Ana Catarina da Silva Franco (8C1A-8A15-0550)

Curriculum Vitae

Ana Catarina da Silva Franco

Ana Catarina Franco earned her BSc in Biology (specializing in Molecular Biology and Genetics) from the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon in 2016. Following her undergraduate studies, she served as a research volunteer at the Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes for nearly an academic year. In 2019, Ana completed her MSc in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra. Her thesis, "Neuroendocrine Peptide as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Delay Skin Aging," was conducted at the Center for Neuroscience and Cellular Biology within the Neuroendocrinology and Aging group. This research demonstrated that Ghrelin improved the overall aging phenotype of the skin in a murine model of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. After completing her MSc, Ana secured a research fellowship at the same institution under the project "HealthyAgeing2020 (ref. CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000012)," focusing on aging research, age-related diseases, and potential anti-aging strategies using cellular and animal models. Presently, Ana is a Ph.D. student with a fellowship supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (ref. 2020.04478.BD). Her Ph.D. project, titled "The Role of Skin Senescence in Whole-Body Aging," is supervised by Professor Cláudia Cavadas, Dr. Célia Aveleira, and Dr. João Passos, in collaboration with the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, and the Arlene and Kogod Aging Center at Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA. Ana was awarded a Fulbright Grant for Research with the support of FCT to conduct part of her Ph.D. project as a visiting graduate student in the USA host institution. ana's Ph.D project focuses on two main sub-topics. Firstly, the characterization of cellular senescence in the skin during aging, using state-of-the-art multi-omic techniques such as iterative indirect immunofluorescence imaging (4i) and Co-detection by indexing (CODEX). These tools allow the simultaneous visualization of multiple biomarkers at single-cell resolution, which allows the differentiation of cell subgroups based on unique senescence-marker spatial signatures. The second project aims to understand the impact of skin senescence on systemic aging, particularly on cognitive aging. To test this, senescent and control cells were intradermally transplanted into murine skin, and the development of frailty, physical dysfunction, and cognitive decline was evaluated. Additionally, this study aims to assess if the administration of senolytics can improve the overall whole-body aging phenotype and contribute to developing novel anti-aging strategies.

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Identificação

Identificação pessoal

Nome completo: Ana Catarina da Silva Franco

Nomes de citação

Ana Catarina Franco

Identificadores de autor

Ciência ID: 8C1A-8A15-0550
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6730-7021

Endereços de correio eletrónico

ana.franco@student.ff.uc.pt (Profissional)

Telefones

Telemóvel

917686863 (Pessoal)

Moradas

Rua Larga, Fac. Med. Polo 1, Piso 2, 3004-504, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal (Profissional)

Domínios de atuação

Ciências Médicas e da Saúde
Ciências Naturais - Ciências Biológicas - Biologia
Ciências Naturais - Ciências Biológicas - Biologia Celular
Ciências Naturais - Ciências Biológicas - Biologia Molecular
Ciências Naturais - Ciências Biológicas - Bioquímica
Ciências Médicas e da Saúde - Medicina Clínica - Dermatologia e Doenças Venéreas

Idiomas

Idioma	Conversação	Leitura	Escrita	Compreensão	Peer-review
Português (Idioma materno)
Inglês	Utilizador independente (B2)	Utilizador independente (B2)	Utilizador independente (B2)	Utilizador proficiente (C1)	Utilizador independente (B2)

Formação

	Grau	Classificação
2021/01/01 - 2024/12/31 Em curso	PhD program in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Doutoramento) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal "The role of skin senescence to whole body ageing" (TESE/DISSERTAÇÃO)
2021/01 - 2024/06 Em curso	EIT Health Ageing PhD School (Curso de doutoramento (conclusão de unidades curriculares)) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2017/10 - 2019/07 Concluído	Biotecnologia Farmacêutica (Mestrado) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal "Neuroendocrine peptide as a novel therapeutic strategy to delay skin aging" (TESE/DISSERTAÇÃO)	18
2017/03/24 - 2017/04/10 Concluído	Course on Laboratory Animal Science - FELASA B Level (Outros) Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal
2013/09 - 2016/07 Concluído	Biologia (Licenciatura) Especialização em Biologia Molecular e Genética Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal	15
2012/09 - 2013/07 Frequentou	Ortóptica (Licenciatura) Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Portugal

Percurso profissional

Outros

	Categoria Profissional Instituição de acolhimento	Empregador
2021/01/01 - 2024/12/31	PhD student of Pharmaceutical Sciences with project entitled “The role of skin senescence to whole body ageing”	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2019/11/04 - 2020/12/31	Research fellow in the project HealthyAging2020 (ref. CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000012) supported by University of Coimbra	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

2017/10 - 2019/07	MSc student with thesis entitled: 'Neuroendocrine peptide as a novel therapeutic strategy to delay skin aging" (19 out of 20), under the supervision of Célia Aveleira and Cláudia Cavadas.	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

