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Ricardo Alexandre Leitão obtained his Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2017 at the Faculty of Science and Technology - University of Coimbra, his master's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2012 at the Faculty of Science and Technology - University of Coimbra, and his Bachelor degree in Biomedical Sciences in 2010 at University of Algarve. During his academic and research career, he participated as a research fellow in several projects. RALeitão research interests include Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), astrocytes, blood-brain barrier, endothelial cells, methamphetamine, methylphenidate, addictive behaviors, microglia, neuroinflammation, neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms of psychostimulants, neuropeptide Y, neurotoxicity, traumatic brain injury, nutritional intervention, and neuro-oncology. He interacted with more than 40 collaborators in co-authoring scientific works. Published 12 scientific articles in international journals (4 as 1st author, 2 as co-senior authorship - IF of 64.51, more than 300 citations, and h-index of 8), 2 research papers under revision (Molecular Psychiatry and Journal of Pathology), and two book chapters. He was/is the supervisor of 3 BSc (2 ongoing), 2 MSc, and 1 PhD thesis, and was responsible for the laboratory supervision of 3 Ph.D. thesis, 6 master theses, and 6 BSc final traineeships. He participated in several national and international meetings (including more than 10 oral and 30 poster presentations as author and co-author) and received 8 awards for his contributions to the research field. RALeitão is/was a team member in 5 funded projects, Principal Investigator in 1 project (starting in January 2022), all focused on the contribution of the neurovascular alterations in brain function, and its behavior outcomes. Along with scientific research, RALeitão actively participates in several science communication activities at schools, art and science initiatives, and a number of public-engagement thematic activities integrated in the CIBB and Faculty of Medicine outreach programs and he is also a member of the journal scientific committee at Neuroscience (0306-4522), Journal of Neurochemistry (1471-4159), and Journal of Neuroinflammation.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Ricardo Alexandre Gomes Leitão

Citation names

  • Ricardo A Leitão
  • Leitão, R.A.
  • Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre
  • Ricardo Alexandre Leitão

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
9310-4509-C2AF
ORCID iD
0000-0003-0355-2591
Scopus Author Id
56603904900

Email addresses

  • ricardo.leitao@uc.pt (Professional)
  • ricardoleitao@cnc.uc.pt (Professional)

Addresses

  • Instituto de Farmacologia e Terapêutica Experimental, Piso 3, Sub-Unidade 1, Faculdade de Medicina. Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Celas, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Medical Biotechnology - Gene-based Diagnostics and Therapeutic Interventions
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences - Substance Abuse
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences - Nutrition, Dietetics
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Pharmacology and pharmacy
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences - Sport and Fitness Sciences
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Behavioural Sciences Biology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Anatomy and mMrphology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Education
Degree Classification
2024/11
Concluded
 Clinical Investigator Certification - Level 1 (Diploma de especialização)
Universidade de Aveiro Associação para a Formação Profissional e Investigação, Portugal

Portuguese Clinical Research Infrastructure Network, Portugal
2024/10/30
Concluded
 Good Clinical Practice - ICH Guidelines E6 R2 (Diploma de especialização)
Alison Learning, Ireland
2024/10/04
Concluded
 Course on Biotech Transfer: Step by Step (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2024/01 - 2024/01
Concluded
 Advance Course in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2018/06 - 2018/06
Concluded
 Achucarro International Glia School 2018 (Outros)
Universidad del Pais Vasco Centro Achucarro, Spain
2012/09 - 2017/10/17
Concluded
 Doctoral Programme in Biomedical Engineering (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Role of aquaporin-4 in methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction and cerebral edema formation" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18/20
2015 - 2015
Concluded
 Laboratorial animal manipulation and experimentation (Federation for Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA C) -Curso de Experimentação Animal, Categoria C FELASA (Diploma de especialização)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2014 - 2014
Concluded
 Cellular Biology of Addiction, Summer Course (Outros)
University Pompeu Fabra, Spain
2012 - 2013
Concluded
 Advanced Courses integrated in the Doctoral Program in Health Sciences (Curso de doutoramento (conclusão de unidades curriculares))
Instituto Biomédico de Investigação em Luz e Imagem, Portugal
2010/09 - 2012/07
Concluded
 Master in Cellular and Molecular Biology (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Impact of methamphetamine on astrocytes and endothelial cells: role of aquaporin-4" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 18/20
2010 - 2011
Concluded
 Advanced Courses integrated in Cellular and Molecular Biology Master (Curso de mestrado (conclusão do curso de especialização))
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2007/09 - 2010/07
Concluded
 Bachelor in Biomedical Sciences (Licenciatura)
Universidade do Algarve, Portugal
"Impacto da Metanfetamina na Barreira Hemato-Encefálica: Estudo das junções apertadas e Efeito da indometacina" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 15/20
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/01/01 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2022/04/01 - Current Regulation of prefrontal cortical synaptic function and behavior by chronic stress-induced microRNA-186-5p
HR21-01077
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Obra Social La Caixa
Ongoing
2020/01 - 2023/12 Strategic Project Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology
UIDB/04539/2020
UIDP/04539/2020
UIDB/04539/2020
Researcher
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

European Regional Development Fund
Ongoing
2021/09 - 2023/08 Cerebrovascular hypothesis of stress-induced behavioral alterations
PT/FBPT/PT/FB/BL-2020-073/BL-2020-073/BL-2020-073
Researcher
Fundação Bial
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2024/10/01 - Current BREATHE: Blocking Respiratory Exacerbations: AI and data-driven Technology for Health Enhancement
240034 BREATHE
Researcher
EIT Health
Ongoing
2022/01/01 - 2023/12/31 Neutrophils infiltration through blood-brain barrier in traumatic brain injury: Role of CXCL8
EXPL/MED-PAT/0660/2021
Principal investigator
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Concluded
2018/01/03 - 2021/12/31 BrainHealth 2020 - Detecção Precoce, Neuro-modulação e Terapias Avançadas para Neuropatologias
CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000008
Post-doc Fellow
CNC.IBILI, Portugal
Concluded
2015 - 2021 Neuropeptide response in Traumatic Brain Injury - study in an animal model of trauma
UID/NEU/04539/2013-2019
UIDB/04539/2020
POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007440
CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000008
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
 European Union

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2017/02/01 - 2018/02/28 Tackling CANcer STEM CELls: a challenge and an opportunity to advance in anti-cancer therapy
SAICTPAC/0022/2015
Research Fellow
CNC.IBILI, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2013/06/01 - 2015/09/30 O metilfenidato e as alterações na barreira hemato-encefálica numa situação fisiológica e na perturbação de hiperatividade com défice de atenção (Methylphenidate and changes in the blood-brain barrier in a physiological situation and in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
PTDC/NEU-OSD/0312/2012
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2013/06 - 2015/09 Methylphenidate and blood-brain barrier changes in health and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Provided by PTCRIS: 124592
Other
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Book chapter
  1. Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "The impact of drugs of abuse on blood-brain barrier". In Advances in Brain Vascular Research, Chapter 7. 2020.
    Accepted
  2. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Silva, Ana Paula. "Methamphetamine and the Blood–Brain Barrier". In Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, 155-168. United Kingdom: Elsevier, 2016.
    Published • 10.1016/B978-0-12-800212-4.00015-7
Conference abstract
  1. Sanches, Eliane Swely; Boia, Raquel; Maria H. Madeira; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Baptista, FI; António Francisco Rosa Gomes Ambrósio; Fernandes, Rosa; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins. "Unveilling the impact of methylphenidate misuse on the retina". Paper presented in 54th Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology, 42nd Meeting of Clinical Pharmacology and 23rd Meeting of Toxicology, Lisbon, 2024.
    Published
  2. Nóbrega, Laura; Alves, José Luis; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD; Ricardo A Leitão. Corresponding author: Ricardo A Leitão. "Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in the context of traumatic brain injury: A door to neutrophils transmigration?". Paper presented in 53rd Meeting of the Pharmacology Portuguese Society, Coimbra, 2023.
    Published
  3. Ricardo A Leitão; Alves, José Luis; Ana Luisa Bernardo; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. Corresponding author: Ricardo A Leitão. "Role of neuropeptide Y on neurovascular alterations induced by traumatic brain injury". Paper presented in I International Meeting on the Brain Vasculature, 2022.
    Published
  4. Alves, José Luis; Doutora Ana Paula Silva, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Pinto, Anabela Mota. "Neuropeptide response in traumatic brain injury". Paper presented in 39th Annual Symposium of the National Neurotrauma Society, including the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care, Atlanta, 2022.
    Published
  5. Sanches, Eliane Swely; Boia, Raquel; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Carlos Alberto Fontes Ribeiro; António Francisco Rosa Gomes Ambrósio; Fernandes, Rosa; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins. "Unveilling the effects of Methylphenidate on the retina of control and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder rat models". Paper presented in 52nd Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology, 40th Meeting of Clinical Pharmacology and 21st Meeting of Toxicology, Porto, 2022.
    Published
  6. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Alves, José Luís; Bernardo, Ana Luisa; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Doutora Ana Paula Silva, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra. "Impact of traumatic brain injury on blood–brain barrier properties: role of neuropeptide Y". Paper presented in “Signal Transduction at the Blood–Brain Barriers” published in Fluids and Barriers of the CNS, 2021.
    Published
  7. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Alves, José Luis; Bernardo, Ana Luisa; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A; Silva, Ana Paula. "Impact of traumatic brain injury on astrocytes: role of neuropeptide Y". Paper presented in XIV European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, Porto, 2019.
    Published
  8. RIta Carvalho; Inês Cônde; Liliana Santos; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Célia Gomes; Ana Paula Silva; Joana Paredes; Ana Sofia Ribeiro. "Characterization of the secretome profile in brain metastic breast cancer cells". Paper presented in 2nd joint EACR-MRS conference - Seed and Soil: mechanismsof metastasis, Berlin, 2019.
    Published
  9. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Cardoso, Filipa L.; Magalhães, Ana; Ferreira-Teixeira, Margarida; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Gomes, Célia; Rito, Manuel; et al. "Neurovascular unit alterations triggered by methylphenidate: outcome on memory performance.". Paper presented in 11th FENS 2018 - Forum of European Neuroscience, Berlim, 2018.
    Published
  10. Gonçalves, Joana; Violante, Inês R.; Sereno, José Vitor Oliveira; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Cai, Y; Abrunhosa, Antero; Silva, AP; Silva, AJ; Castelo-Branco, Miguel. "The excitation/inhibition enigma in a mouse model of the autism spectrum disorder: evidence for distinct phenotypes of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex". Paper presented in 11th FENS - Forum of European Neuroscience, Berlin, 2018.
    Published
  11. Joana Gonçalves; Inês R Violante; José Sereno; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Paula Silva; Ying Cai; Antero Abrunhosa; Alcino J Silva; Miguel Castelo-Branco. "Glutamate/GABA- glutamine cycle imbalance in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder: relationship to glial reactivity". Paper presented in Neuroscience 2018, San Diego, 2018.
    Published
  12. Leitão, Ricardo A.; Cardoso, Filipa L.; Coelho-Santos, V.; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Silva, Ana P.. "Neurogliovascular unit dysfunction induced by methamphetamine: protective role of parthenolide.". Paper presented in XIII European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, Edimburgo, 2017.
    Published
  13. Ana Paula Silva; Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Filipa L Cardoso; Ana Magalhães; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Manuel Rito; Marcos Barbosa; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro. "Unravelling the impact of methylphenidate on neurogliovascular function: implications for memory performance". Paper presented in XIIIEuropean Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, Edinburgh, 2017.
    Published
  14. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Cardoso, Filipa L.; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Silva, Ana Paula. "Central effects of chronic methylphenidate treatment in control and hyperactive rats: neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier.". Paper presented in Neuroscience 2016, San Diego, 2016.
