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Maria Soares has a degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Aveiro (2017) and a Master's Degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Coimbra (2019). During her master's degree she carried out her dissertation research project at the Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell Group, in the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC) of the University of Coimbra, entitled "Aging-related mitochondrial alterations in bovine oocytes". Since 2019, she is a research fellow at university of Coimbra, where she has participated in different research projects in the field of female fertility having experience in working with ovary tissue, cumulus-oocyte complexes and folicular fluid. Currently, she is a PhD student in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine of the University of Coimbra with a research project that aims to develop an anti-aging strategy to prevent female reproductive decline.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Maria Soares
Date of birth
1996/03/25
Gender
Female

Citation names

  • Soares, Maria

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
8F12-7CEA-FD73
ORCID iD
0000-0002-7507-4843

Email addresses

  • mmsoares@cnc.uc.pt (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Reproductive Biology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1)
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
Education
Degree Classification
2021/01 - 2025
Ongoing
 Biologia Experimental e Biomedicina (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/01 - 2023/01
Concluded
 Writing and Publishing a Review Paper (Curso de Especialização Tecnológica)
Springer Nature Group, Germany
2022/05/30 - 2022/06/03
Concluded
 Biotech Transfer:Step-by-Step (Especialização pós-licenciatura)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2021/01/18 - 2021/01/29
Concluded
 Curso de Formação em Estatística com SPSS (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
 Aprovado
2017/09 - 2019/09
Concluded
 Biologia Celular e Molecular (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
""Evaluation of ageing-related molecular and bioenergetic alterations in bovine oocytes"" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18
2014/09/01 - 2017/09/01
Concluded
 Ciências Biomédicas (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
 16
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2019/12 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2019/10/01 - 2019/11/30 Volunteer Internship in an Assisted Reproductive Technology Laboratory - Fertility Clinic Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Portugal
Serviço de Medicina da Reprodução, Portugal
(...)
2016/08 - 2016/08 Volunteer Internship in an Assisted Reproductive Technology Laboratory - Fertility Clinic Centro Materno Infantil do Norte, Portugal
Centro Materno Infantil do Norte, Portugal
2016/08 - 2016/08 Volunteer Internship in an Assisted Reproductive Technology Laboratory - Fertility Clinic Clínica de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia de Espinho, Portugal
Clínica de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia de Espinho, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2021/07/01 - Current Exercise as an anti-aging strategy to prevent female reproductive decline
2020.06180.BD
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2019/12 - 2020/10 Envelhecimento ovocitário: avaliação da função mitocondrial e desenvolvimento de estratégias de rejuvenescimento
HealthyAging2020-CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000012
Research Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Ongoing
Outputs

