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João Peça is Assistant Professor at the University of Coimbra and Group Leader at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC). He completed his Ph.D. research at Duke University, where he created the first transgenic mice for channelrhodopsin-2 and pioneered the field of optogenetics. He performed postdoctoral research at MIT characterizing animal models for autism, where he uncovered a new role for cortico-striatal dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders. His present interests center on using advanced models to understand how genetic and environmental risk factors translate to neuronal circuit alterations in neuropsychiatric disorders. To achieve this, João uses a combination of molecular genetics, optogenetics and electrophysiological approaches using animal models and human brain organoids. To date his work has led to primary research papers in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Neuron, Nature Communications, Molecular Psychiatry and PNAS, and review work in Cell and Annual Reviews in Neuroscience. He has supervised or co-supervised: 9 Ph.D. students' thesis and 15+ M.Sc. students. João Peça was an FCT Investigator (2013), won a Marie Curie Career Integration Grant (2014) and was a NARSAD Young Investigator (2014-2016). In 2019 he won the "Pfizer Prize in Basic Research", the oldest and one of the most prestigious prizes in Portugal in the area of Biomedical Sciences, and was awarded a "Special Recognition - Science" in 2022 by the World Cultural Council, Switzerland. João Peça is a Board Member of CNC-UC, he is Treasurer of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, coordinates the Masters in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Department of Life Science, University of Coimbra and is a member of the Board of Educators for "Neurasmus: the European Masters in Neuroscience".
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
João Peça

Citation names

  • Peça, João

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
2516-567A-D39A
ORCID iD
0000-0003-4989-2129

Email addresses

  • jmpessa@gmail.com (Professional)
  • jpeca@uc.pt (Professional)

Telephones

Telephone
  • 304502912 (Professional)

Addresses

  • Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rua Larga, FMUC, 205b, 3004-504, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Neurosciences

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Education
Degree Classification
2013
Concluded
 Postdoctoral Fellow (Postgraduate Certificate)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
2011
Concluded
 Neurobiology (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal

Duke University, United States
"Genetic and optogenetic engineering as a strategy to probe neuronal circuits" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Com Distinção e Louvor | Summa cum laude
2004
Concluded
 Bioquímica (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2018/02/01 - 2019/08/31 Principal Investigator (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2013/07/01 - 2018/01/31 Auxiliary Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2011/03/11 - 2013/12/31 Postdoc (Research) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
2005/06/01 - 2011/03/11 Visiting Researcher (Research) Duke University, United States

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2019/09/01 - Current Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2018 - 2019/08/31 Invited Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Positions / Appointments

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2023 - Current Member of the Board of Directors - Treasurer Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências, Portugal
2022 - Current Member of the Board of Education for Neurasmus: the European Master in Neuroscience Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/09/15 - Current Coordinator of the Master Degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2020/09/22 - Current Member of the Board of Directors Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2018/02/01 - Current Group Leader Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2023 - Current Th2brain: Effects of Th2-related immunity in the postnatal maturation of brain circuits
2022.02604.PTDC
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2022/05/01 - Current SHANKAstro: Astrocytes dysfunctions in Phelan-McDermid syndrome: from mechanisms towards new therapeutic strategies
NEURON/0002/2021
Principal investigator
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
 European Commission
Ongoing
2022 - Current BrainCils: Neuronal primary cilia and chromatin dysregulation - Exploring the missing link in neurodevelopmental disorders using brain organoids
EXPL/MED-OUT/1470/2021
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2021/02/01 - Current Postnatal Reorganization of the cerebellum via Neuron-microglia interaction: IL-4 as a mediator between ADHD and allergies
PTDC/MED-NEU/5993/2020
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2021/02/01 - Current The social code in cingulate-hippocampal circuits
#074/2020
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação Bial
Ongoing
2020/09 - Current IBRO Early Carrer Award - Deficits in mGluR activity in GPRASP2 mutant mice
ECA
Principal investigator
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 International Brain Research Organization
Ongoing
2020 - Current A Saúde no Saber
45-2019/478
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Ciência Viva
Ongoing
2021 - 2022 NeuroCompute: Exploring the missing link between neuronal primary cilia dysfunction and neurophysiological properties using brain organoids and computational modelling
NeuroCompute
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
 Universidade de Coimbra
Concluded
2019 - 2022 Syn2Psy - Synaptic Dysfunction in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018-813986
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
Ongoing
2018/10/01 - 2021/09/30 Alternate SNAPs in neurotransmitter release: from molecular function to neurocognitive dysfunction
PTDC/BIA-CEL/29451/2017
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2018/07/01 - 2021/06/30 Cognitive disorders as defects in synaptic function: insight from human mutations in the CACNG2 gene
PTDC/MED-NEU/28541/2017
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2018/06 - 2021/06 BrainEdition: remotely controlling gene edition in neural stem cells
PTDC/NAN-MAT/28060/2017
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2018/05/07 - 2020 ProTeAN - Production and Testing of humAn-derived Neurons and brain organoids: advanced model probing in neurodevelopmental disorders
MSCA-IF-EF-RI-799164
Supervisor
European Commission
Ongoing
2017 - 2020 BrainHealth2020: Early Detection, Neuromodulation and Advanced Therapies to Brain Disorders
CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000008
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 CENTRO2020

