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My name is Ana Carolina Mendes. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Biology (2017) and a Master's degree in Biochemistry (2019), both from the University of Coimbra. During my MSc, I worked at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland, under the Erasmus Traineeship Program and the supervision of Professor Doctor Terhi Heino. There, I studied the interactions between mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and endothelial precursors and their potential applications in regenerative medicine. From January 2020 until December 2021, I worked at Biocant under the supervision of Doctor Mário Grãos. I was actively involved in several multidisciplinary projects to develop cell and acellular-based therapies in the context of neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. Since 2022, I am a PhD student at Advanced Therapies group headed by Doctor Lino Ferreira, studying the therapeutic capacity of engineered extracellular vesicles and nanoparticles immobilized in biomaterials for tissue regeneration.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Ana Carolina Santo Mendes

Citation names

  • Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
4F16-8A52-05FE
ORCID iD
0000-0002-8494-4425

Email addresses

  • acsantom@gmail.com (Professional)

Addresses

  • UC-Biotech. Parque Tecnológico de Cantanhede, Núcleo 04, Lote 8, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Cantanhede, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2022/11/01 - 2026/11/01
Ongoing
 PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, Portugal
2022 - 2026
Ongoing
 EIT Health Ageing PhD School (Doutoramento)
EIT Health, Germany
2022/05/09 - 2022/05/20
Concluded
 XXXII Laboratory Animal Science Course (FELASA C) (Outros)
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2021/11 - 2021/12
Concluded
 Microsoft Excel supporting decision making (Outros)
ANJE Associação Nacional de Jovens Empresários, Portugal
2017/09 - 2019/09
Concluded
 Bioquímica (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Mensenchymal stromal cell and endothelial progenitor cell co-cultures to induce vascularization in vitro" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2014/09 - 2017/07
Concluded
 Biologia (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
Affiliation

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/11/01 - 2026/10/31 PhD student: Combinatorial intervention to treat myocardial infarction Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2022/02/01 - 2022/10/31 Reserach Fellow: Study the therapeutic capacity of extracellular vesicles for tissue regeneration Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2020/01 - 2021/12 Contracted Researcher: Use cell and secretome-based therapies in the context of neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases Biocant Associação de Transferência de Tecnologia, Portugal
Biocant Associação de Transferência de Tecnologia, Portugal
2018/08 - 2019/07 Erasmus Traineeship/Master's Thesis: Study the interactions between mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and endothelial precursors and their potential applications in regenerative medicine Turun Yliopisto, Finland
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2023/01/01 - Current REBORN - Remodelling of the infarcted heart: piezoelectric multifuncional patch enabling these quential release of therapeutic factors
101091852
PhD Student Fellow
European Health and Digital Executive Agency
2022/02/01 - 2022/10/31 BioRobotBeads - Robotic System for the Production of Biomaterials and Particles
POCI-01-0247-FEDER-047081
Research Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Contract

Designation Funders
2020/01/06 - 2021/12/31 MSCellProduction.: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Production in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements
POCI-01-0247-FEDER-038313
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2020/07/14 - 2021/12 Brain Elasticity in Multiple Sclerosis and implications in mechanomodulation of oligodendrocytes: a cellular and clinical approach
PTDC/MED-NEU/29516/2017
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Uusitalo-Kylmälä, Liina; Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo; Polari, Lauri; Joensuu, Katriina; Heino, Terhi J.. "Angiogenic potential of human mesenchymal stromal cell and peripheral blood mononuclear cell co-cultures". Paper presented in European Calcified Tissue Society Congress 2021, 2021.
    Published • 10.1016/j.bonr.2021.100891
Conference poster
  1. CARAMELO, INÊS; Mendes, Vera M; Domingues, Catarina; Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo; Margarida Geraldo; Sandra Isabel Anjo; Carla Cardoso; et al. "Stiffness and oxygen levels induce common pathway modulation in cultured mesenchymal stem cells - New tools for HIE treatment?". Paper presented in 2nd Joint Meeting of Spanish, French and Portuguese Proteomics Societies, 2022.
  2. Domingues, Catarina; Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo; Gerardo, Margarida; Anjo, Sandra Isabel; Manadas, Bruno; Grãos, Mário. Corresponding author: Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo. "Secretome of Mechanomodulated Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells as a New Therapeutic Tool for Parkinson’s Disease". Paper presented in 12th International Meeting of the Portuguese Stem Cell and Cell Therapy Society, 2022.
  3. Caramelo, Inês; Mendes, Vera M; Domingues, Catarina; Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo; Geraldo, Margarida; Anjo, Sandra Isabel; Cardoso, Carla ; et al. "Culturing mesenchymal stem cells at physiological oxygen level or on soft substrate modulates their cellular proteome". Paper presented in 12th International Meeting of the Portuguese Stem Cell and Cell Therapy Society, 2022.
  4. Domingues, Catarina; Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo; Geraldo, Margarida; Anjo, Sandra Isabel; Manadas, Bruno; Grãos, Mário. Corresponding author: Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo. "Antioxidant activity of the secretome of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells modulated by substrate stiffness as a new approach for Parkinson’s Disease therapy". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  5. Uusitalo-Kylmälä, Liina; Mendes, Ana Carolina Santo; Polari, Lauri; Joensuu, Katriina; Heino, Terhi J.. "Angiogenic potential of human mesenchymal stromal cell and peripheral blood mononuclear cell co-cultures". Paper presented in European Calcified Tissue Society Congress 2021, 2021.
Journal article
  1. Uusitalo-Kylmälä, Liina; Santo Mendes, Ana Carolina; Polari, Lauri; Joensuu, Katriina; Heino, Terhi J.. "An In Vitro Co-Culture Model of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Promotes the Differentiation of Myeloid Angiogenic Cells and Pericyte-like Cells". Stem Cells and Development (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/scd.2019.0171.
    Published • 10.1089/scd.2019.0171
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Mendes, Ana. "Mesenchymal stromal cell and endothelial progenitor cell co-cultures to induce vascularization in vitro". Master, Universidade de Coimbra, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/88009.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2021/10/13 Vamos falar de células estaminais? Stem Cell Awareness Day 2021
Escola EB 2,3 Martim de Freitas, Coimbra
2021/09 Speed dating entitled “Produção de células estaminais mesenquimais a partir do tecido do cordão umbilical e tecido adiposo” in scope of European Night of Researchers 2021 European Night of Researchers 2021