Publications

Book chapter
  1. Tavares, Renata S.; Escada-Rebelo, Sara; Soares, Maria; Silva, Andreia F; Almeida-Santos, Teresa: AT Santos; Amaral, Sandra; Sousa, Ana Paula; Ramalho-Santos, João. "Mitochondrial Functional Assessment in Mammalian Gametes Using Fluorescent Probes". In Methods in Molecular Biology, edited by Palmeira, Carlos M.; Rolo, Anabela, 57-68. Springer US, 2021.
    Published • 10.1007/978-1-0716-1433-4_5
  2. Soares, Maria; Fardilha, Margarida. "Integração do metabolismo do fígado e repercussões bioquímicas para o organismo". In Bioquímica Fisiológica: Integração do Metabolismo na Especialização dos Órgãos. Portugal: Edições Afrontamento, Lda., 2020.
    Published
Conference abstract
  1. Soares, Maria; Carmen Almiñana; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Carvalho, Alexandra; Francisca Costa; Rita Silva; Raquel Brito; et al. "Age and Physical Activity Modulate the miRNA Cargo contained in Extracellular Vesicles derived from Follicular Fluid". Paper presented in EMBO Workshop on Ovarian Biology: 1st European Ovary Workshop, Lagos, 2025.
    Accepted
  2. Soares, Maria; Carmen Almiñana; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Carvalho, Alexandra; Francisca Costa; Rita Silva; Raquel Brito; et al. Corresponding author: Ana Paula Sousa. "Is physical activity an anti-aging strategy to prevent female reproductive decline ?". Paper presented in V Metabolism, Aging and Disease Meeting, Coimbra, 2025.
  3. Ana Paula Sousa; Soares, Maria; Ramalho-Santos, João; Almeida-Santos, Teresa. "Extracellular Vesicles derived from Plasma and Follicular Fluid as biomarkers for Assisted Reproductive Techniques Outcomes". Paper presented in 14th Congress of the European Society of Gynecology, 2021.
  4. Soares, Maria; Ana Paula Sousa; Ramalho-Santos, João. "Evaluation of aging-related alterations in bovine oocytes". Paper presented in Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), 2020.
Conference poster
  1. Soares, Maria; Ana Teresa Almeida Santos; Ramalho-Santos, João; Ana Paula Sousa. "O efeito do envelhecimento e da atividade física nos resultados de procriação medicamente assistida". Paper presented in XXXIX Jornadas de Estudos da Reprodução, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina da Reprodução, 2025.
  2. Soares, Maria; Carmen Almiñana; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Carvalho, Alexandra; Francisca Costa; Rita Silva; Raquel Brito; et al. "Age and Physical Activity Modulate the miRNA Cargo contained in Extracellular Vesicles derived from Follicular Fluid". Paper presented in EMBO Workshop on Ovarian Biology: 1st European Ovary Workshop, 2025.
  3. Soares, Maria; Ana Paula Sousa; Ramalho-Santos, João. "Evaluation of aging-related alterations in bovine oocytes". Paper presented in Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), 2020.
Journal article
  1. Soares, Maria; Inês Moniz; Francisca Costa; Ana Filipa Ferreira; Ana Branco; Almeida-Santos, Teresa: AT Santos; Ramalho-Santos, João; Ana Paula Sousa. "To do or not to do: The Effect of Physical Activity on Female (In)Fertility". Reproduction (2025):
    Under revision
  2. Soares, Maria; Carmen Alminana; Ana Filipa Ferreira; Alexandra Carvalho; Francisca Costa; Rita Silva; Raquel Brito; et al. "Age and Physical Activity Modulate the miRNA Cargo contained in Extracellular Vesicles derived from Follicular Fluid". Reproduction (2025):
    Submitted
  3. Inês Moniz; Maria Soares; Ana Sousa; João Ramalho-Santos; Ana Branco. "The Low Survivability of Transplanted Gonadal Grafts: The Impact of Cryopreservation and Transplantation Conditions on Mitochondrial Function". Biology (2024): https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070542.
    10.3390/biology13070542
  4. Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Machado-Simões, Juliana; Moniz, Inês; Soares, Maria; Carvalho, Alexandra; Diniz, Patrícia; Ramalho-Santos, João; et al. "Chemical reversion of age-related oocyte dysfunction fails to enhance embryo development in a bovine model of postovulatory aging". Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (2024): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-024-03151-4.
    Published • 10.1007/s10815-024-03151-4
  5. Carvalho, Alexandra; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Soares, Maria; Santos, Susana; Tomé, Patrícia; Machado-Simões, Juliana; Pais, Ana Sofia; et al. "Optimization of Platelet-Rich Plasma Preparation for Regenerative Medicine: Comparison of Different Anticoagulants and Resuspension Media". Bioengineering 11 3 (2024): 209. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11030209.
    10.3390/bioengineering11030209
  6. Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Soares, Maria; Almeida-Santos, Teresa; Ramalho-Santos, João; Sousa, Ana Paula. "Aging and oocyte competence: A molecular cell perspective". WIREs Mechanisms of Disease (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wsbm.1613.
    10.1002/wsbm.1613
  7. Soares, Maria; Pinto, Maria M.; Nobre, Rui Jorge; de Almeida, Luís Pereira; da Graça Rasteiro, Maria; Almeida-Santos, Teresa; Ramalho-Santos, João; Sousa, Ana Paula. "Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles from Human Follicular Fluid: Size-Exclusion Chromatography versus Ultracentrifugation". Biomolecules 13 2 (2023): 278. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biom13020278.
    10.3390/biom13020278
  8. Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Simões, Juliana; Soares, Maria; Ana Paula Sousa; Ramalho-Santos, João; Ana Teresa Almeida Santos. "Spatiotemporal dynamics of SIRT 1, 2 and 3 during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes". Theriogenology (2022):
    Published • 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.04.004
  9. Soares, Maria; Sousa, Ana Paula; Fernandes, Raquel; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Almeida-Santos, Teresa; Ramalho-Santos, João. "Aging-related mitochondrial alterations in bovine oocytes". Theriogenology 157 (2020): 218-225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.07.036.
    10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.07.036
  10. Ana Filipa Ferreira; Soares, Maria; Sandra Reis; Ana Paula Sousa; Ana Teresa Almeida Santos; Ramalho-Santos, João. "Does supplementation with mitochondria improve oocyte competence? A systematic review". Reproduction (2020):
    Published • https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-20-0351
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Soares, Maria. "Evaluation of aging-related molecular and bioenergetic alterations in bovine oocytes". Master, Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/87892.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2025/02/18 Age and Physical Activity Modulate the miRNA Cargo contained in Extracellular Vesicles derived from Follicular Fluid EMBO Workshop on Ovarian Biology: 1st European Ovary Workshop
EMBO (Lagos, Portugal)
2025/02/03 Is physical activity an anti-aging strategy to prevent female reproductive decline? V Metabolis, Aging and Disease Meeting
University of Coimbra (Coimbra, Portugal)
2021/11/12 Extracellular Vesicles derived from Plasma and Follicular Fluid as biomarkers for Assisted Reproductive Techniques Outcomes 14th congress of the European Society of Gynecology
(Veneza, Italy)
2021/01/22 Is Female Reproductive Potential At Risk? 8eme Colloque de Restitution
OHM- Estarreja (Portugal)
2020/11/18 Exercise as an anti-aging strategy to prevent female reproductive decline 1st Scientific Retreat Metabolism, Aging and Disease
Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (Coimbra , Portugal)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role 		Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2025/01/06 - 2025/01/30 Evaluation of depression and anxiety markers in follicular fluid
Co-supervisor of Vanessa Bowman
 Bioquímica - Rotação laboratorial (Degree)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2024/12/30 - 2025/01/24 Evaluation of depression and anxiety markers in follicular fluid
Co-supervisor of Margarida Ramos
 Biologia Celular e Molecular - rotação laboratorial (Degree)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2024/11/25 - 2024/12/20 Evaluation of depression and anxiety markers in follicular fluid
Co-supervisor of Maria João Parente
 Biologia Celular e Molecular - Rotação Laboratorial (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2024/11/25 - 2024/12/20 Evaluation of depression and anxiety markers in follicular fluid
Supervisor of Joana Mendes
 Mestrado em Bioquímica - rotação laboratorial (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2024/03 - 2024/08 Study of aging biomarkers in female reproductive function
Co-supervisor
 Biologia Aplicada (Degree)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/09 - 2024/02 Advanced Maternal Age: The impact of aging on female reproductive function
Supervisor of Joana Mendes
 Biologia Aplicada (Degree)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/04 - 2021/05 Methods for isolating extracellular vesicles from follicular fluid: ultracentrifugation or size-exclusion chromatography
Co-supervisor of Francisca Costa
 Biologia Celular e Molecular - Rotação Laboratorial (Degree)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2024/09 - 2024/10 Workshop Reprodução e Fertilidade (2024/09 - 2024/10)
Workshop (Member of the Organising Committee)
2023/09/12 - 2023/09/30 Workshop Reprodução e Fertilidade (2023/09/12 - 2023/09/30)
Workshop (Member of the Organising Committee)
2016 - 2017 Member of the organization of Make It Possible project (2016 - 2017)
Meeting (Co-organisor)
 AIESEC International, Netherlands

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2025/05/09 - 2025/05/10 XXXIX Jornadas de Estudos da Reprodução
Congress
 XXXIX Jornadas de Estudos da Reprodução, Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina da Reprodução
Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina da Reprodução, Portugal
2025/05/09 - 2025/05/09 Curso da Secção de Embriologia
Workshop
 XXXIX Jornadas de Estudos da Reprodução
Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina da Reprodução, Portugal
2025/03/29 - 2025/03/29 RIA - Rising Innovation in ART RIA - Rising Innovation in ART
2023/04/21 - 2023/04/21 Data Analysis Course – SUSHI
Workshop
 Data Analysis Course – SUSHI
Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Switzerland
2022/04/08 - 2022/04/09 The 5th IVF Worldwide Online Congress
Congress
 5th IVF Worldwide Online Congress
2021/09/24 - 2021/09/24 2021 European Researchers' Night 2021 European Researchers' Night
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/07/26 - 2021/07/27 WebRePRO – I Reproductive Science & Fertility Virtual Summit
Conference
 WebRePRO – I Reproductive Science & Fertility Virtual Summit
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2021 - 2021 Student Network Extracellular Vesicles International Virtual Conference 2021
Conference
 Student Network Extracellular Vesicles International Virtual Conference
2020/12 - 2020/12 First Workshop of the Portuguese Network on Extracellular Vesicles: EVs in Health and Disease
Workshop
 First Workshop of the Portuguese Network on Extracellular Vesicles: EVs in Health and Disease
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2019/10/04 - 2019/10/04 Participation in "How to Get Published"
Workshop
 How to Get Published
Elsevier Health Sciences, United States
2018/09/04 - 2018/09/04 Participation in "Introduction to Laboratory Safety", organized by Lab Safety Workplace
Workshop
 Introduction to Laboratory Safety
2017/04/28 - 2017/04/29 IV Jornadas da Bioquímica
Congress
 IV Jornadas da Bioquímica
Universidade do Porto, Portugal
2017/04/27 - 2017/04/27 Participation in "To move or not to move: How to control sperm motility"
Workshop
 "To move or not to move: How to control sperm motility"
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2017/01/26 - 2017/01/27 VI Jornadas da Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Nutrição
Congress
 VI Jornadas da Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Nutrição
Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga EPE, Portugal
2015/05 - 2017 Member of the volunteer and organization team of "Competições Nacionais de Ciência"
Call
 pmate, Competições Nacionais de Ciência
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2016/11/02 - 2016/11/03 Participation in “Innovation Now”
Workshop
 “Innovation Now”
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
2016/09/23 - 2016/09/23 1º Simpósio Diabesidade e Fertilidade
Symposium
 1º Simpósio Diabesidade e Fertilidade
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Portugal
2016/05/12 - 2016/05/14 6º Congresso Português de Medicina da Reprodução
Congress
 6º Congresso Português de Medicina da Reprodução
Sociedade Portuguesa de Medicina da Reprodução, Portugal
2016/03/10 - 2016/03/12 VII Jornadas Nacionais das Ciências Biomédicas
Congress
 VII Jornadas Nacionais das Ciências Biomédicas
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