2016/08 - 2017/04	Voluntary internship - Scientific research focused on antimalarial strategies at Miguel Prudencio Lab	Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal

2016/01 - 2016/06	BSc practical scientific work under the course of "Oriented studies" - Development of a scientific project entitled "Bioconversion of steroids" under the supervision of doctor Manuela Carolino	Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Projetos

Bolsa

	Designação	Financiadores
2019/11/04 - 2020/12	HealthyAging2020 (ref. CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000012) CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000012 Bolseiro de Investigação Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal	Em curso

Outro

	Designação	Financiadores
2018/06/01 - 2021/05/31	NiNjA - New Neuroendocrine Strategy for healthy Aging PTDC/MED-FAR/30167/2017 Outra Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Em curso

Produções

Publicações

Artigo em revista	Ferreira-Marques, M.; André Carvalho; Ana Catarina Silva-Franco; Ana Leal; Mariana Botelho; Sara Carmo-Silva; Rodolfo Águas; et al. "Ghrelin delays premature aging in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome". Aging Cell (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/acel.13983. 10.1111/acel.13983 Franco, Ana Catarina; Aveleira, Célia; Cavadas, Cláudia. "Skin senescence: mechanisms and impact on whole-body aging". Trends in Molecular Medicine 28 2 (2022): 97-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molmed.2021.12.003. Publicado • 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.12.003
Poster em conferência	Ana Catarina Franco; Anthony Lagnado; Dominik Saul; Stella Victorelli; Saranya Wyles; Diana Jurk; Aveleira, Célia; Cavadas, Claudia; Passos, Joao. "Creating a spatial map of cellular senescence in human skin aging". Trabalho apresentado em 8th International Cell Senescence Association (ICSA) Conference, 2023. Ana Catarina Franco; Anthony Lagnado; Dominik Saul; Stella Victorelli; Saranya Wyles; Diana Jurk; Celia Aveleira; Cavadas, Claudia; Passos, Joao. "Creating a spatial map of cellular senescence in human skin aging". Trabalho apresentado em Annual SenNet Meeting, 2023. Franco, Ana Catarina; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Carvalho, Andre; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Botelho, Mariana; Cavadas, Claudia; Aveleira, Célia. "Neuroendocrine peptide as a novel therapeutic strategy to delay skin aging.". Trabalho apresentado em Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB) Meeting, 2019. Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Carvalho, Andre; Franco, Ana Catarina; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Botelho, Mariana; Cavadas, Claudia; Aveleira, Célia. "Targeting the neuroendocrine system to delay aging phenotype in progeria". Trabalho apresentado em Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 2019. Franco, Ana Catarina; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Carvalho, André; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Botelho, Mariana; Cavadas, Claudia; Aveleira, Célia. "A neuroendocrine strategy to slow down the clock on skin aging". Trabalho apresentado em BEB day 2019, 2019. Franco, Ana Catarina; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Carvalho, André; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Botelho, Mariana; Cavadas, Claudia; Aveleira, Célia. "Neuroendocrine peptide as a novel strategy to delay skin aging". Trabalho apresentado em "1st meeting in Pharmaceutical Sciences" Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, Portugal, 2019. Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Carvalho, André; Franco, Ana Catarina; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Botelho, Mariana; Cavadas, Claudia; Aveleira, Célia. "Neuroendocrine peptide as a novel strategy to delay aging in HGPS". Trabalho apresentado em 1st Annual Meeting in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2019. Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Carvalho, Andre; Franco, Ana Catarina; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Botelho, Mariana; Cavadas, Claudia; Aveleira, Célia. "A new neuroendocrine strategy to delay aging in HGPS". Trabalho apresentado em "3rd Molecular Biology of Ageing Meeting”, Groningen, the Netherlands, 2019. Franco, Ana Catarina; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Carvalho, André; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Botelho, Mariana; Cavadas, Claudia; Aveleira, Célia. "Ghrelin as a potential therapeutic strategy to delay skin aging and hair loss in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome". Trabalho apresentado em “Ageing: Models, Mechanisms and Therapies Conference”, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal., 2019.
Tese / Dissertação	Silva-Franco, Catarina. "Neuroendocrine peptide as a novel therapeutic strategy to delay skin aging". Mestrado, Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, 2019.

Atividades

Apresentação oral de trabalho

	Título da apresentação	Nome do evento Anfitrião (Local do evento)
2023/10/26	Speed presentation: Creating a spatial map of cellular senescence in human skin aging	8th International Cell Senescence Association (ICSA) Conference Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism and Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging at Mayo Clinic (Minneapolis, Minnesota, Estados Unidos)
2023/08/27	Creating a spatial map of cellular senescence in human skin aging	13th Alliance for Healthy Aging Conference Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Dinamarca)
2021/02/18	A NEUROENDCRINE PEPTIDE AS A SKIN ANTI-AGEING STRATEGY	51th meeting of the Portuguese Pharmacology Society Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Coimbra, Portugal)
2020/02/06	Targeting the neuroendocrine system to slow down skin aging	50th meeting of the Portuguese Pharmacology Society Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Coimbra, Portugal)

Participação em evento

	Descrição da atividade Tipo de evento	Nome do evento Instituição / Organização
2023/04/20 - 2023/04/23	2023 Washington, DC Fulbright Seminar: "The American City: Learning from the Past, Responding to the Present, and Preparing for the Future" Seminário	2023 Washington, DC Fulbright Seminar Fulbright Association, Estados Unidos
2022/10/13 - 2022/10/15	12th Annual Alliance for Healthy Aging Conference	12th Annual Alliance for Healthy Aging Conference The Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism, University of Minnesota, Estados Unidos Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic, Estados Unidos
2021/11/26 - 2021/11/26	IX Training in Dermopharmacy and Cosmetics - "Photoprotection" Oficina (workshop)	IX Formação em Dermofarmácia e Cosmética - "Fotoproteção" Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2021/09/29 - 2021/09/30	Interdisciplinar training office: Gender Perspective Integration in Research	Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, Portugal
2020/11/23 - 2020/12/05	Innovation Days Winners' Event - Sponsored by Imperial College of London and EIT health	Innovation Days Winners' Event Imperial College London, Reino Unido
2020/09 - 2020/12	Writing in the Sciences - Online Course from COURSERA by Stanford University; 95%; September ¿ December 2020 Oficina (workshop)	Stanford University Department of Health Research and Policy, Estados Unidos
2020/11/05 - 2020/11/20	Coimbra Innovation days 2020 (winner team) - Sponsored by EIT health. Oficina (workshop)	Coimbra Innovation days 2020 Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019/12/11 - 2019/12/13	Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on “Essencial da Gestão de Dados de Investigação" Oficina (workshop)
2019/11/29 - 2019/11/29	Laboratory Supervisor at «Semana da Ciência e Tecnologia» Outro	Semana da Ciência e Tecnologia Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2019/11/15 - 2019/11/15	1st meeting in Pharmaceutical Sciences Conferência	Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2019/10/30 - 2019/10/30	Workshop on Photoshop Oficina (workshop)	Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Letras, Portugal
2019/10/10 - 2019/10/12	«3rd Molecular Biology of Ageing Meeting» Groningen, the Netherlands Congresso	3rd Molecular Biology of Ageing Meeting European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing University Medical Center Groningen, Países Baixos
2019/10/04 - 2019/10/04	«How to Write a Great Research Paper, and Get it Accepted by a Good Journal» Workshop by Anthony Newman and Sarah Rodrigues (ELSEVIER) Oficina (workshop)	How to Write a Great Research Paper, and Get it Accepted by a Good Journal Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2019/10 - 2019/10	BEB day 2019 Conferência	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2019/09/27 - 2019/09/27	Street activities at the «International Researchers Night» Outro	International Researchers Night Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2019/09/02 - 2019/09/06	Laboratory supervisor of the «Ciência Viva no Laboratório - Ocupação Científica de Jovens nas Férias», at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Neuroendocrinology and Aging Group, University of Coimbra, Portugal. Outro	Ciência Viva no Laboratório - Ocupação Científica de Jovens nas Férias Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2017/11/03 - 2017/11/03	"Biological Therapies in the vanguard of health" Scientific Congress of the Nucleus of Students of Pharmacy/Academic Association of Coimbra (NEFAAC) Conferência	Biological Therapies in the vanguard of health Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra EPE, Portugal
2015/12/02 - 2015/12/02	"Reflexions about the Neurobiology of Consciousness” conference by António Damásio Conferência	1º Encontro de Alunos Colégio Doutoral Mente-Cérebro da Universidade de Lisboa Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
2014/05/26 - 2014/05/26	"Forensic Microbiology" workshop lectured by Dr. Jeffrey Tomberlin Oficina (workshop)	Forensic Microbiology Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Portugal
2014/03/21 - 2014/03/21	"II Jornadas de Biotecnologia" Encontro	II Jornadas de Biotecnologia Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal

Tutoria

	Tópico	Nome do aluno
2020/02/03 - 2020/05	Laboratory internship supervision	Ana Claudia Bessa
2020/01/06 - 2020/01/24	Laboratory rotation supervision	Carolina Santos

Distinções

Prémio

2023	Certificate of Excellence for outstanding performance at 2023 SenNet Conference Cellular Senescence Network (SENNET), Estados Unidos
2022	Fulbright Grant for Research with the support of FCT (2022/2023) Fulbright Portugal, Portugal
2019	Scholarship for merit - highest average grade student in MSc program in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - from DGES (Direção Geral do Ensino Superior) regarding the academic year of 2018/2019 Direção Geral de Ensino Superior, Portugal