Diana Duarte Lobo is a PhD student at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, conducting research on AAV-based gene therapy for the central nervous system (CNS). Her doctoral thesis, titled "Overcoming the Major Roadblocks for Successful AAV-Based Gene Therapy in the CNS," focuses on advancing gene therapy strategies for neurological disorders. Diana holds a Master’s degree in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine (2017) from Universidade Nova de Lisboa – Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry (2015) from Universidade de Coimbra – Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia. Her Master’s thesis led to the publication of an original research article in Acta Neuropathologica Communications. She has worked as a research fellow on multiple projects, including collaborations with pharmaceutical companies such as Wave Life Sciences, uniQure, and Blade Therapeutics. Her research has resulted in eight publications in peer-reviewed journals, including Brain and Molecular Therapy, with two first-author publications, one of which appeared in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics. She has also presented her work at national and international conferences through oral and poster communications. Diana received a scholarship to attend the SPN Meeting in 2019. Her research interests are centered on Neuroscience and Gene Therapy, particularly in the context of Machado-Joseph disease.