FEDER - Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional
2018/10 - 2019/09 Exploring striatal postsynaptic SAPAP3 in Huntington’s disease
Grant Number: 948
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 EHDN-European Huntington’s Disease Network
Concluded
2017 - 2019 Early life stress and social hierarchies: the role of cortico-striatal circuits
216/16
Principal investigator
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação Bial
Concluded
2017 - 2019 The influence of maternal bonding in neuroimmune synaptic sculpting
264/2016
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação Bial
2016 - 2019 Social hierarchy and early life adversity: optogenetic modulation of prefrontal cortical circuits and neuroepigenetic regulation
PTDC/NEU-SCC/3247/2014
Principal investigator
Secretaria de Estado de Ciência Tecnologia e Ensino Superior
Concluded
2013 - 2018 FCT Investigator Award - IF/00812/2012/CP0151/CT0001
IF/00812/2012/CP0151/CT0001
Principal investigator
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Concluded
2014 - 2017 NARSAD Young Investigator Grant
20733
Principal investigator
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
2013 - 2017 CELLSYNCIRCUITS: Cellular and synaptic dissection of the neuronal circuits of social and autistic behavior
PCIG13-GA-2013-618525
Principal investigator
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
2011 - 2012 Autism Speaks Translational Fellow: Neural circuits of social behavior
7649
Principal investigator
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2021/04/01 - Current Does healthy microglia rescue neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction in human cerebral organoids with FTD-associated mutations?
2020_119
Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Cancelled
2021/01/01 - 2025/12/31 Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology - Associate Laboratory
LA/P/0058/2020
10.54499/LA/P/0058/2020
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa ¿Laboratório de Instrumentação Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2023/01/01 - 2024/06/30 How the brain's immune cells develop: the role of Deleted in Autism-1 Related (DIA1R) in microglia ontogeny
2022.02611.PTDC
10.54499/2022.02611.PTDC
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal

Fundação Champalimaud, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2019/01/01 - 2019/12/31 CNC. IBILI
UID/NEU/04539/2019
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa ¿Laboratório de Instrumentação Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Ciências Nucleares Aplicadas à Saúde, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded

Other

Designation Funders
2019/11 - Current Pfizer Award 2019 in Basic Research
2019 / Basic Research
Principal investigator
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Pfizer Portugal
Ongoing
2016 - 2017 AidToC - Ab initio designed Tools for optogenetic Control of retinal circuits
141733
Supervisor
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
Concluded
2013/01/01 - 2014/12/31 PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 1 - 2013-2014 PEst-C/SAU/LA0001/2013
Pest-C/SAU/LA0001/2013-2014
Researcher
CNC.IBILI, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Outputs

Publications

Book chapter
  1. Rodrigues, Artur Filipe; Rebelo, Catarina; Reis, Tiago; Sousa, João André; Pinho, Sónia L. C.; Sargento-Freitas, João; Peça, João; Ferreira, Lino. "Therapeutic Approaches for Stroke: A Biomaterials Perspective". In Engineering Biomaterials for Neural Applications, 185-218. Springer International Publishing, 2021.
    10.1007/978-3-030-81400-7_8
  2. Peça, João. "The Social Brain". In Cérebro – mais vasto que o céu. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 2019.
    Published
  3. Fernandes, Joana; Franco, Lara; Peça, João. "Autism Spectrum Disorders". In Neurociências, edited by Duarte, Carlos; Rego, Cristina; Oliveira, Catarina. Portugal: Lidel, 2017.
    Published
  4. Carvalho, Ana Luisa; Caldeira, Gladys; Peça, João. "Esquizofrenia". In Neurociências, 39-72. Portugal: LIDEL, 2017.
    Published
  5. Heyer, M.P.; Feliciano, C.; Peca, J.; Feng, G.. "Elucidating Gene Function through use of Genetically Engineered Mice". In Genomics. Wiley Online Books, 2010.
    10.1002/9780470711675.ch10
Conference abstract
  1. Seabra, Catarina M.; Oliveira, Ana Rafaela; Guedes, Joana Ribeiro; Cardoso, Ana Luísa; Sequeira, Diana; Palma, Paulo J.; Santos, João Miguel; et al. "The neurogenetics of neurodevelopmental disorders - Hints from brain organoids". Paper presented in Annual Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Human Genetics, 2020.
    Published • doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019291
  2. Moraes, Bruno; Ferreira, Ildete; Lino, Patrícia; Passos, Diogo; Coelho, Patrícia; Fão, Lígia; Peça, João; Rego, Ana Cristina. "Postsynaptic decrease of SAPAP3 scaffold protein in Huntington¿s disease". 2019.
    Published • 10.3389/conf.fncel.2019.01.00006
Conference paper
  1. Coelho, Patricia; Fão, Lígia; Nobre, Rui Jorge; Pereira de Almeida, Luis ; Peça, João; Rego, Ana Cristina Carvalho. "Impact of SAPAP3 on mitochondrial function in Huntingtons disease". 2021.
    Published
  2. Costa, Jéssica; Guedes, Joana; Franco, Lara; Peça, João; Cardoso, Ana Luísa. "Microglia morphology and density analysis: using stereology and 3D reconstruction to study the neuroimmune impact of early life stress". Paper presented in Paper presented in 52th International Congress on Microscopy and Microanalysis, Coimbra, 2018.
  3. Viegas, Ana Teresa; Carmona, Vítor; Almeida, Luis; Oliveira, Catarina Resende; Magalhães, João; Peça, João; Cardoso, Ana Luísa. "MicroRNA contribution in a new therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease". Paper presented in The 2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Congress, London, 2016.
  4. Sequeira, Diana; Cardoso, Ana; Peça, João; Palma, Paulo; Santos, João Miguel. "The effect of calcium silicate-based cements on viability of stem cells within the apical papilla". Paper presented in 17° Biennal Congress of the European Society of Endodontology, Barcelona, 2015.
Conference poster
  1. Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Costa, J.; Laranjo, M.; Pinto, M. J.; Reis, T.; Cardoso, A. M.; et al. "IL-4 and allergies shape microglia-dependent pruning of the cerebellum during postnatal development". Paper presented in British Society of Immunology Congress 2023, 2023.
  2. Santos, Bárbara; Afonso, Mariana; Alves, André; Amaral, Sandra; Candeias, Emanuel; Cardoso, Maria; Cortes, Luisa; et al. "GreenLabsCIBB - One path for sustainable research". Paper presented in GreenLabs Portugal Symposium: Promoting sustainability in Research, 2023.
  3. Mendes, Candida; Marques, Carla; Mota, Sandra; Afonso, Mariana; Alves, André; Amaral, Sandra; Candeias, Emanuel; et al. "GreenLabs @CIBB - "Collection Points" - Reuse and Recycling". Paper presented in GreenLabs Portugal Symposium: Promoting sustainability in Research, 2023.
  4. Serra, Diana; Joana Henriques; Sousa, Fábio J.; Laranjo, Mariana; Resende, Rosa; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Freitas, Victor; et al. "AN ANTHOCYANIN-RICH EXTRACT FROM PORTUGUESE BLUEBERRIES AS A NOVEL STRATEGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: AN IN VIVO MODEL". Paper presented in 4th International Conference on Food Bioactives and Health, 2023.
  5. Ribeiro, Rodrigo; Pereira, Dina; Reis, Tiago; Lopes, Sara; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Fernandes, Rita; Gaspar, Laetitia S; et al. "The Circadian Clock is Disrupted in the YAC Machado-Joseph Disease Mouse Model". Paper presented in BEB Day 2023 - Doctoral Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (PDBEB) 17th symposium, 2023.
  6. Laranjo, Mariana; Guedes, J. R.; Reis, Tiago; Marcos Gomes; Pereira, M.; Maria J. Pinto; Cammarata, G.; et al. "Conditional deletion of Gprasp2 in PV-positive neurons drives hippocampal circuit alterations and cognitive dysfunction". Paper presented in BEBday2023 Meeting, 2023.
  7. Caldeira, Gladys Lima; Inácio, Ângela S.; Beltrão, Nuno; Barreto, Carlos A.V.; Ventura Rodrigues, Marina; Rondão, Tiago; Macedo, Renato; et al. "Aberrant hippocampal transmission and behavior in mice with stargazin mutation linked to intellectual disability.". Paper presented in SPN2021, 2022.
  8. Antal, Orsolya; Macedo, Renato; Beltrão, Nuno; Inácio, Ângela S.; Caldeira, Gladys Lima; Peça, João; Carvalho, Célia; Pato, Carlos; Carvalho, Ana Luisa. "Cognitive behavioural deficits in a knock-in model with a human schizophrenia-associated mutation in the CACNG2 gene.". Paper presented in SPN2021, 2022.
  9. Martins, Mariana; Oliveira, Ana Rafaela; Cammarata, Giuseppe; Martins, Solange; Pedro Perdigão; Guedes, Joana; Cardoso, Ana Luísa; et al. "BrainCils: Exploring the missing link between neuronal primary cilia dysfunction and neurodevelopmental disorders: hints from dental stem cell-derived brain organoids". Paper presented in Synapse Meeting, 2022.
  10. Oliveira, A. R.; Cammarata, G.; Cardoso, A. M.; Seabra, C. M.; Guedes, J. R.; Cardoso, A. L.; Fernandes, D.; et al. "Autism associated CASPR2 auto-immune antibodies modify the developmental trajectory and network activity in human brain organoids". Paper presented in FENS Forum 2022, 2022.
  11. Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Costa, J.; Laranjo, M.; Reis, T.; Cardoso, A. M.; Lebre, C.; et al. "Allergies and IL-4 shape postnatal cerebellar development via microglia-mediated neuronal pruning to induce ADHD-like behaviors in mice". Paper presented in FENS Forum 2022, 2022.
  12. Ferreira, P.A.; Guedes, J. R.; Reis, T.; Costa, J.; Cardoso, A. L.; Peça, João. "Postnatal L-4 administration induces long-term dysfunction in cerebellar-VTA connectivity". Paper presented in FENS Forum 2022, 2022.
  13. Costa, J.; Martins, S.; Kunicki, C.; Ferreira, P.A.; Guedes, J. R.; Peça, João; Cardoso, A. L.. "Early-life adversity induces sex-specific dysfunction of the mOFC and leads to impulsive, hyperactive, and risk-taking behaviors in juvenile male mice". Paper presented in FENS Forum 2022, 2022.
  14. Cardoso, A. L.; Costa, J.; Martins, S.; Kunicki, C.; Ferreira, P.A.; Guedes, J. R.; Peça, João. "Exposure to early-life stress promotes sex-dependent changes in microglia morphology and phagocytic activity in the prefrontal cortex". Paper presented in FENS Forum 2022, 2022.
  15. Martins, M.; Oliveira, A. R.; Cammarata, G.; Martins, S.; Perdigão, P.; Guedes, J. R.; Cardoso, A. L.; et al. "Exploring the missing link between primary cilia and neurodevelopmental disorders: The case of a novel MBD5 variant in a patient with severe epilepsy". Paper presented in CIBB Neuroscience & Disease Retreat, 2022.
  16. Costa, Jéssica; Martins, Solange; Ferreira, António Pedro A.; Franco, Lara; Lebre, Carolina; Guedes, Joana; Peça, João; Cardoso, AL. "The influence of maternal bonding on neuroimmune synaptic sculpting". Paper presented in 13th Bial Symposium, 2022.
  17. Canijo, Bárbara; Laranjo, Mariana; Reis, Tiago; Ferreira-Fernandes, Emanuel; Peça, João. "The role of PFC/Hipp projections in social hierarchies". Paper presented in VI meet.Lab, 2022.
  18. Cardoso, Ana; Mariana, Laranjo; Peça, João. "Dissecting the role of parvalbumin-positive inhibitory neurons in the cellular and behavioural phenotypes associated with Gprasp2 deletion". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  19. Gomes, Marcos; Pereira, Marta; Laranjo, Mariana; Reis, Tiago; Cardoso, Ana Maria; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Aveleira, Célia; et al. "GPRASP2 (dys)function in metabolism and obesity". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  20. Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Costa, J.; Laranjo, M.; Reis, T.; Cardoso, A.M.; Casquinha, M.; et al. "Abnormal microglia-mediated pruning in the cerebellum induces circuitry and behavioral dysfunction in mice". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  21. Oliveira, Ana Rafaela; Seabra, Catarina; Guedes, Joana; Cammarata, Giuseppe; Cardoso, Ana Maria; Fernandes, Dominique; Coutinho, Ester; et al. "Uncovering the neurodevelopmental consequences of anti-CASPR2 antibody exposure in 3D brain organoids". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  22. Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Costa. J.; Laranjo, M.; Reis, T.; Cardoso, A.M.; Gomes, M.; et al. Corresponding author: Peça, João. "Abnormal microgia-mediated pruning in the cerebellum induces circuitry and behavioral dysfunction in mice". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  23. Reis, T.; Guedes, J. R.; Peça, João; Ferreira, L.. "ChuTe - Cellular homing using TRPV channel expression for thermal sensitivity and thermotaxis". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  24. Seabra, Catarina M.; Varela Amaral, Sara; Daniel Ribeiro; Santos, Sílvio; Peça, João; Laranjo, Mariana B.. "A neuroscience dissemination initiative for higher education students". Paper presented in SPN Annual Meeting 2021, 2021.
  25. Gomes, Marcos; Pereira, Marta; Laranjo, Mariana; Reis, Tiago; Cardoso, Ana Maria; Ferreira, Pedro; Ferreira-Marques, M; et al. "GRASP2 (dys)function in metabolism and obesity". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience ¿ SPN2021, 2021.
  26. Oliveira, Ana Rafaela; Seabra, Catarina M.; Guedes, Joana Ribeiro; Cammarata, G.; Fernandes, Dominique; Coutinho, Ester; Carvalho, Ana Luisa; Ferreira, Lino; Peça, João. "Uncovering the role of immune response in ASD: Neurodevelopmental consequences of anti-CASPR2 antibodies exposure in 3D brain organoids". Paper presented in EMBL Symposia "Organoids: Modelling Organ Development and Disease in 3D Culture - Virtual", 2020.
  27. Cardoso, A. L.; Costa, J. M.; Oliveira, S.; Ferreira, P.A.; Guedes, J. R.; Carvalho, M.; Peça, João. "Early-life stress causes sex-dependent changes in microglia function, circuit wiring and behavior in the PFC". Paper presented in 2020 FENS Virtual Forum, 2020.
  28. Cardoso, A.; Costa, J.; Martins, S.; Ferreira, P.A.; Guedes, J. R.; Carvalho, M.; Peça, João. "Early-life stress causes sex-dependent changes in microglia function, circuit wiring and behavior in the mPFC". Paper presented in 12th FENS Forum of Neuroscience, 2020.
  29. Peça, João; Laranjo, Mariana; Edfawy, Mohamed; Guedes, J. R.; Mário Carvalho; Marcos Gomes; Pereira, Marta; Ana Luísa Cardoso. "Conditional deletion of Gprasp2 in PV-positive interneurons leads to selectively behavioural and circuit dysfunction.". Paper presented in 12th FENS Forum of Neuroscience, 2020.
  30. Silva, Ana Manuela; Seabra, Catarina M.; Oliveira, Ana Rafaela; Laranjo, Mariana; Duque, Frederico; Café, Cátia; Peça, João; Oliveira, Guiomar. "Autism Spectrum Disorder seen through brain organoids - a Portuguese cohort characterization.". Paper presented in In4Med IX, 2020.
  31. Santos, João Miguel; Catarina M. Seabra; Peça, João. "ProTeAN - Production and testing of human-derived neurons and brain organoids: Advanced model probing in neurodevelopmental disorders.". Paper presented in 23ª Reunião Anual da Sociedade Portuguesa de Genética Humana., 2019.
  32. Oliveira, Ana R.; Seabra, Catarina M.; Guedes, Joana R.; Ferreira, L.; Peça, João. "Mini-brains on a dish: Characterization of autism susceptibility genes using iPSCs and CRISPR/Cas9 gene engineering.". Paper presented in 11th International Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Stem Cells and Cell Therapies (SPCE-TC), 2019.
  33. Caldeira, Gladys Lima; Inácio, Ângela; Beltrão, Nuno; Rondão, Tiago; Louros, Susana R; Ventura Rodrigues, Marina; Guedes, Joana; Peça, João; Carvalho, Ana Luisa. "Abnormal synaptic transmission and behavioral deficits in mice with Stargazin mutations linked to psychiatric disorders". Paper presented in European Synapse Meeting, 2019.
  34. Costa, J.; Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Franco, L; Peça, João; Cardoso, A. L.. "Early life stress causes behaviour changes and microglia dysfunction in the pre-frontal cortex of male mice". Paper presented in XIV European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, 2019.
  35. Martins, João; Cavaleiro, Carla; Sereno, José; Edfawy, Mohamed; Peça, João; Abrunhosa, Antero; Castelo-Branco, Miguel; Gonçalves, Joana. "Neural basis for adult cognitive deficits in neurofibromatosis type 1 animal model: Relevance for autism spectrum disorders.". Paper presented in XVI Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neurocience, 2019.
  36. Costa, Jéssica; Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Franco, Lara Oliveira; Peça, João; Cardoso, Ana. "Early-life stress causes behavior changes and microglia dysfunction in the pre-frontal cortex of male mice". Paper presented in XIV European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, 2019.
  37. Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Costa, Jéssica; Cardoso, Ana; Peça, João. "IL-4 skews the microglial developmental program during cerebellar maturation". Paper presented in XVI Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2019.
  38. Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Costa, Jéssica; Pereira, Marta; Cardoso, Ana; Peça, João. "Microglia-dependent remodeling of cerebellar circuits". Paper presented in Gordon Research Conference - Neuroimmune Communication in Health and Disease, Exploring Neuroimmunology: From Single Cells to Organisms, 2019.
  39. Lara Franco; Edfawy, Mohamed; Pereira, Marta; Laranjo, Mariana; Cardoso, Ana; Peça, João. "Golgi-like labelling and sparse tagging of neurons using peripheral administration of AAVs". Paper presented in 52º International Congress on Microscopy and Microanalysis, 2018.
  40. Seabra, Catarina M.; Sequeira, Diana; Palma, Paulo; Oliveira, Guiomar; Duque, Frederico; Santos, João; Feng, Guoping; Cardoso, Ana; Peça, João. "Production and testing of human-derived neurons and brain organoids: advanced model probing in neurodevelopmental disorders". Paper presented in FENS-SfN Summer School 2018, 2018.
  41. Caldeira, Gladys Lima; Louros, Susana R; Ventura Rodrigues, Marina; Pato, CN; Chen, C; Peça, João; Carvalho, Ana Luisa. "CACNG2, a new candidate gene for schizophrenia and intellectual disability. Integrating Hebbian and Homeostatic Plasticity.". Paper presented in Society for Neuroscience, 2016.
  42. Calmeiro, João; Bruce F. Milne; Gladys Caldeira; Joana Fernandes; Carvalho, Ana Luisa; Fernando M.S. Nogueira; Peça, João. "Channelrhodopsin engineering and characterization of novel optogenetic tools designed in silico". Paper presented in 5th Champalimaud Neuroscience Symposium . Champalimaud Center for the Unknown (CCU), Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016.
