana Cunha Neves

BSc PhD

Assistant Lecturer

Carlow Campus
e: adriana.cunhaneves@setu.ie            t: 059 9175500
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9577-9894     ResearchGate  LinkedIn

 

 

Dr Adriana Cunha Neves completed her B.Sc. (Pathologic, Cytologic and Thanatologic Anatomy, 2011) at the School of Heath Allied Sciences (IPP, Porto, Portugal). She worked for two years as a forensic Medical Scientist at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine (Porto, Portugal). In 2015 she was awarded a Ph.D. (Biochemistry/Food science) by the University of Limerick, on the topic “Extraction, purification and characterisation of biofunctional peptides from marine processing co-products”. She also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Limerick, in the areas of identification of marine peptides with bioactivities related with type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and food technology and product innovation and development. Dr Cunha Neves joined the Department of Science & Health at SETU Carlow in 2017 as assistant lecturer in biosciences and is a member of the EnviroCORE research unit.

  • Research Interests
  • Publications
  • Research Supervision
  • Engagement and Collaboration

Research Interests

Dr Adriana Cunha Neves teaches in the modules of the Science department in modules such as Nutritional biochemistry, pharmacology and dietetics, Biology and Biomolecules across all years. She has though at level 9 level in tought masters programs and is currently supervising research masters projects as well.

Her research interests involve the utilisation of waste streams to generate food and cosmetics enriched with proteins and bioactivities peptides as well in the formulation and of sustainable bioplastics.

Dr Cunha Neves has been awarded funding from Enterprise Ireland and Science foundation Ireland to progress in her research and has forged partnerships with the engCORE and designeCORE as well as other academic institutions and several industries in the area of food and beverage processing. She is currently working several projects in the area of circular economy and sustainability.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

Neves, A.C., Ming, T., Mroczkowska, M., and Culliton, D., (2020). The effect of different starches in the environmental and mechanical properties of starch blended bioplastics. Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems, 5(6), pp.550-554.

Neves, A.C., Moyne, M.M., Eyre, C., and Casey, B.P., (2020). Acceptability and Societal Impact of the Introduction of Bioplastics as Novel Environmentally Friendly Packaging Materials in Ireland. Clean Technologies, 2(1), pp.127-143.

Neves, A.C., Harnedy, P.A., O'Keeffe, M.B., Alashi, M.A., Aluko, R.E. and FitzGerald, R.J., (2017). Peptide identification in a salmon gelatin hydrolysate with antihypertensive, dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory and antioxidant activities. Food Research International, 100, pp.112-120.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., O’Keeffe M.B. and FitzGerald, R. J. (2016). ‘Bioactive peptides from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with angiotensin converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory, and antioxidant activities’, Food Chemistry.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2015). ‘Angiotensin converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitory, and antioxidant activities of a mussel meat protein extract and its hydrolysates’, Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology.

Kleekayai, T., Harnedy, P. A., O’Keeffe, M. B., Poyarkov, A. A., CunhaNeves, A., Suntornsuk, W. and FitzGerald, R. J. (2015). 'Extraction of antioxidant and ACE inhibitory peptides from Thai traditional fermented shrimp pastes', Food Chemistry, (176), 441-447.

Books and Book Chapters

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2016). ‘Marine processing proteinaceous by-products: sources, characterization, purification and applications’. In Dhillon, GS: Waste-derived proteins: Transformation from environmental burden into value-added products. Elsevier.

Conference Proceedings and Papers

Mrockzcowska, M., Germain, K., Culliton, D., Neves, A.C. (2019). ‘Effects of different gelatin sources on characteristics of starch and gelatin blend bioplastic’, Abstract of an oral presentation presented at Environ 2020, Dublin (virtual conference), Ireland, October 2020.

Cunha Neves, A., Casey, B., Moyne, M., (2019) ‘BioPack Project’, Abstract of an oral presentation presented at Future Scope 2019 (Convention Centre Dublin), Dublin, Ireland March 2019