    Published
  15. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Cardoso, Filipa L.; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Silva, Ana Paula. "Blood-brain barrier dysfunction induced by chronic methylphenidate treatment: control vs. hyperactive rats". Paper presented in 41st FEBS Congress, Molecular and Systems Biology for a Better Life, Ephesus/Kusadasi, 2016.
    Published
  16. Silva, Ana Paula; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Cardoso, Filipa L.; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Rito, Manuel; Barbosa, Marcos; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.. "Methylphenidate promotes brain endotelial hyperpermeability: in vitro and animal studies.". Paper presented in 10th FENS 2016 - Forum of European Neuroscience, Copenhagen, 2016.
    Published
  17. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Aquaporin 4 is involved in brain edema and blood-brain barrier disruption induced by methamphetamine.". Paper presented in XII European Meeting on Glial Cell Function in Health and Disease, Bilbao, Spain, 2015.
    Published
  18. Gonçalves, Joana; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Ambrosio, Emilio; Silva, Ana Paula. "Methamphetamine self-administration induces blood-brain barrier dysfunction in the rat hippocampus.". Paper presented in 9th IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience, Rio de Janeiro, 2015.
    Published
  19. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Maria Alexandra Brito; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "Role of nuclear factor-kappa B signalling in methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction". Paper presented in 27th ECNP Congress, Berlim, 2014.
    Published
Conference poster
  1. Nóbrega, Laura; Alves, José Luis; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD; Ricardo A Leitão. Corresponding author: Ricardo A Leitão. "Blood-Brain Barrier dysfunction after traumatic brain injury: A clear way for neutrophils transmigration". Paper presented in FENS Featured Regional Meeting, 2023.
  2. Maria Francisca Madeira; Masella, Gianluca; Francisca Silva; Ricardo A Leitão; M Abellán-Álvaro; A Teruel; Agustín-Pavón, Carmen; Monica Santos. "Early-life stress and MeCP2 interaction effects on anxiety neurocircuitry". Paper presented in FENS Featured Regional Meeting, 2023.
  3. Rodrigues, Beatriz; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Santos, Monica; Silva, Mariline; Paulo César Silva Pinheiro; Carvalho, Ana Luisa. "REGULATION OF PFC SYNAPTIC FUNCTION AND BEHAVIOR BY CHRONIC STRESS-INDUCED MICRORNA-186-5P". Paper presented in FENS Regional meeting 2023, 2023.
  4. Sanches, Eliane Swely; Boia, Raquel; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Maria Helena Bica Madeira; Carlos Alberto Fontes Ribeiro; António Francisco Ambrósio; Rosa Cristina S Fernandes; Ana Paula Silva. "A pre-clinical study to analyze the retinal alterations in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the effect of methylphenidate". Paper presented in 5th National Congress of ADHD (5º Congresso Nacional PHDA), 2022.
  5. Sanches, Eliane Swely; Boia, R.; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Maria Helena Bica Madeira; Carlos Alberto Fontes Ribeiro; António Francisco Rosa Gomes Ambrósio; Rosa Cristina S Fernandes; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins. "Retinal alterations in Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and control conditions with(out) methylphenidate treatment". Paper presented in 35th ECNP Congress, 2022.
  6. Sanches, ESAM; Boia, Raquel; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Madeira, Maria; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A; António Francisco Ambrósio; Fernandes, Rosa; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "Retinal physiology and function in control and ADHD conditions with(out) methylphenidate treatment". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  7. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Alves JL; Bernardo AL; Fontes-Ribeiro CA; Silva AP. "Microglial and astrocytic responses after traumatic brain injury: role of neuropeptide Y". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  8. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Alves JL; Bernardo AL; Fontes-Ribeiro CA; Silva AP. "Impact of traumatic brain injury on blood-brain barrier properties: role of neuropeptide Y". Paper presented in Virtual Symposium "Signal Transduction at the Blood-Brain Barriers, 2021.
  9. Liliana Santos; Rita Carvalho; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Sofia Ribeiro; Joana Paredes; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD; Célia Gomes. "The VGF-derived peptide TLQP-21 released by breast cancer cells promotes the loss of brain endothelial cell monolayer integrity". Paper presented in CANCER BIOLOGY: FROM BASIC TO TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH webinar, 2020.
  10. Liliana Santos; Rita Carvalho; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Sofia Ribeiro; Joana Paredes; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD; Célia Gomes. "VGF-secreted peptide derived from brain metastatic breast cancer cells interferes with blood-brain barrier properties". Paper presented in EACR-AACR Basic and Translational Research Conference in partnership with ASPIC, 2020.
  11. Sanches, ESAM; Boia, Raquel; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Martins, Joao; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A; António Francisco Ambrósio; Fernandes, Rosa; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "Impact of Methylphenidate on the Retina in Control and ADHD conditions". Paper presented in SPF Meeting 2020 - Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Portuguese Society of Pharmacology), 2020.
  12. Liliana Santos; RIta Carvalho; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Sofia Ribeiro; Joana Paredes; Ana Paula Silva; Célia Gomes. "VGF-secreted peptidederived from brain metastatic breast cancer cells interferes with blood-brainbarrier properties". Paper presented in EACR-AACR Basic and Translational Research Conference in partnership with ASPIC Tumor Microenvironment, 2020.
  13. Novo, João Pedro; Santos, Liliana; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes Ribeiro CA; Rosa Cristina Simões Fernandes; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins. "Effect of methylphenidate on microglia: an in vitro study". Paper presented in 1st Annual Meeting in Pharmaceutical Sciences,, 2019.
  14. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Alves, José Luis; Bernardo, Ana Luisa; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A; Silva, Ana Paula. "Impact of traumatic brain injury on astrocytes: role of neuropeptide Y". Paper presented in XIV European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, 2019.
  15. Bernardo, Ana Luisa; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Alves, José Luis; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A; Silva, Ana Paula. "Effect of traumatic brain injury in vitro model on astrocytes function: role of neuropeptide Y". Paper presented in IV Symposium PT Glial Network, 2019.
  16. Ana Luisa Bernardo; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; José Luís Alves; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Silva. "Role of neuropeptide Y in astrocytic alterationsinduced by traumatic brain injury: in vitro study". Paper presented in IVPortuguese Glial Networking, Glia Diversity in Neuromodulation and Neurodegeneration., 2019.
  17. Silva, Ana Paula; Madeira, Maria H.; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Boia, Raquel; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Fernandes, Rosa. "An eye on ADHD: Can the retina be used as a diagnostic support tool?". Paper presented in 7th World Congress on ADHD, 2019.
  18. Santos, Liliana; Carvalho, Rita; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Ribeiro, Ana Sofia; Paredes, Joana; Silva, Ana Paula; Gomes, Célia. "Secretome derived from brain metastatic breast cancer cells interferes with blood-brain barrier properties". Paper presented in CIBB Meeting, 2019.
  19. Santos, Liliana; Carvalho, Rita; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Silva, Ana Paula; Gomes, Célia; Paredes, Joana; Ribeiro, Ana Sofia. "Deciphering the specifically enriched signature associated with breast cancer brain metastasis". Paper presented in 2nd Joint EACR-MRS Conference. Seed and Soil-In vivo Models of metastasis, 2019.
  20. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Ventura, Fabiana; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A; Silva, Ana Paula. "Endothelial cell dysfunction induced by methamphetamine: role of neuropeptide Y system". Paper presented in 11th FENS Forum of Neuroscience, 2018.
  21. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Filipa L Cardoso; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Silva. "Early developmental long-lasting exposure to methylphenidate: New insights into attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder". Paper presented in ISDN 2018: 22nd Biennial Meeting of theInternational Society for Developmental Neuroscience, 2018.
  22. Fabiana Ventura; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Silva. "Behavioural alterations and blood-brain barrier dysfunction triggered by methamphetamine: What is the role of neuropeptide Y?". Paper presented in 9th Annual International Medical Students (AIMS)Meeting., 2018.
  23. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Filipa L Cardoso; Ana Magalhães; Margarida Ferreira-Teixeira; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Célia Gomes; Manuel Rito; et al. "Neurogliovascular alterations triggered by early developmental chronic consumption of methylphenidate". Paper presented in Neural Development – EMBO Workshop, 2018.
  24. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre. "Neurogliovascular unit dysfunction induced by methamphetamine: protective role of parthenolide". Paper presented in XIII European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease, 2017.
  25. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Magalhães; Margarida Ferreira-Teixeira; Célia Gomes; Manuel Rito; et al. "Neurogliovascular alterations induced by chronic treatment of methylphenidate: repercussions on memory function". Paper presented in Reactive gliosis - from mechanobiology and signal transduction to molecular targets and disease pathogenesis, 2017.
  26. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "Effects of early developmental chronic exposure to methylphenidate on both brain´s immune privilege and anxiety-like behavior: Control vs ADHD rats". Paper presented in XV Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, Braga, Portugal, 2017.
  27. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Filipa L Cardoso; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Silva. "Brain immune response triggered byearly developmental chronic consumption of methylphenidate: control vs attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder rat model". Paper presented in XXVI AINI Congress and 16th ESNI Course, 2017.
  28. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Magalhães; Margarida Ferreira-Teixeira; Célia Gomes; Manuel Rito; Marcos Barbosa; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Silva. "Neurogliovascular alterations induced by chronic treatment of methylphenidate: repercussions on memory function". Paper presented in Reactive gliosis - from mechanobiology and signaltransduction to molecular targets and disease pathogenesis, 2017.
  29. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Protective effect of parthenolide in methamphetamine-induced neuroinflammation and neurovascular dysfunction.". Paper presented in 10th FENS Forum of Neuroscience, 2016.
  30. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "Impact of methylphenidate chronic treatment in brain immune surveillance and neuroinflammation: control vs hyperactive rats". Paper presented in Society for Neuroscience, 2016.
  31. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "O impacto da administração crónica de metilfenidato na barreira hematoencefálica num modelo animal de hiperatividade". Paper presented in 6º Simpósio de PHDA, 2016.
  32. Gonçalves, Joana; Violante, Inês R.; Sereno, José; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Cai, Yin; Silva, Ana Paula; Silva, Alcino J.; Castelo-Branco, Miguel. "Regional difference in susceptibility to modulation of excitation/inhibition balance and glial function in mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1.". Paper presented in IBILI Meeting 2015, 2015.
  33. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Gonçalves, Joana; Assis, María Amparo; Coria, Santiago M.; Ambrosio, Emilio; Silva, Ana Paula. "Blood-brain barrier dysfunction and neuroinflammation triggered by chronic methamphetamine self-admnistration in rats.". Paper presented in IBILI Meeting 2015, 2015.
  34. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Socodato, Renato; Portugal, Camila; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Rito, Manuel; Barbosa, Marcos; Couraud, Pierre-Olivier; et al. "Unmasking the underlying mechanisms of methylphenidate effects on human brain endothelial cells.". Paper presented in In4Med, Medical and Scientific Meeting (Coimbra, Portugal), 2015.
  35. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Aquaporin 4 is involved in brain edema and blood-brain barrier disruption induced by methamphetamine". Paper presented in XII European Meeting on Glial Cell Function in Health and Disease, 2015.
  36. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier disruption and brain edema: The role of water channel aquaporin-4.". Paper presented in XIV Meeting of Portuguese Society of Neuroscience, 2015.
  37. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Role of aquaporin 4 in methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction and brain edema.". Paper presented in IV In4Med, 2015.
  38. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "Effects of chronic exposure to methylphenidate on behavior and blood-brain barrier function: control vs hyperactive rats". Paper presented in VII Annual Meeting of IBILI, 2015.
  39. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Renato Socodato; Camila C. Portugal; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Manuel Rito; Marcos Barbosa; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; et al. "Methylphenidate activates Src pathway leading to caveolae-mediated transcytosis in human brain endothelial cells". Paper presented in XIV Portuguese Society for Neurosciences, 2015.
  40. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Silva, Ana Paula. "Role of aquaporin-4 in methamphetamine-induced brain edema and blood-brain barrier dysfunction.". Paper presented in Astrocytes in Health and Neurodegenerative Disease. A joint Biochemical Society / British Neuroscience Association Focused Meeting (London, UK), 2014.
  41. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Role of aquaporin-4 in brain edema and blood-brain barrier breakdown induced by methamphetamine.". Paper presented in XVIII Congress of the Portuguese Biochemical Society, 2014.
  42. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction: role of Aquaporin 4.". Paper presented in VI Annual Meeting of IBILI, 2014.
  43. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction: role of Aquaporin 4.". Paper presented in 17th International Symposium on Signal Transduction at the Blood-Brain and Blood-Retina Barriers, 2014.
  44. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Role of brain edema in methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction.". Paper presented in Astrocytes in Health and Neurodegenerative Disease., 2014.
  45. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Cardoso, Filipa L.; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Brito, Maria Alexandra; Silva, Ana Paula. "The role of TNF-alpha in METH-induced barrier dysfunction.". Paper presented in XIII Portuguese Society for Neuroscience (Luso, Portugal), 2013.
  46. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Brito, Maria A; Silva, Ana Paula. "Disfunção da barreira hematoencefálica induzida por metanfetamina (Methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction)". Paper presented in Congresso Nacional de Adictologia - Saúde, Neurociências e Adições, 2013.
  47. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Methamphetamine induces alterations in brain aquaporin 4 expression.". Paper presented in 4th PF2MUC Symposium - Personalized Medicine: myth or reality?, 2013.
  48. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Brito, Maria A; Silva, Ana Paula. "The role of TNF-a in METH-induced barrier dysfunction.". Paper presented in XIII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2013.
  49. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Brito, Maria A; Silva, Ana Paula. "Impact of methamphetamine on the crosstalk between brain endothelial cells and astrocytes: implications for barrier function.". Paper presented in Beating the Blood-Brain & Other Blood Barriers, 2013.
  50. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Maria Alexandra Brito; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "Impact of methamphetamine on the crosstalk between brain endothelial cells and astrocytes: implications for barrier function". Paper presented in Beating the blood brain & other blood barriers, 2013.
  51. Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Cardoso, Filipa Lourenço; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Maria Alexandra Brito; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "The role of TNF-a in METH-induced barrier dysfunction". Paper presented in 13th Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neurosciences, 2013.
  52. Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD; Vanessa Coelho-Santos; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro. "Methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction: role of TNF-a". Paper presented in FENS Featured Regional Meeting, 2013.
  53. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Silva, Ana Paula. "Methamphetamine induces alterations in brain aquaporin 4 expression.". Paper presented in IV Annual Meeting of IBILI, 2012.
  54. Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Vitor Pinheiro; Sofia Baptista; Joana Gonçalves; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Martins, PhD. "Acute physical exercise and blood-brain barrier permeability". Paper presented in 17th Annual ECSS Congress, 2012.
  55. Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro; Vitor Pinheiro; Sofia Baptista; Joana Gonçalves; Ricardo Alexandre Leitão; Ana Paula Silva. "Acute physical exercise and blood­-brain barrier permeability.". Paper presented in 17th Annual ECSS Congress, 2012.
Journal article
  1. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Alves, José Luis; Ana Luisa Bernardo; Ana Paula Silva. "Beneficial effect of intranasally neuropeptide Y administration against traumatic brain injury outcomes: a two-sided story". (2025):
    Submitted
  2. Rodrigues, Beatriz; Ricardo A Leitão; Santos, Mónica; Trofimov, Alexander; Silva, Mariline; Inácio, Ângela S.; Abreu, Mónica; et al. "MiR-186-5p inhibition restores synaptic transmission and neuronal network activity in a model of chronic stress". Molecular Psychiatry (2024): http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41380-024-02715-1.
    Published • 10.1038/s41380-024-02715-1
  3. Carvalho, Rita; Santos, Liliana; Conde, Inês; Ricardo A Leitão; Ferreira, Hugo RS; Gomes, Célia; Silva, Ana Paula; et al. Corresponding author: Ribeiro, Ana Sofia. "Nerve growth factor inducible (VGF) is a secreted mediator for metastatic breast cancer tropism to the brain". The Journal of Pathology 264 2 (2024): 132-147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/path.6319.
    Published • 10.1002/path.6319
  4. Novo, João P.; Muga, Mariana; Lourenço, Teresa; Sanches, Eliane S.; Ricardo A Leitão; Silva, Ana Paula. "Dichotomous effect of methylphenidate on microglia and astrocytes: Insights from in vitro and animal studies". Toxicology Letters 389 (2023): 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2023.10.008.
    Published • 10.1016/j.toxlet.2023.10.008
  5. Sanches, Eliane S.; Boia, Raquel; Leitão, Ricardo A.; Madeira, Maria H.; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Ambrósio, António Francisco; Fernandes, Rosa; Silva, Ana Paula. "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Animal Model Presents Retinal Alterations and Methylphenidate Has a Differential Effect in ADHD versus Control Conditions". Antioxidants 12 4 (2023): 937. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antiox12040937.
    Published • 10.3390/antiox12040937
  6. Ricardo A Leitão; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Silva, Ana Paula. Corresponding author: Silva, Ana Paula. "The effect of parthenolide on methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier and astrocyte alterations". European Journal of Clinical Investigation 52 4 (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eci.13694.
    Published • 10.1111/eci.13694
  7. Ventura, Fabiana; Muga, Mariana; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Leitão, Ricardo A.; Silva, Ana Paula. "Protective effect of neuropeptide Y2 receptor activation against methamphetamine-induced brain endothelial cell alterations". Toxicology Letters 334 (2020): 53-59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.09.013.
    10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.09.013
  8. Alves, José Luís; Mendes, João; Leitão, Ricardo; Silva, Ana Paula; Pinto, Anabela Mota. "A multi-staged neuropeptide response to traumatic brain injury". European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (2020): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00068-020-01431-z.
    Published • 10.1007/s00068-020-01431-z
  9. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Cardoso, Filipa L.; Magalhães, Ana; Ferreira-Teixeira, Margarida; Leitão, Ricardo A.; Gomes, Célia; Rito, Manuel; et al. "Effect of chronic methylphenidate treatment on hippocampal neurovascular unit and memory performance in late adolescent rats". European Neuropsychopharmacology 29 2 (2019): 195-210. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.12.007.
    Published • 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2018.12.007
  10. de Aquino, Cristhyane C.; Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Oliveira Alves, Luís A; Coelho-Santos, V.; Guerrant, Richard L.; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Malva, João O.; Silva, Ana P.; Oriá, Reinaldo B.. "Effect of Hypoproteic and High-Fat Diets on Hippocampal Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability and Oxidative Stress". Frontiers in Nutrition 5 131 (2019): https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnut.2018.00131.
    Open access • Published • 10.3389/fnut.2018.00131
  11. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Cardoso, Filipa L.; Leitão, Ricardo A.; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A.; Silva, Ana Paula. "Impact of developmental exposure to methylphenidate on rat brain’s immune privilege and behavior: Control versus ADHD model". Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 68 (2018): 169-182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2017.10.016.
    Published • 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.10.016
  12. Gonçalves, Joana; Violante, Inês R.; Sereno, José; Leitão, Ricardo A.; Cai, Ying; Abrunhosa, Antero; Silva, Ana Paula; Silva, Alcino J.; Castelo-Branco, Miguel. "Testing the excitation/inhibition imbalance hypothesis in a mouse model of the autism spectrum disorder: in vivo neurospectroscopy and molecular evidence for regional phenotypes". Molecular Autism 8 1 (2017): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-017-0166-4.
    Published • 10.1186/s13229-017-0166-4
  13. Gonçalves, Joana; Leitão, Ricardo A.; Higuera-Matas, Alejandro; Assis, María Amparo; Coria, Santiago M.; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Ambrosio, Emilio; Silva, Ana Paula. "Extended-access methamphetamine self-administration elicits neuroinflammatory response along with blood-brain barrier breakdown". Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 62 (2017): 306-317. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2017.02.017.
    Published • 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.02.017
  14. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Sereno, José; Castelhano, João Miguel; Gonçalves, Sónia Isabel; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos; Castelo-Branco, Miguel; Silva, Ana Paula. "Aquaporin-4 as a New Target against Methamphetamine-Induced Brain Alterations: Focus on the Neurogliovascular Unit and Motivational Behavior". Molecular Neurobiology 55 3 (2017): 2056-2069. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12035-017-0439-0.
    Published • 10.1007/s12035-017-0439-0
  15. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Socodato, Renato; Portugal, Camila; Leitão, Ricardo A; Rito, Manuel; Barbosa, Marcos; Couraud, Pierre-Olivier; et al. "Methylphenidate-triggered ROS generation promotes caveolae-mediated transcytosis via Rac1 signaling and c-Src-dependent caveolin-1 phosphorylation in human brain endothelial cells". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 73 24 (2016): 4701-4716.
    Published • 10.1007/s00018-016-2301-3
  16. Coelho-Santos, V.; Leitão, R.A.; Cardoso, F.L.; Palmela, I.; Rito, M.; Barbosa, M.; Brito, M.A.; Fontes-Ribeiro, C.A.; Silva, A.P.. "Erratum: The TNF-a/NF-¿B signaling pathway has a key role in methamphetamine'induced blood'brain barrier dysfunction (Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism (2015) 35 (1260-1271))". Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 36 2 (2016): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84961296009&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1177/0271678X15619790
  17. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Silva, Ana Paula. "Psychostimulants and brain edema". Research & Networks in Health 1 1 (2015): https://journals.ipleiria.pt/index.php/rnhealth/article/view/60.
    Published
  18. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Leitão, Ricardo A; Cardoso, Filipa L; Palmela, Inês; Rito, Manuel; Barbosa, Marcos; Brito, Maria A; Fontes-Ribeiro, Carlos A; Silva, Ana P. "The TNF-a/Nf-kB Signaling Pathway has a Key Role in Methamphetamine–Induced Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction". Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism 35 8 (2015): 1260-1271. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jcbfm.2015.59.
    10.1038/jcbfm.2015.59
  19. Coelho-Santos, Vanessa; Leitão, R.A.; Cardoso, F.L.; Palmela, I.; Rito, M.; Barbosa, M.; Brito, M.A.; Fontes-Ribeiro, C.; Silva, A.P.. "P.6.c.001 Role of nuclear factor-kappa B signalling in methamphetamine-induced blood–brain barrier dysfunction". European Neuropsychopharmacology 24 (2014): S675. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0924-977x(14)71087-9.
    Published • 10.1016/s0924-977x(14)71087-9
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre Gomes. "Role of aquaporin-4 in methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction and cerebral edema formation". PhD, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/40920.
  2. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre Gomes. "Impact of methamphetamine on astrocytes and endothelial cells : role of aquaporin-4". Master, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/26093.

Other

Technical standard
  1. Mice model of chronic unpredictable stress. chronic model of stress that induced anxiety, depression and cognitive impairments. 2023. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Rodrigues, Beatriz.
  2. Implementation of a model of primary cultures of rodent (rat and mice) brain astrocytes. 2018. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Doutora Ana Paula Silva, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra.
  3. Methodologies to quantify cell morphology alterations. 2018. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre.
    10.1016j.bbi.2017.10.016
  4. Animal model of traumatic brain injury (TBI; closed head weight-drop model). Mimics the outcomes observed in blunts, falls or car accidents (represents 75% of all TBI clinical admissions). This model has also been used in a PhD thesis (Faculty of Medicine, Univ of Coimbra).. 2018. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Alves, José Luis.
  5. Primary cultures of human brain endothelial cells. 2015. Leitão, Ricardo Alexandre; Coelho-Santos, Vanessa ; Doutora Ana Paula Silva, IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra.
    10.1038jcbfm.2015.59
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2023/02/01 Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in the context of traumatic brain injury: a door to neutrophils transmigration? 53rd Meeting of the Pharmacology Portuguese Society
(Coimbra, Portugal)
2023/01/18 Traumatic brain injury: a vascular point of view DCV Talks
Universidade de Coimbra, Departamento de Ciências da Vida (Coimbra, Portugal)
2022/02/09 Unveilling the effects of Methylphenidate on the retina of Control and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorer rat models SPF Meeting 2022 - Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Portuguese Society of Pharmacology)
(Porto)
2021/02/17 Impact of Methylphenidate on the retina in control and ADHD conditions SPF Meeting 2021 - Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Portuguese Society of Pharmacology)
(Lisboa, Portugal)
2020/02 Impact of traumatic brain injury on astrocytes: role of neuropeptide Y L Meeting of Portuguese Society of Pharmacology, XXXVIII Meeting of Clinical Pharmacology, XIX Meeting of Toxicology
Portuguese Society of Pharmacology (Portugal)
2019/05/10 Neurovascular alterations induced by methylphenidate: attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder versus control 1st Retreat of CIBB
(Miranda do Corvo, Portugal)
2018/05 De olho na PHDA: pode a retina servir de apoio ao diagnóstico? (Keeping an eye on ADHD: can the retina support the diagnosis?) 1º Congresso Nacional de PHDA
(Coimbra, Portugal)
2018/02 Parthenolide as a new protective approach against neurovascular unit dysfunction induced by methamphetamine XLVIII Meeting of Portuguese Society of Pharmacology
Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Lisboa, Portugal)
2017 Can parthenolide prevent methamphetamine-induced neurovascular dysfunction? XLVII Meeting of Portuguese Society of Pharmacology
Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Coimbra, Portugal)
2017 Brain immune response triggered by early developmental chronic consumption of methylphenidate: control vs attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder rat model 16th European School of Neuroimmunology (ESNI) and XXVI Congress of Italian Association of Neuroimmunology (AINI)
Italian Association of Neuroimmunology (Italy)
2017 Impact of chronic methylphenidate administration in rat brain immune surveillance: control versus ADHD XLVII Meeting of Portuguese Society of Pharmacology, XXXV Meeting of Clinical Pharmacology and XVI Meeting of Toxicology
Portuguese Society of Pharmacology (Portugal)
2017 Role of moderate and intense exercise on blood-brain barrier properties 10th European Congress of EFSMA
(Cascais, Portugal)
2015 Blood-brain barrier dysfunction and neuroinflammation triggered by chronic methamphetamine self-administration in rats VII Annual Meeting of IBILI
Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (Coimbra, Portugal)
2015 Methamphetamine induces brain edema and blood-brain barrier disruption by aquaporin 4 via protein kinase C pathway. XLV Meeting of Portuguese Society of Pharmacology
Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Lisboa, Portugal)
2014 Brain edema and blood-brain barrier breakdown induced by methamphetamine: role of aquaporin 4 “Cellular Biology of Addiction” Summer Course
University Pompeu Fabra, Spain, partnered with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA (Barcelona, Spain)
2014 Methamphetamine induces alterations in brain water homeostasis: role of aquaporin 4. XLIV Meeting of Portuguese Society of Pharmacology
Sociedade Portuguesa de Farmacologia (Coimbra, Portugal)
2013 Methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction: role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha. V Annual Meeting of IBILI
Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (Coimbra, Portugal)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role 		Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2024/09 - Current Unraveling the Link Between Monocytes Infiltration into the Brain and Methamphetamine Addiction
Co-supervisor
 MSc Biomedical Research (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal

CNC.IBILI, Portugal
2024/02/05 - Current Final Traineeship entitled: Study the intracellualr mechanisms behind the transmigration of neutrophils through Blood-Brain Barrier in a context of Traumatic Brain Injury
Supervisor
 BSc in Biomedical Engineering (Degree)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

CNC.IBILI, Portugal
2024/02/05 - Current Final Traineeship entitled: Analysis of transcriptomic data from pre-frontal cortex brain samples of chronic stress-exposed animals
Supervisor
 BSc in Biomedical Engineering (Degree)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2023/10 - Current Do Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Have a Melanocortin Receptor 4 Expression that Predicts Mortality and Neuropsychological Dysfunction?
Co-supervisor
 Doctoral Programme in Health Sciences (PhD)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2023/09 - Current Regulation of prefrontal cortical synaptic function and behavior by chronic stress-induced microRNA-186-5p upregulation
Co-supervisor
 Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (PhD)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2023/02/01 - Current Deep Learning for animal behavior analysis in psychiatry disorders
Co-supervisor
 Bachelor in Biomedical Engineering (Degree)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
2023/09 - 2024/09 Exploring the Role of CCR5 in Methamphetamine-Induced Neurovascular Alterations
Co-supervisor
 MSc in Biomedical Research (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2022/09/01 - 2023/10/31 Crosstalk between neutrophils and endothelial cells in a context of traumatic brain injury: Role of CXCL8-CXCR2 axis
Supervisor of Laura Nóbrega
 Master in Biomedical Research (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal

CNC.IBILI, Portugal
2018/09 - 2019/07 Traumatic brain injury impact on astrocytes-endothelial cells crosstalk: Role of Neuropeptide Y
Co-supervisor
 Master in Biomedical Research (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2021/11/01 - 2021/12/03 Member of Organization of “XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience” (2021/12/01 - 2021/12/03)
Congress (Member of the Organising Committee)
 Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências, Portugal
2019/02 - 2019/03 Participation in scientific divulgation related activities, as part of the Program “Brain Awareness Week” with kindergarten children (2019/03)
Exhibition (Member of the Scientific Committee)
2018/10 - 2018/11 Participation in scientific divulgation related activities, as part of the “Semana C&T 2018”, with visits to kindergarten and high-school students visiting the labs (2018/11)
Exhibition (Member of the Scientific Committee)
2018/08 - 2018/09 Participation in activities (Guerra das Cores) as part of the European Researchers’ Night, Botanical Garden, University of Coimbra (2018/09/29)
Meeting
2018/02 - 2018/04 Participation in scientific divulgation related activities, as part of the Program “Brain Awareness Week” (2018/03 - 2018/04)
Exhibition (Member of the Scientific Committee)
2017/08 - 2017/09 Participation in activities (Uma Noite com Sentidos) as part of the European Researchers’ Night, Science Museum of the University of Coimbra (2017/09/26)
Meeting (Member of the Organising Committee)
2017/01 - 2017/02 Organization of “XLVII Annual Meeting of Portuguese Society of Pharmacology” (2017/02/02 - 2017/02/04)
Meeting (Member of the Organising Committee)
2016/02 - 2016/03 Participation in scientific divulgation related activities, as part of the Program “Brain Awareness Week” (2016/03 - 2016/03)
Exhibition (Member of the Scientific Committee)
2015/02 - 2015/03 Participation in scientific divulgation related activities, as part of the Program “Brain Awareness Week” (2015/03 - 2015/03)
Exhibition (Member of the Organising Committee)
2014/10 - 2014/11 Participation in scientific activity "Vem Fazer Muita Ciência (Vem à FMUC)"-Semana C&T2014 (2014/11/24)
Exhibition (Member of the Scientific Committee)
2014/02 - 2014/03 Participation in scientific divulgation activity as part of the Program “Brain Awareness Week (2014/03/11)
Exhibition (Member of the Organising Committee)

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2013 - Current Participation in scientific divulgation related activities, as part of the Program “Brain Awareness Week”
Other
 Brain Awareness Week
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2015 - 2016 International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA) program that allows medical students from all over the world discover new realities and new MD schools. Further, it shows them how science is made in a country different from their own
Workshop
International Federation of Medical Students' Associations, Netherlands

Jury of academic degree

Topic
Role 		Candidate name (Type of degree)
Institution / Organization
2024/10 Unravelling the Effects of Osteosarcoma-Derived Secretome in Cardiac Endothelial Cell Dysfunction
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Nuno Miguel Martins de Aquino (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2024/07 Interindividual Differences in Nicotine Vulnerability
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Luke Charles Westlake (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2024/07 Unraveling Neurovascular Dysfunction in Machado-Joseph Disease: Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as a Promising Therapy
Thesis Member
 Maria Inês Veiga de Almeida Barros (PhD)
Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, Portugal
2024/06 The effects of early-life stress and MeCP2 interaction on neurobehavior
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Carolina Oliveira Silva (Other)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2024/02 Unravel the Role of Pericytes in Endothelial Cell Dysfunction Induced by Brain Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Maria Eduarda Fernandes Lopes (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2015 - Current International Society of Neurochemistry
2015 - Current FENS (Federation of European Neuroscience Societies)
2014 - Current British Biochemical Society
2013 - Current Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências (SPN)
2008 - 2010 Nucleo Estudantes Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade do Algarve

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2024/05 - 2024/05 Practical Classes of Methods and Techniques in Molecular Biology, from BSc of Biology Biology (Licenciatura) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
2021/12/18 - 2021/12/18 Collaborator as a lecturer in the advanced course “Psychotic Disorders and Addiction”, under the theme “Neurobiology of Addiction”, of the Master’s in Applied Pharmacology Psychotic Disorders and Addiction (Mestrado) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2021/04/15 - 2021/04/15 Collaborator as a lecturer in the advanced course “Cerebral-Vascular Diseases and Epilepsy”, under the theme “Pathological mechanisms in Stroke”, of the Master’s in Molecular and Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra Cerebral-Vascular Diseases and Epilepsy (Mestrado) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2013/01 - 2013/06 Practical classes of Master of Experimental Pathology (Outros) Instituto Biomédico de Investigação em Luz e Imagem, Portugal

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

Activity description Newspaper / Forum
2022/10 Newsletter from Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, focused on internal dissemination of the ongoing research projects VoiceMed newsletter: Isto e FMUC
2022/10 The regional journal made a headline described a FCT funded project, from which I am the PI Jornal As Beiras
2022/10 One of the biggest online journals in Portugal write a text in the subsection of science describing the FCT-funded project that aims to uncover new therapeutic targets to treat traumatic brain injury, and from which I am the PI. Observador

Journal scientific committee

Journal title (ISSN) Publisher
2024/07 - Current Scientific Reports
2024/07 - Current Cell Biology and Toxicology
2023/11 - Current Journal of Molecular Neurobiology
2023/08 - Current Journal of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
2023/03 - Current Journal of Neuroinflammation
2023/02 - Current Neuroscience
2023/01 - Current BMC Psychiatry
2022/02 - Current Journal of Neural transmission
2021/01 - Current Frontiers in Pharmacology
2020/09 - Current Metabolic Brain Disease
2020/02 - Current Neurotoxicology
2020/01 - Current Frontiers in Neuroscience
2018/11 - Current Neuroscience (0306-4522) Elsevier
2018 - Current Journal of Neurochemistry (1471-4159) Wiley (Blackwell Publishing)

Mentoring / Tutoring

Topic Student name
2020/01 - Current Laboratory Supervision of a PhD Student Eliane Swely Amador Monteiro Sanches
2021/02 - 2021/07 Laboratory Supervision of BSc final traineeship Amélia Ormonde
2021/01 - 2021/07 Laboratory Supervision of BSc final traineeship Beatriz Marques
2018/01 - 2021/07 Laboratory Supervision of a PhD thesis José Luis Alves
2020/07/01 - 2021/02/28 Laboratory Supervision of BSc final traineeship from University of Utrecht Dunya Selemangel
2019/09 - 2020/09 Laboratory Supervision of a Master thesis Mariana Muga
2020/01 - 2020/07 Laboratory Supervision of BSc final traineeships Leandro Várzeas
2018/09 - 2019/07 Laboratory Supervision of a Master thesis João Novo
2017 - 2018 Laboratory Supervision of a Master thesis Fabiana Ventura
2016/09 - 2017/08 Laboratory Supervision of a master thesis Teresa Lourenço
2016/04 - 2016/11 Laboratory Supervision of a PhD thesis Cristhyane Costa de Aquino
2015 - 2016 Laboratory Supervision of a Master thesis Vitor Pinheiro
2015 - 2015 Laboratory Supervision of BSc final traineeships Ana Rita Mendes
2015 - 2015 Laboratory Supervision of BSc final traineeships Rute Gonçalves
2012 - 2013 Laboratory Supervision of a Master thesis Tânia Capelôa