Dr. Fernanda G. Q. Barros-Arag茫o, pictured left on stage. Photo courtesy of the Alzheimer's Association.
Dr. Fernanda G. Q. Barros-Arag茫o is a postdoctoral fellow in the Centre for Neurosciences and Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Fernanda De Felice and Dr. Brendon Gurd. Dr. Barros-Arag茫o completed her doctoral training in Morphological Sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she explored the impact of the Zika virus infection in adults鈥 central nervous system. Her doctoral research was complemented by her earlier degrees in Biomedicine and Pharmacology. Before joining 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 University, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the D鈥橭r Institute for Research and Education in Brazil with a project to understand COVID-19鈥檚 acute and long-term impacts on the brain.
Dr. Barros-Arag茫o鈥檚 current research with Dr. De Felice and Dr. Gurd expands on her previous experience to investigate how the brain and muscles communicate following exercise via nanosized particles released by cells, named extracellular vesicles. The project supports the development of novel treatments for neurological diseases, such as dementia, because the research identifies potential opportunities for treatment interventions in this communication pathway to mimic or recreate the positive and protective impact of exercise on the brain. Dr. Barros-Arag茫o鈥檚 research also explores sex differences, and her work on this project was most recently published in .
As an early-career researcher, Dr. Barros-Arag茫o鈥檚 work has been recognized by the which is a leading global organization that supports cutting-edge research on Alzheimer鈥檚 and supports those living with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. She presented at the organization鈥檚 annual international conference and won best poster prize in the 鈥淏asic Science, Pathogenesis, and Drug Development鈥 postdoctoral category. The SGSPA was thrilled to support Dr. Barros-Arag茫o with a Postdoc Travel Award to attend.
The Alzheimer鈥檚 Association also recognized Dr. Barros-Arag茫o鈥檚 research with a grant to continue her exciting research. Dr. Barros-Arag茫o is the Principal Investigator on the grant which is a part of the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association鈥檚 International Research Grant Program. The grant will support her current line of inquiry investigating sex differences in neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition to her own research, Dr. Barros-Arag茫o is an active mentor and has supported undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. She provides thoughtful support to junior colleagues in the lab as they develop research and scientific skills. At 国产91尤物福利在线观看鈥檚 University and at the D鈥橭r Institute for Research and Education, Fernanda has seen her past trainees succeed in further graduate study and transition into careers in biomedical industries. The SGSPA looks forward to seeing where Dr. Barros-Arag茫o鈥檚 research career takes her next!