  43. Franco, Lara; Fernandes, Joana; Sousa, Renato; Cardoso, Ana Luísa; Peça, João. "Win or Lose ¿ Behavior, cellular and molecular characterization of social subordinance". Paper presented in 10th FENS Forum of Neuroscience, 2016.
  44. Calmeiro, João; Bruce F. Milne; Gladys Caldeira; Joana Fernandes; Carvalho, Ana Luisa; Fernando M.S. Nogueira; Peça, João. "Characterization of novel optogenetic tools designed in silico". Paper presented in Synaptic Function and Dysfunction in Brain Diseases, 7th Curriculum Vitae ¿ João Calmeiro 13 International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) Special Neurochemistry Conference, Coimbra, Portugal, 2016.
  45. Franco, Lara; Fernandes, Joana; Sousa, Renato; Cardoso, Ana Luísa; Peça, João. "Does early life adversity affects social hierarchy in adulthood?". Paper presented in 7th Special ISN Neurochemistry Conference, 2016.
  46. Silva, Mariline Mendes; Santos, Sandra; Cruz, Bruno; Fernandes, Joana; Oliveira, Ana; Peça, João; Carvalho, Ana Luísa. "Identification and characterization of a novel microRNA regulated by neuronal activity". Paper presented in EMBO Conference - RNA localization and local translation, 2016.
  47. Calmeiro, João; Bruce F. Milne; Gladys Caldeira; Joana Fernandes; Carvalho, Ana Luisa; Fernando M.S. Nogueira; Peça, João. "Production and in vitro characterization of Ab-Initio designed Channelrhodopsin-2 mutants". Paper presented in XIII CNC Annual Meeting, Coimbra, Portugal, 2015.
  48. Franco, Lara; Fernandes, Joana; Sousa, Renato; Cardoso, Ana Luísa; Peça, João. "Social submissive behaviour in ranked hierarchies is triggered by early life adversity and stress". Paper presented in XIII CNC Annual Meeting, 2015.
  49. Lourenço, A.S.T.; Mas, P.J.; Anjo, Sandra Isabel; Euclides, Pires; Manadas, Bruno; Macedo-Ribeiro, Sandra; Simões, Isaura; et al. "Structural and interactomic characterization of SAPAP3 - a postsynaptic density scaffolding protein involved in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.". Paper presented in XXVI Paulo Foundation Symposium ¿From Atomic Structures to Disease Mechanisms", 2015.
Journal article
  1. Simões, Susana; Lino, Miguel; Barrera, Angela; Rebelo, Catarina; Tomatis, Francesca; Vilaça, Andreia; Breunig, Christopher; et al. "Near-Infrared Light Activated Formulation for the Spatially Controlled Release of CRISPR-Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein for Brain Gene Editing". Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.202401004.
    10.1002/anie.202401004
  2. Ferreira-Fernandes, Emanuel; Laranjo, Mariana; Reis, Tiago; Canijo, Bárbara; Ferreira, Pedro A.; Martins, Pedro; Vilarinho, João; et al. "In vivo recordings in freely behaving mice using independent silicon probes targeting multiple brain regions". Frontiers in Neural Circuits 17 (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2023.1293620.
    10.3389/fncir.2023.1293620
  3. Sequeira, Diana B.; Diogo, Patrícia; Gomes, Brenda P. F. A.; Peça, João; Santos, João Miguel Marques. "Scaffolds for Dentin-Pulp Complex Regeneration". Medicina 60 1 (2023): 7. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/medicina60010007.
    10.3390/medicina60010007
  4. Guedes, Joana R.; Ferreira, Pedro A.; Costa, Jéssica; Laranjo, Mariana; Pinto, Maria J.; Reis, Tiago; Cardoso, Ana Maria; et al. "IL-4 shapes microglia-dependent pruning of the cerebellum during postnatal development". Neuron 111 21 (2023): 3435-3449.e8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.031.
    10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.031
  5. Mariana Martins; Ana Rafaela Oliveira; Solange Martins; José Vieira; Pedro Perdigão; Ana Rita Fernandes; Pereira de Almeida L; et al. "A Novel Genetic Variant in MBD5 Associated with Severe Epilepsy and Intellectual Disability: Potential Implications on Neural Primary Cilia". International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023): https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/16/12603.
    10.3390/ijms241612603
  6. Laranjo, Mariana; Amaral, Sara; Caetano, Carolina; Santos, Sílvio; Campos, Rita; Peça, João; Seabra, Catarina M.. "Brain Gain - Discovering Neurosciences: A digital education outreach project for higher education students". The Biochemist 45 2 (2023): 21-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/bio_2023_104.
    10.1042/bio_2023_104
  7. Rodrigues, Artur Filipe; Rebelo, Catarina; Reis, Tiago; Simões, Susana; Bernardino, Liliana; Peça, João; Ferreira, Lino. "Engineering optical tools for remotely controlled brain stimulation and regeneration". Biomaterials Science (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2bm02059a.
    10.1039/d2bm02059a
  8. Serra, Diana; Henriques, Joana F.; Sousa, Fábio J.; Laranjo, Mariana; Resende, Rosa; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; de Freitas, Victor; et al. "Attenuation of Autism-like Behaviors by an Anthocyanin-Rich Extract from Portuguese Blueberries via Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis Modulation in a Valproic Acid Mouse Model". International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 16 (2022): 9259. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169259.
    10.3390/ijms23169259
  9. Joana R. Guedes; Pedro A. Ferreira; Jéssica M. Costa; Ana L. Cardoso; João Peça. "Microglia-dependent remodeling of neuronal circuits". Journal of Neurochemistry (2022): https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15689.
    10.1111/jnc.15689
  10. Ana Rafaela Oliveira; Solange Martins; Giuseppe Cammarata; Mariana Martins; Ana Maria Cardoso; Maria Rosário Almeida; Maria do Carmo Macário; et al. "Generation and Characterization of Novel iPSC Lines from a Portuguese Family Bearing Heterozygous and Homozygous GRN Mutations". Biomedicines (2022): https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10081905.
    10.3390/biomedicines10081905
  11. Rebelo, Catarina; Reis, Tiago; Guedes, Joana; Saraiva, Cláudia; Rodrigues, Artur Filipe; Simões, Susana; Bernardino, Liliana; et al. "Efficient spatially targeted gene editing using a near-infrared activatable protein-conjugated nanoparticle for brain applications". Nature Communications 13 1 (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31791-6.
    10.1038/s41467-022-31791-6
  12. Ferreira-Fernandes, Emanuel; Peça, João. "The Neural Circuit Architecture of Social Hierarchy in Rodents and Primates". Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 16 (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2022.874310.
    10.3389/fncel.2022.874310
  13. Caldeira, Gladys Lima; Inácio, Ângela; Beltrão, Nuno; Barreto, Carlos A. V.; Ventura Rodrigues, Marina; Rondão, Tiago; Macedo, Renato; et al. "Aberrant hippocampal transmission and behavior in mice with a stargazin mutation linked to intellectual disability". Molecular Psychiatry (2022): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01487-w.
    Published
  14. Jéssica Costa; Solange Martins; Pedro A. Ferreira; Ana M.S. Cardoso; Joana R. Guedes; João Peça; Ana L. Cardoso. "The old guard: Age-related changes in microglia and their consequences". Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 197 (2021): 111512-111512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2021.111512.
    10.1016/j.mad.2021.111512
  15. Sequeira, Diana B.; Oliveira, Ana Rafaela; Seabra, Catarina M.; Palma, Paulo J.; Ramos, Carlos; Figueiredo, Maria H.; Santos, Ana C.; et al. "Regeneration of pulp-dentin complex using human stem cells of the apical papilla: in vivo interaction with two bioactive materials". Clinical Oral Investigations (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-03840-9.
    10.1007/s00784-021-03840-9
  16. Ribeiro, Luís F.; Catarino, Tatiana; Carvalho, Mário; Cortes, Luísa; Santos, Sandra D.; Opazo, Patricio O.; Ribeiro, Lyn Rosenbrier; et al. "Ligand-independent activity of the ghrelin receptor modulates AMPA receptor trafficking and supports memory formation". Science Signaling 14 670 (2021): eabb1953. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.abb1953.
    10.1126/scisignal.abb1953
  17. Coelho, Patrícia; Lourenço, Ana Sofia; Ferreira, Íldete Luísa; Marinho, Daniela; Anjo, Sandra Isabel; Mas, Philippe J.; Carvalho, MJ; et al. "The postsynaptic scaffolding protein SAPAP3 controls mitochondrial dynamics and function". Nature Communications (2021):
    Submitted
  18. Li, Yinqing; Lopez-Huerta, Violeta G.; Adiconis, Xian; Levandowski, Kirsten; Choi, Soonwook; Simmons, Sean K.; Arias-Garcia, Mario A.; et al. "Distinct subnetworks of the thalamic reticular nucleus". Nature 583 7818 (2020): 819-824. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2504-5.
    10.1038/s41586-020-2504-5
  19. Franco, Lara O.; Carvalho, Mário J.; Costa, Jéssica; Ferreira, Pedro A.; Guedes, Joana R.; Sousa, Renato; Edfawy, Mohamed; et al. "Social subordination induced by early life adversity rewires inhibitory control of the prefrontal cortex via enhanced Npy1r signaling". Neuropsychopharmacology 45 9 (2020): 1438-1447. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-0727-7.
    Open access • 10.1038/s41386-020-0727-7
  20. Barros-Viegas, Ana Teresa; Carmona, Vítor; Ferreiro, Elisabete; Guedes, Joana; Cardoso, Ana Maria; Cunha, Pedro; Pereira de Almeida, Luís; et al. "miRNA-31 Improves Cognition and Abolishes Amyloid-ß Pathology by Targeting APP and BACE1 in an Animal Model of Alzheimer’s Disease". Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids 19 (2020): 1219-1236. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2020.01.010.
    Open access • 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.01.010
  21. Lima Caldeira, Gladys; Peça, João; Carvalho, Ana Luísa. "New insights on synaptic dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders". Current Opinion in Neurobiology 57 (2019): 62-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2019.01.004.
    10.1016/j.conb.2019.01.004
  22. Edfawy, Mohamed; Guedes, Joana R.; Pereira, Marta I.; Laranjo, Mariana; Carvalho, Mário J.; Gao, Xian; Ferreira, Pedro A.; et al. "Abnormal mGluR-mediated synaptic plasticity and autism-like behaviours in Gprasp2 mutant mice". Nature Communications 10 1 (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09382-9.
    10.1038/s41467-019-09382-9
  23. Sequeira, Diana; Seabra, Catarina; Palma, Paulo; Cardoso, Ana; Peça, João; Santos, João. "Effects of a New Bioceramic Material on Human Apical Papilla Cells". Journal of Functional Biomaterials 9 4 (2018): 74. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jfb9040074.
