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Since January 2024, Rafaela Tavares Seixas has been dedicated to her Ph.D. studies in Neurosciences at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto. Eager to make meaningful contributions to the field of neuroscience, she is actively engaged in her thesis work at i3s, with a focus on exploring the captivating realm of astrocyte-neuron interactions. Previously, Rafaela worked as a provider of pre-clinical research services, concluding this role in December. Her experiences include working at the "Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar" and the Center for Drug Discovery and Innovative Medicines at the University of Porto, where she supported research activities at the Faculty of Medicine. Her expertise spans Medical and Health Sciences, emphasizing Neuroscience, Physiology, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Physiopathology, and Basic Medicine. Rafaela acquired her foundational knowledge during her bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Aveiro and her master's degree in Neurobiology from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto. Over the past four years, Rafaela has solidified her understanding of these areas through her role as an intern researcher. She has co-authored 6 scientific articles published in specialized peer-reviewed international journals (quartile 1) and is currently first author of two manuscripts. Additionally, she co-advised four bachelor students during their internship projects. In her free time, Rafaela remains committed to social causes, volunteering for organizations such as the "Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro" and "Banco Alimentar Contra a Fome."
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Rafaela Tavares Seixas

Citation names

  • Seixas, Rafaela

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
0410-53AB-5B2C
ORCID iD
0000-0003-2566-4383

Addresses

  • R. Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Porto, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Neurosciences
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Pharmacology and pharmacy
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Physiology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Toxicology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Proficiency (C2) Advanced (C1)
French Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1)
Spanish; Castilian Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1)
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
Education
Degree Classification
2024/01/01 - 2028
Ongoing
 Doctoral Program in Neurosciences (Doutoramento)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2024/01/29 - 2024/02/02
Concluded
 Advanced Course Synapse Assembly, Function and Plasticity (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2020 - 2022
Concluded
 Neurobiology (Mestrado)
Major in Neurosciences
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
"Demystifying contextual fear memory formation and enhancement: on the way to unravel novel pharmacological approaches for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment (20 point in 20)" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18
2021/04 - 2021/10
Concluded
 Introdutory Course Laboratory Animal Science - Functions (A) and (D) (Outros)
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2017 - 2020
Concluded
 Biology (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
"A Mediator for Adrenaline in the Central Nervous System (20 points in 20)" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2006 - 2016
Concluded
 Musical Course - Violin (Outros)
Major in Violin
Fundação Conservatório Regional de Gaia, Portugal
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2024/01/03 - Current Research Trainee (Research) Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2023/03/01 - 2023/12/31 Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2023/02/01 - 2023/12/31 Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Centro de Investigação Farmacológica e Inovação Medicamentosa, Portugal
2020 - 2022 Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Centro de Investigação Farmacológica e Inovação Medicamentosa, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2020 - 2022 Researcher (MSc student) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
(...)
2019 - 2020 Bachelor internship (20 points in 20) Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Oliveira, Ana; Seixas, Rafaela; Pereira, Francisca; Martinho, Raquel; Serrão, Paula; Moreira-Rodrigues, Mónica. "Acute insulin admnistration enhances contextual fear memory independently of adrenaline, through increased hippocampus Bdnf expression". Paper presented in Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum, 2022.
  2. Seixas, Rafaela; Martinho, Raquel; Azevedo, Márcia; Oliveira, Ana; Serrão, Paula; Moreira-Rodrigues, Mónica. "Sotalol treatment decreases Nr4a1 mRNA expression possibly leading to weaker traumatic contextual memory in a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder mice model". Paper presented in 17th Meeting of Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  3. Oliveira, Ana; Seixas, Rafaela; Pereira, Francisca; Martinho, Raquel; Serrão, Paula; Moreira-Rodrigues, Mónica. "Insulin may promote contextual fear memory formation independently of adrenaline effects". Paper presented in 17th Meeting of Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
Edited book
  1. Mónica Moreira-Rodrigues; Melanie J. Grubisha. Editorial: Molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric diseases.. 2022.
    10.3389/fnmol.2022.1102296
Journal article
  1. Oliveira, Ana; Azevedo, Márcia; Seixas, Rafaela; Martinho, Raquel; Serrão, Paula; Moreira-Rodrigues, Mónica. "Glucose may Contribute to Retrieval and Reconsolidation of Contextual Fear Memory Through Hippocampal Nr4a3 and Bdnf mRNA Expression and May Act Synergically with Adrenaline". Molecular Neurobiology (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12035-023-03745-6.
    Published • 10.1007/s12035-023-03745-6
  2. Oliveira, Ana; Seixas, Rafaela; Pereira, Francisca; Azevedo, Márcia; Martinho, Raquel; Serrão, Paula; Moreira-Rodrigues, Mónica. "Insulin enhances contextual fear memory independently of its effect in increasing plasma adrenaline". Life Sciences 328 (2023): 121881. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121881.
    Published • 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121881
  3. Martinho, Raquel; Seixas, Rafaela; Azevedo, Márcia; Oliveira, Ana; Serrão, Paula; Moreira-Rodrigues, Mónica. "Sotalol Treatment may Interfere With Retrieval, Expression, and/or Reconsolidation Processes Thus Disrupting Traumatic Memories in a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Mice Model". Frontiers in Pharmacology - Quartile 1 in Pharmacology 12 (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.809271.
    Published • 10.3389/fphar.2021.809271
  4. Martinho, Raquel; Correia, Gabriela; Seixas, Rafaela; Oliveira, Ana; Silva, Soraia; Serrão, Paula; Fernandes-Lopes, Carlos; Costa, Cristina; Moreira-Rodrigues, Mónica. "Treatment With Nepicastat Decreases Contextual Traumatic Memories Persistence in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder". Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 14 (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2021.745219.
    Published • 10.3389/fnmol.2021.745219
  5. Ana Carvalhais; Bárbara Pereira; Mariangela Sabato; Rafaela Seixas; Marina Dolbeth; Ana Marques; Sofia Guilherme; et al. "Mild Effects of Sunscreen Agents on a Marine Flatfish: Oxidative Stress, Energetic Profiles, Neurotoxicity and Behaviour in Response to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Oxybenzone". International Journal of Molecular Sciences - Quartile 1 in Computer Science Applications, Inorganic Chemistry, Medicine (miscellaneous), Organic Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, and Spectroscopy (2021): https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/4/1567.
    10.3390/ijms22041567
  6. Martinho, R.; Oliveira, A.; Correia, G.; Marques, M.; Seixas, R.; Serrão, P.; Moreira-Rodrigues, M.. "Epinephrine May Contribute to the Persistence of Traumatic Memories in a Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Animal Model". Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience - Quartile 1 in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience and in Molecular Biology 13 (2020): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85095686682&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.3389/fnmol.2020.588802
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2024/02/09 DBH inhibitor Nepicastat may be a potential prophylactic approach for post-traumatic stress disorder. 54th Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology, 42nd Meeting of Clinical Pharmacology and 23rd Meeting of Toxicology
NOVA Medical School (Lisbon, Portugal)
2023/02 The different ß-adrenoceptors may play distinct roles in the establishment and persistence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and signs in a mouse model. LIII Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology
University of Coimbra (Coimbra , Portugal)
2022/11 ß-adrenoceptor antagonists affect the establishment of traumatic memories and anxiety-like behaviour in a post-traumatic stress disorder mouse model. International Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Physiology
University of Coimbra (Coimbra , Portugal)
2022/11 Contextual fear memory impairment in adrenaline-deficient mice may be related to downregulation of the M4 muscarinic receptor subtype in the hippocampus. International Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Physiology
University of Coimbra (Coimbra , Portugal)
2022/07 Acute insulin administration enhances contextual fear memory through increased hippocampus Bdnf expression in adrenaline-deficient mice Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)
(Paris, France)
2022/02/10 Insulin administration triggers hippocampus BDNF expression which may result in contextual fear memory enhancement in adrenaline-deficient mice 52ª Reunião da Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia, 40ª Reunião de Farmacologia Clínica; 21ª Reunião de Toxicologia
Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar da Universidade do Porto (Porto, Portugal)
2021/12/01 Sotalol treatment decreases Nr4a1 mRNA expression possibly leading to weaker traumatic contextual memory in a post-traumatic stress disorder mice model XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience
University of Coimbra (Coimbra , Portugal)
2021/12 Insulin may promote contextual fear memory formation independently of adrenaline effects. Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Neurosciences
(Coimbra , Portugal)
2021/02/17 ß-adrenoceptor antagonist sotalol affects reconsolidation, and decreases traumatic memories and anxiety-like behaviour in a post-traumatic stress disorder mice model 51.ª Reunião da Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia, 38.ª Reunião de Farmacologia Clínica e 19.ª Reunião de Toxicologia
Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa (Lisboa, Portugal)
2020/02/07 Effects of dopamine ß-hydroxylase inhibition in a post-traumatic stress disorder mice model 50.ª Reunião da Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia, 38.ª Reunião de Farmacologia Clínica e 19.ª Reunião de Toxicologia
Laboratório de Farmacologia e Cuidados Farmacêuticos da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra (FFUC) (Coimbra, Portugal)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role 		Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2023/10/02 - 2024/06 "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: investigating the establishment and persistence."
Co-supervisor
 Biology - Internship (Degree)
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
2021/10 - 2022/07 In a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder mice model, nepicastat prevents the occurrence of anxiety-like behaviour.
Co-supervisor
 Biology (Degree)
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2024/05/03 - Current Speaker at a symposium held at the University of Minho. Talk titled "Exploring Astrocytic Heterogeneity: Implications in Brain Function" (30 minutes).
Symposium
 V Symposium of Applied Biochemistry
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
2024/03/15 - Current Brain Awareness Week at i3s. Neurodiverse young people from the Portuguese Association for Developmental Disorders and Autism (APPDA Norte) were invited to understand and embrace their neurdiversity and were given a guided tour at i3s. I was happy so share some of the work I have been developing at i3s, giving a short and interactive talk about astrocytes and the brain. Brain Awareness Week at i3s
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal

Ad Hoc journal article review

Journal title (ISSN) Publisher
2023/12/07 - Current Frontiers in Psychology (1664-1078) Frontiers

Committee member

Activity description
Role 		Institution / Organization
2023/02 - Current Member of the Committee of the Animal Facilities Users
Member
 Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2020/10 - Current Member of the Monitoring Committee of the Master's Course in Neurobiology, as the student representative.
Member
 Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2023/05/18 - Current Anual lecture: "Cerebral Cortex: Intellectual Functions of the Brain". Invited by Professor Mónica Moreira Rodrigues. Phisiology I - Dental Medicine (Licenciatura) Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
Distinctions

Award

2022 1. Best Science Award for the best oral communication on the 2nd International Meeting of the Portuguese Physiological Society.