Rui V. Simões joined i3S (Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Porto, Portugal) as an associate researcher in the Neuroengineering and Computational Neuroscience Laboratory in 2022. In 2023, he established and has since led the Preclinical MRI Unit. Rui holds a BSc in Biochemistry (University of Coimbra, Portugal, 2003) and has specialized training in preclinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy of cancer models, acquired during his PhD (University of Coimbra, Portugal, and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain, 2004–2009) and postdoctoral research (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA, 2010–2013). 

His research focuses on the quantitative characterization of cellular and tissue metabolism under pathological conditions, spanning fetal growth restriction (Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain, 2013–2017), neurodegeneration (Clinic Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, 2015–2017), and oncology (Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal, 2017–2022). At i3S, his work integrates the Neurobiology and Neurologic Disorders and Cancer programs with a translational imaging focus, contributing to the Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center “Raquel Seruca” consortium and fostering collaborations with leading clinical centers in the region, including São João and Santo António hospitals.

Rui has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications (h-index: 19), presented 76 peer-reviewed abstracts at international scientific meetings (including 21 first-author oral presentations and 3 as senior author), and delivered 21 invited talks. In the past five years, he secured competitive funding, including an H2020-MSCA-IF fellowship and a PARSUK-FCT bilateral research award.

As an active member of the MRI research community, he co-founded the Iberian Chapter of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) and serves as an Executive and Management Board member of the “Glioma MRI Work Group” within the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB), where he co-leads the Preclinical MRI Task Force. He is also an active member of the European Society for Molecular Imaging (ESMI).