    10.3390/jfb9040074
  24. Santos, Tiago; Ferreira, Raquel; Quartin, Emanuel; Boto, Carlos; Saraiva, Cláudia; Bragança, José; Peça, João; et al. "Blue light potentiates neurogenesis induced by retinoic acid-loaded responsive nanoparticles". Acta Biomaterialia 59 (2017): 293-302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2017.06.044.
    Published • 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.06.044
  25. Ting, Jonathan T.*; Peça, João*; Feng, Guoping. "Functional Consequences of Mutations in Postsynaptic Scaffolding Proteins and Relevance to Psychiatric Disorders". Annual Review of Neuroscience 35 1 (2012): 49-71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-062111-150442.
    10.1146/annurev-neuro-062111-150442
  26. Peça, J.; Feng, G.. "Cellular and synaptic network defects in autism". Current Opinion in Neurobiology 22 5 (2012): 866-872. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84867426528&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1016/j.conb.2012.02.015
  27. Peça, J.; Ting, J.; Feng, G.. "SnapShot: Autism and the synapse". Cell 147 3 (2011): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84855174133&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1016/j.cell.2011.10.015
  28. Peça, J.; Feng, G.. "Neuroscience: When lights take the circuits out". Nature 477 7363 (2011): 165-166. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-80052602669&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1038/477165a
  29. Peça, J.; Feliciano, C.; Ting, J.T.; Wang, W.; Wells, M.F.; Venkatraman, T.N.; Lascola, C.D.; Fu, Z.; Feng, G.. "Shank3 mutant mice display autistic-like behaviours and striatal dysfunction". Nature 472 7344 (2011): 437-442. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79955536349&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1038/nature09965
  30. Arenkiel, Benjamin R.; Peça, João. "Using Light to Reinstate Respiratory Plasticity". Journal of Neurophysiology 101 4 (2009): 1695-1698. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00009.2009.
    Open access • 10.1152/jn.00009.2009
  31. Welch, Jeffrey M.; Lu, Jing; Rodriguiz, Ramona M.; Trotta, Nicholas C.; Peca, Joao; Ding, Jin-Dong; Feliciano, Catia; et al. "Cortico-striatal synaptic defects and OCD-like behaviours in Sapap3-mutant mice". Nature 448 7156 (2007): 894-900. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature06104.
    10.1038/nature06104
  32. Wang, H.*; Peca, J.*; Matsuzaki, M.*; Matsuzaki, K.; Noguchi, J.; Qiu, L.; Wang, D.; et al. "High-speed mapping of synaptic connectivity using photostimulation in Channelrhodopsin-2 transgenic mice". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 19 (2007): 8143-8148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0700384104.
    Open access • 10.1073/pnas.0700384104
  33. Arenkiel, Benjamin R.; Peca, Joao; Davison, Ian G.; Feliciano, Catia; Deisseroth, Karl; Augustine, George J.; Ehlers, Michael D.; Feng, Guoping. "In Vivo Light-Induced Activation of Neural Circuitry in Transgenic Mice Expressing Channelrhodopsin-2". Neuron 54 2 (2007): 205-218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2007.03.005.
    Open access • Published • 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.03.005
Journal issue
  1. Xu, Junyu; Shi, Lei; Peça, João. "Autism Spectrum Disorder: New Insights Into Molecular Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Development". Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (2020):
    Published
Newspaper article
  1. Guedes, J. R.; Ferreira, P.A.; Shkatova, V.; Pedroso, S.; Cerejeira, Joaquim; Cardoso, A. L.; Peça, João. "O que é a perturbação de hiperactividade e défice de atenção? Serão só bichos-carpinteiros?", Público, 2021, https://www.publico.pt/2021/05/19/ciencia/noticia/perturbacao-hiperactividade-defice-atencao-serao-so-bichoscarpinteiros-1962657.
Preprint
  1. Carvalho, Ana Luisa; Rodrigues, Beatriz; Leitão, Ricardo; Santos, Mónica; Trofimov, Alexander; Silva, Mariline; Inácio, Ângela; et al. "MiR-186-5p inhibition restores synaptic transmission and neuronal network activity in a model of chronic stress". 2023. http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3405749/v1.
    10.21203/rs.3.rs-3405749/v1
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Peça, João. "Genetic and optogenetic engineering as a strategy to probe neuronal circuits". PhD, 2011.
Distinctions

Award

2022 2022 Teaching Innovation Award
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Banco Santander Portugal, Portugal
2022 Special Recognition - Science
World Cultural Council, Switzerland
2020 IBRO Early Career Award
International Brain Research Organization, France
2020 FENS-IBRO/PERC
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, Belgium
2019 Prizer Prize
Pfizer Portugal, Portugal
2014 NARSAD Young Investigator Award
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, United States

Title

2013 FCT Investigator
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2011 Autism Speaks Translational Fellow
Autism Speaks, United States