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2023/01/23 - 2023/01/27 Workshop in Business Ignition Program in Ageing
Workshop
Instituto Pedro Nunes, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/01/16 - 2023/01/20 Workshop in Innovation in Aging
Workshop
Instituto Pedro Nunes, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2022/09/16 - 2022/09/17 The RESETageing conference aimed to show recent progresses in the ageing biology covering aspects as cellular senescence and cellular stress, organized in Newcastle, United Kingdom 2nd RESETageing Conference
Newcastle University, United Kingdom
2022/09/12 - 2022/09/15 Training School - Single cell techniques in senescence and ageing, delivered in collaboration with Flow Cytometry Core Facility (FCCF), Newcastle University 2nd RESETageing training School
Newcastle University, United Kingdom
2022/03 - 2022/06 Participation in the 2nd edition of the "International Webinars on Topics on Cell and Tissue Engineering"
Other
 International Webinars on Topics on Cell and Tissue Engineering
Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Química, Portugal
2022/03/10 - 2022/03/11 Participation in the "12th International SPCE-TC Meeting"
Congress
 12th International SPCE-TC Meeting
Universidade do Minho Instituto de Investigação em Ciências da Vida e Saúde, Portugal
2021/12 - 2021/12 Participation in the XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience
Congress
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/09/24 - 2021/09/24 Science outreach - Volunteer in science communication activities organized by Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar in scope of European Night of Researchers 2021
Exhibition
 European Night of Researchers 2021
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/03 - 2021/06 Participation in the 1st edition of the "International Webinars on Topics on Cell and Tissue Engineering"
Other
 International Webinars on Topics on Cell and Tissue Engineering
Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Química, Portugal
2020/12/18 - 2020/12/18 Participation in the “First Workshop of the Portuguese Network on Extracellular Vesicles: EVs in Health and Disease” organized by i3s
Workshop
 First Workshop of the Portuguese Network on Extracellular Vesicles: EVs in Health and Disease
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2020/04/29 - 2020/04/30 Participation in the Training4CRM symposium on “Advanced therapies in Neurodegeneration: Bridging Neuroscience, Bioengineering and Optogenetics”
Symposium
 Advanced therapies in Neurodegeneration: Bridging Neuroscience, Bioengineering and Optogenetics
2020/04/28 - 2020/04/28 Participation in the webinar "Animal free hydrogel - Taking you from cell to therapy" provided by VWR
Other
 Animal free hydrogel - Taking you from cell to therapy
VWR International LLC, United States
2020/03 - 2020/03 Participation in the virtual event "Neuroscience 2020" provided by Labroots
Other
 Neuroscience 2020
2020/01 - 2020/02 ISO 9001:2015 – Quality management system, for implementation of this standard in the laboratory
Other
 ISO 9001:2015 – Quality management system, for implementation of this standard in the laboratory
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2018/10 - 2019/03 Participation in Seminar Series Frontiers of Science organized by BioCity Turku and University of Turku, Finland
Seminar
BioCity Turku, Finland

Turun Yliopisto, Finland
2018/12/12 - 2018/12/12 Participation in the workshop "Social media to communicate my research" organized by Kaskas Media
Workshop
 Lifespan Research Program
BioCity Turku, Finland
2018/12/12 - 2018/12/12 Participation in the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Lifespan Research Program
Meeting
 Lifespan research program annual meeting 2018
Turun Yliopisto, Finland
2018/08/23 - 2018/08/24 Participation in the "The 28th Annual BioCity Symposium – Seeing the Invisible".
Symposium
 The 28th Annual BioCity Symposium
BioCity Turku, Finland
Distinctions

Award

2022 PhD Scholarship
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2018 Erasmus+ Scholarship
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal