Alexandre Nunes Neto (BC1A-0744-1F88)

Curriculum Vitae

Alexandre Nunes Neto

Alexandre Neto is currently a PhD student at the CNS, Blood, and Peripheral Inflammation Lab, headed by Professor Adelaide Fernandes, based on iMed.ULisboa - Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon. Alexandre's research journey began with a profound interest in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and during his master's studies was able to work on 3 different projects. He started to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of blueberry leaves to lessen MS-associated inflammation in a mouse model of MS. Afterwards, in a different project, he used in vitro methods to modulate mechanical cues of oligodendrocytes, one of the main affected cells in MS. In the next year during his master’s thesis, he was focused on exploring how the use of specific nanobodies to neutralize an inflammatory molecule could prevent MS-associated pathogenesis, using ex vivo demyelinating models. After this, Alexandre continued the studies as a Research Fellow in an exploratory project led by Dr. Andreia Barateiro, which was aimed at understanding the role of obesity, a known MS risk factor, in the development of MS. More recently, Alexandre received a FCT PhD Research Fellowship (2024.01222.BD) to study the biological mechanisms underlying MS progression. His ongoing work is based on the generation of brainspheres to replicate the human CNS environment and study MS-like conditions, using induced pluripotent stem cells from people with MS.

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Identification

Personal identification

Full name: Alexandre Nunes Neto
Gender: Male

Citation names

Neto, Alexandre

Author identifiers

Ciência ID: BC1A-0744-1F88
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9100-5864
Scopus Author Id: 57848010900

Email addresses

alexandre.neto@ff.ulisboa.pt (Professional)

Addresses

Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Neurosciences

Languages

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening	Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English	Advanced (C1)	Advanced (C1)	Upper intermediate (B2)	Proficiency (C2)

Education

	Degree	Classification
2023/08/07 - 2027/08/07 Ongoing	Pharmacy (Doutoramento) Major in Celular and Molecular Biology Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal "3D Brainsphere model of Multiple Sclerosis: A platform to study human disease pathogenesis, obesity as a risk factor and personalized therapeutic strategies" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2023/03/09 - 2023/03/10 Concluded	Cytometry Data Analysis (Outros) Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal
2022/09/01 - 2022/12/01 Concluded	Scientific Research Methodologies and Techniques (Pós-Graduação) Major in Neurosciences Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2018/09/10 - 2020/12/17 Concluded	Cellular and Molecular Biology (Mestrado integrado) Major in Neurobiology Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal "Tackling the role of S100B and associated neuroinflammation in an ex vivo demyelinating model" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	18
2019/06/30 - 2019/09/20 Concluded	Postgraduate Course in Laboratory Animal Science (Pós-Graduação) Major in FELASA B Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal Sociedade Portuguesa de Ciências em Animais de Laboratório, Portugal	Theoretical-77% (0-100%) / Practical-18 (0-20)
2015/09/10 - 2018/07/10 Concluded	Biology (Licenciatura) Major in Molecular Biology and Genetics Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal	13
2017/10/10 - 2018/01/18 Concluded	English Course (Outros) Major in B2 level Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Letras, Portugal	17
2017/05/08 - 2017/05/29 Concluded	Public Speaking for Science (Outros) Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal Speak and Lead Unipessoal Lda, Portugal

Affiliation

Science

	Category Host institution	Employer
2022/09/01 - 2023/06/30	Researcher (Research)	Associação da Faculdade de Farmácia para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento, Portugal
	Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Others

	Category Host institution	Employer
2022/08/01 - 2022/08/31	Técnico de Laboratório	Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa, Portugal
	Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa, Portugal
2021/02/04 - 2022/04/30	Biólogo	Centro de Medicina Laboratorial Germano de Sousa, S.A, Portugal
	Centro de Medicina Laboratorial Germano de Sousa, S.A, Portugal

Projects

Contract

	Designation	Funders
2023/08/07 - Current	Interplay between innate and acquired immune response at the basis for Multiple Sclerosis cognitive deficits PTDC/MED-PAT/2582/2021 PhD Student Fellow Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Ongoing
2022/09/01 - 2023/06/30	Role of obesity in multiple sclerosis: oligodendrocyte-related miRNAs as new targets to induce remyelination EXPL/MED-NEU/1033/2021 Research Fellow Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Concluded

Outputs

Publications

Conference poster	Barros, Catarina; Antunes, Verónica; Douven, Annelore; Neto, Alexandre; Fernandes, Adelaide. Corresponding author: Barros, Catarina. "Induced microglia derived from PBMCs and iPSC as models to study neurodegenerative diseases and screen new therapies". Paper presented in Congresso Nacional dos Farmaceuticos 2024, 2024. Roque, Mariana; Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "The Impact of Obesity in Demyelination and Oligodendrocyte Maturation in Multiple Sclerosis". Paper presented in 15th iMed.ULisboa Postgraduate Students Meeting, 2024. Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "Obesity-driven changes in CNS pathology leads to a more aggressive phenotype in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.". Paper presented in 39th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), 2023. Neto, Alexandre; Barros, Catarina; Costa, Inês; Farsetti, Elisa; Barateiro, Andreia; Fernandes, Adelaide. "Esclerose Múltipla: A Ciência em Busca de Soluções". Paper presented in Jornadas Científicas 2023 - Ciência Aberta e Inovação: uma abordagem colaborativa, transparente e acessível, 2023. Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "Exploring the impact of obesity on multiple sclerosis severity: an in vivo model unveiling aggressive clinical progression". Paper presented in 14th iMed.ULisboa Posgraduate Students Meeting, 2023. Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "Obesity induces a more aggressive clinical course in an animal model of multiple sclerosis". Paper presented in FENS Regional Meeting 2023, 2023. Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "Exploring the adverse effects of obesity on clinical progression and CNS pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: an in vivo model study". Paper presented in VII Simposium of The Portuguese Glial Network, 2023. Neto, Alexandre; Barros, Catarina; Barateiro, Andreia; Fernandes, Adelaide. "S100B: Biomarcador e Potencial Alvo Terapêutico para a Esclerose Multipla". Paper presented in XVII Congresso Nacional de Esclerose Múltipla, 2022. Barros, Catarina; Neto, Alexandre; Barateiro, Andreia; Fernandes, Adelaide. "S100B deletion protects from Multiple Sclerosis-like pathology.". Paper presented in V Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network, 2021.
Journal article	Neto, Alexandre; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "The complex relationship between obesity and neurodegenerative diseases: an updated review". Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 17 (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2023.1294420. Published • 10.3389/fncel.2023.1294420 Barros, Catarina; Barateiro, Andreia; Neto, Alexandre; Soromenho, Beatriz; Basto, Afonso P.; Mateus, Joana M.; Xapelli, Sara; et al. "S100B inhibition protects from chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis". Brain Communications 4 3 (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac076. Open access • Published • 10.1093/braincomms/fcac076
Thesis / Dissertation	Neto, Alexandre Nunes. "Gene deletion and nanobodies strategies to target S100B and improve recovery in an ex vivo demyelinating model". Master, Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/93997.

Activities

Oral presentation

	Presentation title	Event name Host (Event location)
2024/11/26	The Weight of Evidence: Obesity Amplifies Multiple Sclerosis Mouse Model Pathogenesis and Progression	6th Students Meeting of Mind Brain College of ULisboa
2024/11/20	Fat and Furious: Obesity as an accelerator of Multiple Sclerosis mouse model pathogenesis progression	1st Iberian Glial Networks Symposium
2024/07/12	The Harsh Influence of Obesity on Multiple Sclerosis Pathology: Findings from an In Vivo Study	15th iMed.ULisboa Postgraduate Students Meeting (Lisboa, Portugal)
2024/04/05	Experimental model of multiple sclerosis exacerbated by obesity’s influence: a thorough examination of clinical progression	8th Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network ICVS – Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (Braga, Portugal)
2024/02/08	The impact of obesity on disease severity in an animal model of multiple sclerosis: a comprehensive analysis of clinical progression	54th Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology NOVA Medical School - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (Lisboa, Portugal)
2021/02/18	Nanobody-based strategies to target S100B and improve recovery in an ex vivo demyelinating model	51st Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon (Lisboa, Portugal)

Supervision

	Thesis Title Role	Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2023/01/01 - 2023/06/30	Efeitos da obesidade na patogénese da esclerose múltipla: desenvolvimento de oligodendrócitos, mielinização e reatividade da glia Co-supervisor	Bioquímica (Degree) Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal

Event organisation

	Event name Type of event (Role)	Institution / Organization
2025/03/10 - 2025/03/11	As part of the CNS, Blood, and Peripheral Inflammation Group and the Ciência Viva's Brain awareness week initiative, we delivered neuroscience lectures to enhance 3rd and 4th grade students' understanding of brain structure, function, and health. Topics included brain regions, cell functions, sensory development, and brain protection, complemented by interactive activities. (2025/03/11 - 2025/03/11) Workshop (Co-organisor)	Ciência Viva, Portugal Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal
2024/11/01 - 2024/11/26	I took part in the organization of the 6th Students Meeting of Mind Brain College of ULisboa, where I worked as staff during the two days of the event. My responsibilities included logistics, dealing with participant registration and supporting the conference room. (2024/11/25 - 2024/11/26) Meeting (Member of the Organising Committee)
2024/03/20 - 2024/03/21	A colleague and I engaged with all the 4th grade classes of our shared primary school, focusing on explaining how the brain and heart work and why healthy habits matter. We made it hands-on and interactive, with activities like microscope slides viewing, sensory games, and demonstrating lab equipment use. (2024/03/20 - 2024/03/21) Workshop (Co-organisor)
2024/03/12 - 2024/03/12	In the context of the Brain Awareness week, I went to a primary school to perfom different activities related with brain functions. (2024/03/12 - 2024/03/12) Workshop (Co-organisor)	Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal

Event participation

	Activity description Type of event	Event name Institution / Organization
2023/06/01 - Current	Engagement in science communication targeted at children during the Children's Day event at "Pavilhão do Conhecimento – Centro Ciência Viva" as part of the "Feira de Ciência" (Science Fair). Workshop	Dia da Criança 2023 Pavilhão do Conhecimento-Centro Ciência Viva, Portugal

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

	Activity description	Newspaper / Forum
2023/12/05	Interview with Sábado magazine with an excerpt entitled "Esclerose Múltipla: A doença não é só da pessoa que a carrega"	Sábado

Mentoring / Tutoring

	Topic	Student name
2023/09/01 - 2025/01/31	Bioquímica	Mariana Roque

Distinctions

Award

2024	Best oral communication of the 15th iMed.ULisboa Postgraduate Students Meeting Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2023	Winner of FENS Regional Meeting 2023 Neuroscience Photography Contest Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, Belgium Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências, Portugal
2018	Winner in the photography competition entitled "Effects of Pollution on Ecosystems" Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal