Born in 1960. Aveiro, Coimbra, Viseu. Graduate in Law from the Catholic University of Porto. Member of the Delegation of the Chamber of Lawyers in Estarreja. Adviser to the Prefect of Aveiro. Member of the Municipal Council of Estarreja (1987-2000). MEP from 2000 until 2004. Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities. Substitute Member of the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy, the Committee on Legal Affairs, and the Committee on the Internal Market. Secretary of State for Health during the 16th Constitutional Government (2004-2005). Vice-President of the PSD Parliamentary Group in the Portuguese Parliament. Vice-President of the Committee on Health of the Portuguese Parliament. President of the Municipal Assembly in Aveiro. Member of the National Political Committee of the PSD (2005-2009). President of the Portuguese Red Cross, Estarreja (1996-2002). MEP since 2009.