???global.info.a_carregar???
The main interest of my research resides in Cellular mechanobiology. I obtained a BSc degree in Biology at the University of Coimbra, in 2012, then I proceed my studies enrolling the Master´s program in Molecular and Cell Biology, at the same University, which I finished in 2014. Since 2013, I have been working with mesenchymal stem cells, exploring the influence of biophysical cues and the mechanotransduction network in the modulation of stem cell behavior. Namely, I have been studied the modulation of induced pluripotency by substrate rigidity, which was my master thesis project. During the last few years I turned myself proficient in cell culture, immunocytochemistry, western-blotting, and I also gained expertise in isolation, culture and differentiation of stem cells from the umbilical cord. Moreover, I have worked with distinct platforms suitable for cell culture, namely polyacrylamide hydrogels and PDMS gels. Recently, after enrolled on a post-graduation in applied pharmacology, I gained increasing interest in study the pathophysiology of distinct diseases in order to address if mechanobiology could influence their progression. Crossing these two areas of study may lead to the finding of new possible pharmacological targets for some disease treatment. Currently, my PhD research follows in this sense.
Read full resume ↓
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Heloísa Salguinho Gerardo

Citation names

  • Gerardo, Heloísa

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
7414-7A11-C263
ORCID iD
0000-0003-1492-1882

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Technologies Involving the Manipulation of Cells, Tissues, Organs or the Whole Organism

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Education
Degree Classification
2019/09/16 - 2024/01
Ongoing
 Doutoramento em Ciências Farmacêuticas (Doutoramento)
Major in Farmacologia e Farmacoterapia
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2018
Concluded
 Pós-graduação em Farmacologia Aplicada (Pós-Graduação)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
"n/a" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18 valores
2014
Concluded
 Mestrado em Biologia Celular e Molecular (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal

Biocant Associação de Transferência de Tecnologia, Portugal
"Modulation of induced pluripotency by substrate rigidity" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18 valores
2012
Concluded
 Licenciatura em Biologia (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"n/a" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 15 valores
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2019/07/01 - 2019/12/31 Contracted Researcher (Research) Biocant Associação de Transferência de Tecnologia, Portugal
2016/04/01 - 2019/06/30 Contracted Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2015/03/17 - 2016/03/16 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2014/10/01 - 2015/03/01 Research Trainee (Research) Biocant Associação de Transferência de Tecnologia, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2020/01/01 - Current FCT PhD Scholarship SFRH/BD/147316/2019 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2012/07/01 - 2013/07/01 Collaborator of Biology Students Committee of the Academic Association of Coimbra (AAC) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2010/07/01 - 2011/07/01 Collaborator of Biology Students Committee of the Academic Association of Coimbra (AAC) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2019/07/01 - 2021/06/30 MSCellProduction: Produção de Células Estaminais Mesenquimais em conformidade com os requisitos de Boas Práticas de Fabrico
NUP POCI-01-0247-FEDER-038313
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2018/07/26 - 2022/06/25 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

Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
Concluded
2018/06/01 - 2022/05/31 New approaches on Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: translational research to diagnose and monitor stem cell therapy
PTDC/BTM-TEC/29311/2017
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Universidade da Beira Interior, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
Concluded
2019/01/01 - 2019/12/31 CNC. IBILI
UID/NEU/04539/2019
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

