1. MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION AND DISEASE

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