Born in 1959. Azores. Post-doctorate (Bioethics) at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University, USA (1992/1993). Full Professor of Ethics at the University of the Azores (2000). Coordinator of the first Doctoral programme on Bioethics at the Portuguese Catholic University in Lisbon (since 2008) and of the Masters programme on Ethics of Life, at the Azores University and the Portuguese Catholic University (since 2007). Mandatary by the Azores for the presidential candidate Aníbal Cavaco Silva (2005). Consultant to the President of the Portuguese Republic for Ethics of Life (2006-2009). Member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Bioethics (since 2003). Member of the National Council of Ethics for Life Sciences, and also belongs to its coordinating commission (since 2003). Director of the Centre for Bioethical Studies, Azores (since 1995). Co-Author of several books on Bioethics. MEP since 2009.