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

Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Investigação Clínica e Biomédica de Coimbra, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2012/05 - 2015/09 Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to oligodendroglial lineage: complementary roles of soluble factors, extracellular matrix and mechanotransduction
Provided by PTCRIS: 119292
119292
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Gerardo, Heloísa. "Síndrome metabólica afeta de forma diferente o metabolismo e a rigidez do tecido cerebral: Dados de estudos in vitro e in vivo". Paper presented in 20º Congresso Português de Diabetes, Vilamoura, 2024.
    Published
  2. Carina C. Magalhães; Gerardo, Heloísa. "O impacto do antioxidante mitocondriotrópico AntiOxBEN2 na esteatose hepática de ratinhos no contexto de fígado gordo não-alcoólico". Paper presented in 20º Congresso Português de Diabetes, Vilamoura, 2024.
    Published
  3. Gerardo, Heloísa. "Alterations in brain stiffness and metabolism in Western Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome: exploring the interplay between mechanotransduction and metabolic pathways". Paper presented in 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society for Clinical Investigation, Prague, 2023.
    Published
  4. Gerardo, Heloísa; Amorim, Ricardo; Teixeira, José. "Exploring the impact of metabolic syndrome on brain stiffness and metabolism: Insights from in vivo and in vitro experiments". Paper presented in MitoPorto 2023: Mitochondrial physiology, redox biology, and genetics, Porto, 2023.
    Published
  5. Gerardo, Heloísa. "O impacto da síndrome metabólica na interação entre metabolismo mitocondrial e mecanotransdução em cérebro de murganhos sujeitos a uma dieta ocidental". Paper presented in 19º Congresso Português de Diabetes, Vilamoura, 2023.
    Published
Conference poster
  1. Gerardo, Heloísa. "Síndrome metabólica afeta de forma diferente o metabolismo e a rigidez do tecido cerebral: Dados de estudos in vitro e in vivo". Paper presented in 20º Congresso Português de Diabetes, 2024.
  2. Carina C. Magalhães; Gerardo, Heloísa. "O impacto do antioxidante mitocondriotrópico AntiOxBEN2 na esteatose hepática de ratinhos no contexto de fígado gordo não-alcoólico". Paper presented in 20º Congresso Português de Diabetes, 2024.
  3. Gerardo, Heloísa. "Brain stiffness alterations in Metabolic syndrome phenotype: A comprehensive exploration of metabolism and mechanotransduction crosstalk". Paper presented in IV Metabolism Aging and Disease (MAD) meeting - Disease and Therapeutics: from the Past to Future, 2024.
  4. Pierluca Cancellieri; Gerardo, Heloísa. "The impact of peroxisomal beta-oxidation on fatty acid metabolism under lipotoxicity insults". Paper presented in IV Metabolism Aging and Disease (MAD) meeting - Disease and Therapeutics: from the Past to Future, 2024.
  5. Gerardo, Heloísa. "Exploring the impact of metabolic syndrome on brain stiffness and metabolism: Insights from in vivo and in vitro experiments". Paper presented in MitoPorto 2023: Mitochondrial physiology, redox biology, and genetics, Porto, 2023, 2023.
  6. Gerardo, Heloísa. "O impacto da síndrome metabólica na interação entre metabolismo mitocondrial e mecanotransdução em cérebro de murganhos sujeitos a uma dieta ocidental". Paper presented in 19º Congresso Português de Diabetes, 2023.
  7. Gerardo, Heloísa. "Crosstalk between mechanotransduction and mitochondrial metabolism in the brain of Western diet-fed mice". Paper presented in XVII BEB Day - Science Challenges: This fight of ours, 2023.
  8. Lourenço, Tânia; Gerardo, Heloísa; Falcão, Ana Mendanha; Castelo-Branco, Gonçalo; Grãos, Mário. "The role of PADI2 on oligodendrocyte differentiation enhanced by mechanotransduction". Paper presented in VI Nanoengineering for Mechanobiology, 2022.
  9. Lourenço, Tânia; Gerardo, Heloísa; Falcão, Ana Mendanha; Castelo-Branco, Gonçalo; Grãos, Mário. "The role of PADI2 on oligodendrocyte differentiation enhanced by mechanotransduction". Paper presented in BEB day — Overview effect, 2022.
  10. Lourenço, Tânia; Gerardo, Heloísa; Falcão, Ana Mendanha; Castelo-Branco, Gonçalo; Grãos, Mário. "The role of PADI2 on oligodendrocyte differentiation enhanced by mechanotransduction". Paper presented in V Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network, 2021.
Journal article
  1. Gerardo, Heloísa. "Soft culture substrates favor stem-like cellular phenotype and facilitate reprogramming of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSCs) through mechanotransduction". Scientific Reports (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45352-3.
    10.1038/s41598-019-45352-3
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Gerardo, Heloísa. "Modulation of induced pluripotency by substrate rigidity.". Master, Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/31330.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2023/11/24 Metabolic Syndrome-driven brain stiffness alterations: Unraveling mechano-metabolism crosstalk Pharma Day - Encontro anual de estudantes de doutoramento em Ciências Farmacêuticas
(Coimbra, Portugal)
2023/11/03 Cantanhede Innovation Days 2022 - Winners testimonial Cantanhede Innovation Days 2023
European Institute of Innovation and Technology - EIT Health (Cantanhede, Portugal)
2023/06/08 Alterations in brain stiffness and metabolism in Western Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome: exploring the interplay between mechanotransduction and metabolic pathways 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society for Clinical Investigation
European Society for Clinical Investigation (Prague, Czech Republic)
2023/05/13 Exploring the impact of metabolic syndrome on brain stiffness and metabolism: Insights from in vivo and in vitro experiments MitoPorto 2023: Mitochondrial physiology, redox biology, and genetics, Porto, 2023
(Porto, Portugal)
2023/01/13 Linking mitochondrial metabolism, inflammation, and autophagy in altered stiffness brain from Western diet-fed mice III MAD Meeting
(Coimbra, Portugal)
2019/04 Mechanomodulation of human stem cells: a crosstalk between cytoskeleton and nucleus EuroCellNet COST Action Workshop on Mechanobiology in Migrating Cells
(Coimbra, Portugal)
2019/04 Fabrication and functionalization of cell culture substrates for mechanobiology studies EuroCellNet COST Action Workshop on Mechanobiology in Migrating Cells
(Coimbra, Portugal)

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2020/01/16 - 2020/01/16 Organisation of an in-site visit to high school students (Escola Secundária de Moimenta da Beira). I organised the visit to different laboratories, and explain the research topics of each one of them. (2020/01/16 - 2020/01/16)
Other (Co-organisor)
2012/01 - 2012/04 XV National Meeting of Biology Students, Biology Students Committee of the Academic Association of Coimbra (AAC) (2012/03/31 - 2012/04/03)
Meeting (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2024/03/07 - 2024/03/09 20º Congresso Português de Diabetes
Congress
 20º Congresso Português de Diabetes
Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia, Portugal
2024/01/29 - 2024/01/30 IV Metabolism Aging and Disease (MAD) meeting - Disease and Therapeutics: from the Past to Future
Meeting
 IV Metabolism Aging and Disease (MAD) meeting - Disease and Therapeutics: from the Past to Future
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia, Portugal
2023/11/24 - 2023/11/24 Annual meeting of PhD Students in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023 edition with the theme "One Health"
Meeting
 Pharma Day - Encontro anual de estudantes de doutoramento em Ciências Farmacêuticas
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2023/06/07 - 2023/06/09 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society for Clinical Investigation
Congress
 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society for Clinical Investigation
European Society for Clinical Investigation, Netherlands
2023/05/12 - 2023/05/13 MitoPorto 2023: Mitochondrial physiology, redox biology, and genetics
Congress
 MitoPorto: Mitochondrial physiology, redox biology, and genetics
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2023/03/16 - 2023/03/18 19º Congresso Português de Diabetes
Congress
 19º Congresso Português de Diabetes
Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia, Portugal
2023/02/07 - 2023/02/08 XVII BEB Day - Science Challenges: This fight of ours
Conference
 XVII BEB Day - Science Challenges: This fight of ours
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2023/01/18 - 2023/01/18 Outreach activity - Escola Ciência Viva MAD
Other
 Escola Ciência Viva MAD
UC Exploratório - Centro Ciência Viva da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/01/12 - 2023/01/13 III Metabolism Aging and Disease - MAD group annual meeting 2023
Meeting
 III MAD Meeting
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2022/03/27 - 2022/03/31 VI Nanoengineering for Mechanobiology
Conference
 VI Nanoengineering for Mechanobiology - N4M
2022/03/21 - 2022/03/21 Outreach activity - Collaborator for Scientific divulgation in 'Brain Awareness Week 2022'
Exhibition
 Brain Awareness Week 2022
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2022/01/18 - 2022/01/19 XVI BEB day - The overview effect
Conference
 XVI BEB day — The overview effect
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2021/11/30 - 2021/11/30 V Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network "Glial cells ate the crossraod of health and disease"
Symposium
 Glial cells ate the crossraod of health and disease
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2021/09/24 - 2021/09/24 Outreach activity - Collaborator in science communication activities organized by the science communication group of CNC in scope of European Night of Researchers
Exhibition
 European Night of Researchers
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/04/26 - 2021/04/27 Neurodegenerative Diseases: Emerging mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities - JCB-JEM Neurodegeneration Symposium (Virtual Symposium)
Symposium
 Neurodegenerative Diseases: Emerging mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities
2020/05/20 - 2020/06/12 Design and Interpretation of Clinical Trials, an online non-credit course authorized by Johns Hopkins University and offered through Coursera Design and Interpretation of Clinical Trials
Johns Hopkins University, United States
2019/11/04 - 2019/12/05 Animal welfare certificate as coordinating researcher for animal experimentation by the Portuguese General-Administration of Veterinary Affairs (DGAV) III Modular Laboratory Animal Course - Rodents
Direcção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária, Portugal
2019/09/27 - 2019/09/28 Outreach activity - Collaborator in science communication activities organized by the science communication group of CNC in scope of European Night of Researchers
Exhibition
 European night of researchers
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019/04/01 - 2019/04/02 EuroCellNet COST Action Workshop on Mechanobiology of Migrating Cells From Basic Science to the Clinic
Workshop
 A COST Action CA15214 (EuroCellNet) - Workshop on Mechanobiology of Migrating Cells From Basic Science to the Clinic
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019/03/01 - 2019/03/31 Outreach activity - Collaborator for Scientific divulgation in 'International Week of the Brain 2019'
Exhibition
 International Week of the Brain 2019
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2018/12/17 - 2018/12/19 Outreach activity - IEC internship orientation of high school students (Trainer)
Workshop
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2018/09/28 - 2018/09/29 Outreach activity - Collaborator in science communication activities organized by the science communication group of CNC in scope of European Night of Researchers
Exhibition
 European Night of Researchers
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2017/07/03 - 2017/07/04 Outreach activity - High school students training on cell culture techniques for “Olympics of Biology 2017 edition” (Trainer)
Workshop
Biocant Associação de Transferência de Tecnologia, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2016/04 - 2016/05 ISO 9001:2015 – Quality management system, for implementation of this standard in the laboratory
Workshop
 ISO 9001:2015 – Quality management system, for implementation of this standard in the laboratory
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2016/04 - 2016/04 Hands on micropipettes calibration and preventive maintenance
Workshop
 Hands on micropipettes calibration and preventive maintenance by Frilabo
2015/06 - 2015/06 Invited lecture entitled “Cell Culture”, Cell Biology course, degree in Biotechnology
Other
 Invited lecture entitled “Cell Culture”, Cell Biology course, degree in Biotechnology, ESAC
2015/04 - 2015/06 ISO 9001:2008 – Quality management system, for implementation of this standard in the laboratory
Workshop
 ISO 9001:2008
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2015/03 - 2015/03 Outreach activity - Collaborator for Scientific divulgation in 'International Week of the Brain 2015'
Exhibition
 International Week of the Brain 2015
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2014/12 - 2014/12 Basic notions of first aid Basic notions of first aid (Bombeiros Voluntários de Cantanhede)
2014/03/12 - 2014/03/14 Hands-On Course on Microscopy Imaging Analysis (organized by Microscopy Imaging Center Coimbra and Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology)
Workshop
 Hands-On Course on Microscopy Imaging Analysis
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2013/06 - 2013/06 2nd BEB Symposium 'Seeding curiosity, harvesting science'
Symposium
 2nd BEB Symposium 'Seeding curiosity, harvesting science'
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2012/06 - 2012/06 1st BEB Symposium 'Science dreams, challenges arise'
Symposium
 1st BEB Symposium 'Science dreams, challenges arise'
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2023/07/03 - 2023/07/31 Analysis of protein markers from brains of mice with Metabolic Syndrome phenotype Ana Tavares
2023/02/03 - 2023/06/30 Effects of NRF2 modulated by ECM stiffness on hepatic cells metabolism and its implications in NAFLD evolution Ana Tavares
Distinctions

Award

2024 Best Poster Award
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Investigação Clínica e Biomédica de Coimbra, Portugal
2023 Bluepharma innovation award
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2022 Winner of Innovation Days - Cantanhede 2022
EIT Health, Germany

Other distinction

2023 Travel Grant - 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of European Society for Clinical Investigation
European Society for Clinical Investigation, Netherlands
2019 Bolsa de Doutoramento
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal