Dr. Tiago Dantas is Principal Investigator at ICVS, where he leads a research group exploring how molecular motors regulate neurodevelopment and disease.
Tiago obtained a B.Sc. in Applied Biology from the University of Minho in 2007. He then began his research career as an Erasmus student in Prof. Ciaran Morrison’s lab at the National University of Ireland Galway, where he later completed his PhD with an FCT fellowship. His doctoral work focused on the interplay between centrosomal proteins and the DNA damage response.
In 2012, Tiago joined Prof. Richard Vallee’s lab at Columbia University, New York, where he investigated the role of ciliogenesis and molecular motors in neural stem cell proliferation and neuronal migration. His postdoctoral research was supported by an American Heart/Stroke Association fellowship.
Tiago returned to Portugal in 2018 to establish his independent group at IBMC/i3S in Porto, where he was awarded a CEEC contract and multiple FCT project grants. Combining genetic, biochemical, and advanced imaging approaches in rodent and C. elegans models, his team has uncovered key mechanisms by which Dynein-2 dysfunction and impaired ciliary signaling contribute to developmental disorders.
In 2025, Tiago was awarded a CEEC contract to join ICVS. He currently supervises one postdoctoral researcher, three PhD students, and two MSc students.
Dr. Tiago Dantas is Principal Investigator at ICVS, where he leads a research group exploring how molecular motors regulate neurodevelopment and disease.
Tiago obtained a B.Sc. in Applied Biology from the University of Minho in 2007. He then began his research career as an Erasmus student in Prof. Ciaran Morrison’s lab at the National University of Ireland Galway, where he later completed his PhD with an FCT fellowship. His doctoral work focused on the interplay between centrosomal proteins and the DNA damage response.
In 2012, Tiago joined Prof. Richard Vallee’s lab at Columbia University, New York, where he investigated the role of ciliogenesis and molecular motors in neural stem cell proliferation and neuronal migration. His postdoctoral research was supported by an American Heart/Stroke Association fellowship.
Tiago returned to Portugal in 2018 to establish his independent group at IBMC/i3S in Porto, where he was awarded a CEEC contract and multiple FCT project grants. Combining genetic, biochemical, and advanced imaging approaches in rodent and C. elegans models, his team has uncovered key mechanisms by which Dynein-2 dysfunction and impaired ciliary signaling contribute to developmental disorders.
In 2025, Tiago was awarded a CEEC contract to join ICVS. He currently supervises one postdoctoral researcher, three PhD students, and two MSc students.
MOST RECENT SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
CDR2 is a dynein adaptor recruited by kinectin to regulate ER sheet organization.
Teixeira V, Singh K, Gama JB, Moreira M, Celestino R, Xavier Carvalho A, Pereira PS, Abreu CMC, DANTAS TJ, Carter AP, Gassmann R.
J Cell Biol. 2025 Sep 1;224(9):e202411034. doi: 10.1083/jcb.202411034. Epub 2025 Jul 10.
Hot-wiring dynein-2 establishes roles for IFT-A in retrograde train assembly and motility
Gonçalves-Santos F, De-Castro ARG, Rodrigues DRM, De-Castro MJG, De-Castro ARG, DANTAS TJ#.
Cell Reports 2023 Nov 28;42(11):113337. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113337
This work was highlighted in 8 news outlets (e.g. https://bit.ly/3yhpMd7)
WDR60-mediated dynein-2 loading into cilia powers retrograde IFT and transition zone crossing.
De-Castro ARG, Rodrigues DRM, De-Castro MJG, Vieira N, Vieira C, Carvalho AX, Gassmann R, Abreu CMC, DANTAS TJ#.
J Cell Biol. 2022 Jan 3;221(1):e202010178. doi: 10.1083/jcb.202010178.
This work was selected for the cover of the issue (https://rupress.org/jcb/issue/221/1), featured in a spotlight article by field experts (https://bit.ly/3IwObLV) and highlighted in 3 news outlets (e.g. https://bit.ly/3H5rMUr)
The IFT20 homolog in Caenorhabditis elegans is required for ciliogenesis and cilia-mediated behavior.
De-Castro ARG, Quintas-Gonçalves J, Silva-Ribeiro T, Rodrigues DRM, De-Castro MJG, Abreu CM, DANTAS TJ#.
MicroPubl Biol. 2021 May 11;2021. doi: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000396.
The Dynein Adaptor RILP Controls Neuronal Autophagosome Biogenesis, Transport, and Clearance.
Khobrekar NV, Quintremil S, DANTAS TJ, Vallee RB.
Dev Cell. 2020 Apr 20;53(2):141-153.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.03.011.
MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY:
– Invited Evaluator for French ARN, Polish NSC, Czech SF and UK BBSRC grant proposals; and Marie S. Curie Actions (Postdoctoral fellowships).
– Editorial Board Member of Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience and Communications Biology since 2018 https://www.nature.com/commsbio/about/editorial-board#Dantas.
– Teaches in Master’s programs, incluiding the Neurodevelopment class at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, and a class on on C. elegans as a model system at the NOVA Medical School, Lisbon.
– Examiner/evaluating member of the Jury in the defense of 8 Master’s and 3 PhD theses.
– PI/co-PI of 4 FCT projects
During development, embryonic neural stem cells known as radial glial progenitors (RGPs) generate most neurons and glia in the neocortex in a highly regulated fashion. RGPs are highly elongated cells, extending an apical process to the ventricular surface and a basal process that reaches the pial surface of the brain.
Cilia perform essential functions in development, fertility, and health, and their dysfunction causes ciliopathies, ranging from developmental disorders to degenerative diseases, many of which affecting the brain.
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 ©2025 ICVS. All Rights Reserved. Developed by TCIT
Copyright ©2025 ICVS. All Rights Reserved. Developed by TCIT
Life and Health Sciences
Research Institute (ICVS)
School of Medicine,
University of Minho,
Campus de Gualtar
4710-057 Braga
Portugal
Copyright ©2025 ICVS. All Rights Reserved
Life and Health Sciences
Research Institute (ICVS)
School of Medicine,
University of Minho,
Campus de Gualtar
4710-057 Braga
Portugal
