This project dedicates to fundamental research to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) pathophysiology.
In the context of PD, we focus on addressing how the locus coeruleus (LC), a major noradrenergic nucleus from the CNS, is affected during disease progression. For that, we have established an integrative project, from clinical to basic research to assess LC degeneration on prodromal and clinical PD patients and develop patient-derived LC noradrenergic neurons using iPSCs. In parallel, we are also dedicated to the development of innovative in vitro models (2D and 3D) of other vulnerable neuronal populations in PD.
For SCI, we are using a combination of in vitro and surgical in vivo models (transgenic and wild-type rodent models of traumatic SCI) to 1) Characterize the temporal dynamics of SCI pathophysiology, focusing on secondary events (e.g. inflammation, excitotoxicity, glial scar formation) to identify potential therapeutic targets and windows of opportunity and to 2) modulate neuroimmune regulatory pathways (e.g. thermoablation of the spinal- spleen sympathetic circuit) to shape immune cells behaviour to improve endogenous tissue repair. The most promising preclinical targets/strategies will be validated on SCI patients’ cohorts.
Going from preclinical models to patients, this project has not only the potential to generate innovative knowledge on the mechanisms underlying PD and SCI degeneration, but also to provide tools and targets for the applied research projects from our team, supporting the success of innovative regenerative medicine strategies.
Finally, a strong focus is also put in understanding the basics mechanism as well as, possible therapeutic routes of cerebral Malaria. Malaria remains a significant contributor to global human mortality, and roughly, half the world’s population is at risk for infection with Plasmodium spp. parasites causing the raise on the demand for the development of antimalarial drugs. In 2018, we launched a project to establish a new high-throughput antimalarial screening platform, funded by FCT, PTDC/SAU-PAR/28066/2017- “MalPharm – A genetic sensors-based high-throughput screening platform for antimalarial development”. During the course of this project, we were able to identify a novel class of drugs with potent antimalarial activity (low-nanomolar level) named: purydrazides. Purydrazides are purine derivatives, which can act in both resistant and sensitive P. falciparum cell lines. Through deep characterization of its mechanisms of action and resistance at the parasitological level and in vivo characterization of its toxicity and antimalarial action, we aim to identify novel drugabble targets in P. falciparum with a capacity to delay drug resistance development.