I am a Research Fellow at ICVS in Dr. Joana Silva’s team. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences (University of Aveiro) and a master’s degree in Molecular Genetics (School of Sciences, University of Minho).
Since my undergraduate studies, I’ve been interested in the genetic mechanisms that regulate cellular functions. As I further explored molecular genetics during my master’s program, my interest grew in translating fundamental molecular processes, such as receptor activation, into broader neuronal functions. This led me to focus on chronic stress and potential therapeutic strategies for brain pathologies, using old drugs. My master’s research, titled “The therapeutic potential of TUDCA in stress-related brain pathologies,” was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Joana Silva and Dr. Sara Duarte-Silva. This still ongoing project aims to investigate TUDCA’s potential therapeutic effects on stress-related brain conditions in vitro and in vivo, as well as to further understand its relationship with glucocorticoid receptors (GR), its role as a modulator of neuroinflammation, ER stress, and the unfolded protein response (UPR), and how it influences gene expression.
Additionally, I am also enrolled in the Bioinformatics master’s program at the School of Engineering, University of Minho, to enhance my computational and analytical skills relevant to my ongoing research and future doctoral studies, focusing on using cutting-edge technologies to explore the role of a cytotoxic granule-associated RNA binding protein (TIA1) in local translation at the synapse, neuronal function and synaptic structure.