Eyre C., Casey, B., Moyne, M., Cunha Neves, A, (2019). ‘BioPack Project: The use of concurrent design in the generation of bioplastics with high environmental impact’, Abstract of an oral presentation presented at Environ 2019 (Institute of Technology Carlow) Carlow, Ireland, April 2019.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2014). ‘Extraction, purification and characterisation of biofunctional peptides from marine processing co-products’, Abstract of an oral presentation presented at the Department of Life Sciences (University of Limerick) 2014 Annual Research Day, Limerick, Ireland, May 2014. Best oral presentation awarded.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2014). ‘Extraction, purification and characterisation of biofunctional peptides from marine processing co-products’, Abstract of an oral presentation presented at Young Life Scientists Ireland (Trinity College Dublin) conference, Dublin, Ireland, March 2014. Best oral presentation awarded.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2014). ‘Mussel Byssus collagen hydrolysates: angiotensin converting enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and oxygen radical antioxidant capacity’, Abstract of an oral presentation presented at the 43rd Annual Food Research Conference (University College Dublin), Dublin, Ireland, December 2014.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2013). ‘Extraction, purification and characterisation of biofunctional peptides from marine waste/co-products.’, Abstract of an oral presentation presented at The World is your Oyster (NutraMara) conference, Dublin, Ireland, October 2013.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2013). ‘Anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant potential of marine by-products derived peptides’, Abstract of an oral presentation presented at the Department of Life Sciences (University of Limerick) 2013 Annual Research Day, Limerick, Ireland, May, 2013.

Varela, D., O’Hara, R., Neves, A.C. (2020). ‘Extraction and characterisation of proteins from by products from the shellfish processing industry’, Poster presented at IFSTI - 49th Annual Food Science & Technology Conference, Dublin (virtual conference), Ireland, December 2020

Tew, H.M., Culliton, D., Casey, B., Moyne, M., Cunha Neves, A. (2019). ‘Preliminary results of alginate-based bioplastics generated using different formulations’, Poster presented at Environ 2019, Carlow, Ireland, April 2019.

Mrockzcowska, M., CunhaNeves, A. (2019). ‘Effects of different gelatin sources on characteristics of starch and gelatin blend bioplastic’, Poster presented at Environ 2019, Carlow, Ireland, April 2019.

De Clock, M., CunhaNeves, A. (2018). ‘Using a marine by-product as a novel ingredient for the cosmetic industry’, Poster presented at the launch of ReNu2Farm project, Carlow, Ireland, June 2018.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., O’Keeffe M.B and FitzGerald, R. J. (2016). ‘Angiotensin converting enzyme and dipeptidase IV inhibitory, and antioxidant activities of salmon gelatin derived peptides’, Abstract of a poster presentation presented at Sea Change Researchers Workshop 2016, Galway, Ireland, June 2016.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., O’Keeffe M.B and FitzGerald, R. J. (2016). ‘Angiotensin converting enzyme and dipeptidase IV inhibitory, and antioxidant activities of salmon gelatin derived peptides’, Abstract of a poster presentation presented at the 18th Word Congress of Food Science and Technology 2017, Dublin, Ireland, August 2016.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2013). ‘Extraction, purification and characterisation of biofunctional peptides from marine waste/co-products.’, Abstract of a poster presentation presented at The world is your oyster (NutraMara), Dublin, Ireland, October 2013.

CunhaNeves, A., Harnedy P.A., and FitzGerald, R. J. (2012). ‘Adaption and optimisation of a protein extraction protocol for salmon processing by-products’, Abstract of a poster presentation presented at NutraMara conference, Dublin, Ireland, April 2012.

Research Supervision

Dr. Adriana Cunha Neves has supervised several third level students in their final year projects:

  • Marta Mroczkowska - “Formulation and characterisation of novel bioplastics using collagen extracted from waste from the shellfish industry” Main supervisor: Adriana Cunha Neves; Co-supervisors: David Culliton and Kieran Germain (09/2018 - on going)
  • Daniela Varela - “Valorisation of a waste product from the marine industry for the generation of a novel bio functional ingredients for human consumption” Main supervisor: Adriana Cunha Neves; Co-supervisors: Rosemary O’hara (09/2019 - on going)
  • Jade Stanley - “Development of thermoset starch blend bioplastics using sustainable alternative starches” Main supervisor: Adriana Cunha Neves; Co-supervisors: David Culliton and Jonay Sancho (University of Nothingam (09/2020 - on going)
  • Jiao Zhang “Development of bioactive peptides for the food/cosmetic industry arising from BSG from the brewing industry” Main supervisor: Adriana Cunha Neves; Co-supervisors: David Ryan and Ariane GP (09/2020 - on going)
  • Sofia Skoumpa - “The impact of Environment on Food quality” Main supervisor: David Phelan; Co-supervisors: John Cleary and Adriana Cunha Neves (09/2019 - on going)
  • Angelique Erasmus - “A Citizen Science Approach to Microplastics Sampling” Main supervisor: John Cleary; Co-supervisors: Sheila Long and Adriana Cunha Neves (10/2019 - on going)

Engagement and Collaboration

Partnerships with companies in the area of food and beverages processing and plastic processing.