I am fascinated by the capacity of neurons to assemble in precise and stable circuits. My research interests focus on the homeostatic processes that maintain these neuronal circuits functional across time to produce refined computations essential for memory encoding. In my recent work, I studied the role of a sleep-related peptide in the control of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and homeostasis, and I found that this system is dysregulated in early-stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, I am investigating how different brain cell-types interact with neurons during sleep and contribute to brain homeostasis.
I am fascinated by the capacity of neurons to assemble in precise and stable circuits. My research interests focus on the homeostatic processes that maintain these neuronal circuits functional across time to produce refined computations essential for memory encoding. In my recent work, I studied the role of a sleep-related peptide in the control of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and homeostasis, and I found that this system is dysregulated in early-stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, I am investigating how different brain cell-types interact with neurons during sleep and contribute to brain homeostasis.
2024-present – Auxiliary Researcher (2023.06429.CEECIND)
2023-2024 – ERA Postdoc at ICVS/Medicine School at University of Minho, Portugal.
2016-2022 – Postdoc at KULeuven/VIB – CBD Centre for Brain and Disease, Belgium. (Prof. Bart De Strooper and Prof. Joris de Wit)
2012-2016 – PhD at Janssen Pharmaceutica and KULeuven/VIB – CBD Centre for Brain and Disease, Belgium. (Dr. Diederik Moechars and Prof. Patrik Verstreken)
2011 – Master Thesis at Janssen Pharmaceutica, Belgium
2010-2011 – MSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal
2007-2010 – BSc in Applied Biology, University of Minho, Portugal
Funding:
2025-2030: EMBO Installation Grant
2024-2030: Auxiliar Researcher – CEEC Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
2023-2024: Bial Foundation Maria de Sousa Prize
2023-2025: ERA Postdoctoral fellowship
2019-2022: Senior Postdoctoral fellowship – Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO)
2019-2021: Alzheimer’s Association International Research Grant Program (AARF)
2018-2019: Pilot Grant – Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek (SAO)
Publications:
1. Calafate S*, Özturan G, Thrupp N, Vanderlinden J, Santa-Marinha L, Morais-Ribeiro R, Ruggiero A, Bozic I, Rusterholz T, Lorente-Echeverría B, Dias M, Chen WT, Fiers M, Lu A, Vlaeminck I, Creemers E, Craessaerts K, Vandenbempt J, van Boekholdt L, Poovathingal S, Davie K, Thal DR, Wierda K, Gil-Oliveira T, Slutsky I, Adamantidis A, De Strooper B*, de Wit J*. Early alterations in the MCH-system link aberrant neuronal activity and sleep disturbances in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Nature Neuroscience. 2023 May 15. doi: 10.1038/s41593-023-01325-4. PMID: 25981034
2: Preman P, Tcw J, Calafate S, Snellinx A, Alfonso-Triguero M, Corthout N, Munck S, Thal DR, Goate AM, De Strooper B, Arranz AM. Human iPSC-derived astrocytes transplanted into the mouse brain undergo morphological changes in response to amyloid-β plaques. Mol Neurodegener. 2021 Sep 25;16(1):68. doi: 10.1186/s13024-021-00487-8. PMID: 34563212; PMCID: PMC8467145.
3: Calafate S, Flavin W, Verstreken P, Moechars D. Loss of Bin1 Promotes the Propagation of Tau Pathology. Cell Rep. 2016 Oct 18;17(4):931-940. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.09.063. PubMed PMID: 27760323.
4: Guo JL, Buist A, Soares A, Callaerts K, Calafate S, Stevenaert F, Daniels JP, Zoll BE, Crowe A, Brunden KR, Moechars D, Lee VM. The Dynamics and Turnover of Tau Aggregates in Cultured Cells: INSIGHTS INTO THERAPIES FOR TAUOPATHIES. J Biol Chem. 2016 Jun 17;291(25):13175-93. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.712083. Epub 2016 Apr 18. PubMed PMID: 27129267; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4933232.
5: Calafate S, Buist A, Miskiewicz K, Vijayan V, Daneels G, de Strooper B, de Wit J, Verstreken P, Moechars D. Synaptic Contacts Enhance Cell-to-Cell Tau Pathology Propagation. Cell Rep. 2015 May 26;11(8):1176-83. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.04.043. Epub 2015 May 14. PubMed PMID: 25981034.
6: Arranz AM, Delbroek L, Van Kolen K, Guimarães MR, Mandemakers W, Daneels G,Matta S, Calafate S, Shaban H, Baatsen P, De Bock PJ, Gevaert K, Vanden Berghe P, Verstreken P, De Strooper B, Moechars D. LRRK2 functions in synaptic vesicle endocytosis through a kinase-dependent mechanism. J Cell Sci. 2015 Feb 1;128(3):541–52. PubMed PMID: 25501810.
In this project we will study how sleep-active hypothalamic MCH-system contributes for brain homeostasis through the regulation of an enzyme COX2, involved in lipid metabolism and…
We now know that the hippocampus is differentially regulated by subregions along its longitudinal axis, from dorsal to ventral poles in rodents, or in humans from…
Here we propose to study how brain regional lipid composition contributes to susceptibility to neurodegenerative disorders. We use different approaches to tackle this question, from mass…
Phone: +351 253 604 967
Fax: +351 253 604 809
Email: icvs.sec@med.uminho.pt
Life and Health Sciences
Research Institute (ICVS)
School of Medicine,
University of Minho,
Campus de Gualtar
4710-057 Braga
Portugal
Copyright ©2022 ICVS. All Rights Reserved
Copyright ©2022 ICVS. All Rights Reserved
Life and Health Sciences
Research Institute (ICVS)
School of Medicine,
University of Minho,
Campus de Gualtar
4710-057 Braga
Portugal
Copyright ©2022 ICVS. All Rights Reserved
Life and Health Sciences
Research Institute (ICVS)
School of Medicine,
University of Minho,
Campus de Gualtar
4710-057 Braga
Portugal