Committee member

Activity description
Role 		Institution / Organization
2024/09 - 2024/09 Workshop Reprodução e Fertilidade for High School professor, in collaboration the Associação Portuguesa de Professores de Biologia e Geologia (APPBG)
Member
 Associação Portuguesa de Professores de Biologia e Geologia (APPBG), Portugal, Portugal
2023/09 - 2023/09 Workshop Reprodução e Fertilidade for High School professor, in collaboration the Associação Portuguesa de Professores de Biologia e Geologia (APPBG)
Member
 Associação Portuguesa de Professores de Biologia e Geologia (APPBG), Portugal, Portugal

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2025/04/26 - 2025/04/26 Workshop Técnicas de Preservação da Fertilidade Feminina (Outros) XXVII Encontro Nacional de Estudantes de Biologia, Portugal
2024/09 - 2024/09 Female Infertility module - Workshop Reprodução e Fertilidade (Pós-Graduação)
2024/04 - 2024/04 Workshop: Female fertility preservation (Curso de Especialização Tecnológica) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/11 - 2023/11 Practical Class on Oogenesis and Foliculogenesis Biologia Celular e Molecular - Biologia da Reprodução (Mestrado) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/09/12 - 2023/09/30 Female Infertility module and Science Comunication module - Workshop Reprodução e Fertilidade (Curso de Especialização Tecnológica)
2022/04/22 - 2022/04/24 Workshop: Female Fertility Preservation (Curso de Especialização Tecnológica) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal