Rita Cascão received her degree in Biology, Microbiology and Genetics (Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa) in 2005 and finished her masters in Molecular Biology and Genetics (Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa) in 2007. She obtained her PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences/Immunology (Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa) in 2012. Her PhD work, funded by an FCT fellowship, was developed at Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM) under the supervision of Prof. João Eurico Fonseca. From 2012 to 2014, Rita Cascão worked at the Biobanco-iMM, where she contributed to the establishment of the Brain Tumour Bank, in collaboration with Prof. Cláudia Faria (a senior clinician-scientist). During this time, she received training in patient-derived cell cultures from patients with brain tumours at the Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre (The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada). Between 2014 and 2018, Rita Cascão worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the field of autoimmune diseases at the laboratory of Prof. João Eurico Fonseca (iMM). In 2018, she changed the field of expertise, and joined the laboratory of Prof. João Barata (iMM), as a senior postdoctoral researcher, to work in close collaboration with Prof. Cláudia Faria in a team fully dedicated to the study of brain tumours, with several funded projects. Rita Cascão is currently an assistant researcher (CEEC ref: 2023.09105.CEECIND) with 1 book chapter and 29 manuscripts published in peer review journals (Research Gate source - total citation number: 1,147 and h-index: 15), with 12 out of 30 as first author, and 2 as corresponding author. Rita Cascão has 21 oral communications in conferences and more than 50 poster publications in national and international meetings. Rita Cascão also has experience in the supervision of undergraduate (1), IEFP (1), GAPIC (3), master (6) and PhD students (3) and was scientific adviser in PhD thesis committees (2). Rita Cascão is also invited for main arguer in evaluation juries and as reviewer for several international scientific journals. She has participated in 12 projects as a team member, including FCT and European funded projects, and received 1 award for scientific merit. Rita Cascão also has expertise in biobanking and experience working with pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies (namely for the development and preclinical trials of new compounds/therapies), which are crucial skills for the projects that she is currently carrying out. During her scientific career she has participated in several courses, most importantly the: Training in primary cell culture at Dr. Peter Dirks lab, and in Stem cell culture at Embryonic Stem Cell Facility, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, Canada; Course in Histology and histopathology in biomedical translational research, iMM, Portugal; Course in Animal Experimentation, certified by Direcção Geral de Veterinária, IMM, Portugal (Procedures and Project design). Rita Cascão scientific research is currently focused on advancing the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying brain metastization to identify genetic drivers of brain metastases, which could be used as clinical biomarkers of disease progression and new therapeutic targets. The patient-based translational strategy of this research has the potential to effectively address the lack of therapies for the treatment of patients with brain tumours, improving their quality of life and survival. This line of research has intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer potential. She has also been involved in a work dedicated to the study of medulloblastoma dissemination and glioblastoma relapse. Rita Cascão engages in Science Outreach activities, participating in the organization of the Brain Tumour Team (BTT) running and social events, in RAISE activities, and giving lectures to high schools students, to create awareness and fundraise for brain tumour research at iMM.