1.1 Polyglutamine expansion diseases
Research team: A. Cristina Rego (PhD), Catarina R. Oliveira (MD, PhD), Mário Laço (UC PhD stud.), Sandra Almeida (UC PhD)
Collaborators: David G. Nicholls and Lisa Ellerby (Buck Institute, Novato, CA, USA); Henry Paulson (Iowa University, Iowa, USA); Jorge Gonçalves (Fac. Pharm, Univ. Porto, PT); Patrícia Maciel (Minho University, PT) and Ana Luísa Carvalho (CNCB/UC).
1.1.1 FK-506 and BDNF neuroprotection in a mitochondrial model of Huntington’s disease – Sandra Almeida
1.1.2 Mitochondrial dysfunction and nuclear aggregation of expanded ataxin-3 in cell models of Machado-Joseph disease – Mário Laço
2. CELL DEGENERATION AND PROTECTION
2.1 oxidative stress
Research Team: A. Cristina Rego (PhD), Ana Duarte (PhD), Catarina R. Oliveira (MD, PhD), Rita Perfeito (PhD student), Sancha M. Santos (PhD)
Collaborators: João Bettencourt-Relvas and Jorge Pereira (Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland)
2.1.1 Insulin neuroprotection against neuronal oxidative stress – Ana Duarte
2.1.2 Oxidative lesion of oligodendrocytes and role of antioxidants – Rita Perfeito
2.2 Neurotoxicity of drugs of abuse
Research Team: A. Cristina Rego (PhD), Catarina R. Oliveira (MD, PhD), Teresa Cunha Oliveira (PhD)
Collaborators: Tice Macedo (FMED, UC), Fernanda Borges (Fac. Pharm, Univ. Porto, PT), Paula Marques (FCTUC, PT), Ana Paula Silva (FMED, UC).
3. NEURAL STEM CELL RESEARCH
Research Team: A. Cristina Rego (PhD), Ana C. Silva (UC PhD stud.), Catarina R. Oliveira (MD, PhD),
Collaborators: João Bettencourt-Relvas and Jorge Pereira (Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland), Luís Pereira de Almeida (CNCB/UC).
Future perspectives:
Study of neurodegeneration involving mitochondrial dysfunction and on neural stem cells therapy, using cell and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases.
Group Members:
Catarina Resende de Oliveira (Director of CNCB)
Ana Cristina Carvalho Rego (Head of the group)
Post-Docs
Ana Duarte, Teresa Oliveira, Sandra Almeida, I. Luísa Ferreira
PhD students:
Mário Laço, Rita Perfeito, Ana Cristina Silva, A. Catarina Oliveira, Susana Louros
Master students:
Maria Nascimento, Márcio Ribeiro
Undergraduate students:
Rui Costa
The main purpose of our group is the study of basic mechanisms underlying selective neurodegeneration involving mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders. By accomplishing this, we hope to bring about new therapeutic strategies to neurodegenerative diseases.
