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D Serra received her PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, speciality in Biochemistry, from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC), in April 2016. During her PhD, she gathered important data regarding the biochemical mechanisms involved in gut inflammation and investigated the potential of natural compounds (polyphenols), abundant in red fruits, to act as novel therapeutic agents against Inflammatory Bowel Disease. In September 2018, D Serra as a hired Doctorate Researcher of the Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra (CNC), in the scope of a FCT financed ID project, investigated the mechanisms underlying microbiota-gut-brain communication in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and explored the potential of a polyphenolic extract to reduce neuroinflammation, typical of ASD patients, using an in vitro model of neuroinflammation, and to attenuate autistic-like behaviours in a mouse model of ASD, by modulation of microbiota-gut-brain axis. With a Scopus H-INDEX of 10 and 389 total citations, D Serra published 12 articles in international journals, among which she was the first author or the corresponding author in 11 of them. She is also the author of 1 book chapter, 11 poster communications, 3 oral communications at scientific meetings and she has been several times distinguished with national and international awards. It is important to highlight that D Serra has been invited to review various research articles submitted in journals of great impact, such as Scientific reports, Frontiers in Physiology, Frontiers in Medicine and Pharmacological Research. On the other hand, from 2015 to 2018, D Serra was involved in teaching activities in the FFUC, firstly as invited teaching assistant and, since 2016, as invited assistant professor. From September 2018 to August 2021, D Serra has been exclusively dedicated to research strand and, in September 2021, D Serra was hired as an assistant professor in Vasco da Gama University School (EUVG) and, since then, she is an integrated researcher in Vasco da Gama Research Center (CIVG) and a collaborator researcher in CNC. D Serra has already supervised 6 integrated master's degree students and she has been invited to participate, as main arguer, in several academic degree juries in FFUC.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Diana Jurado Santos Serra

Citation names

  • Serra D.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
9512-A1F7-A4B9
ORCID iD
0000-0002-5965-0281

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Neurosciences

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Intermediate (B1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Intermediate (B1)
Spanish; Castilian Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1)
French Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1)
Education
Degree Classification
2011/01 - 2016/04
Concluded
 Doutoramento em Ciências Farmacêuticas (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
"Modulation of intestinal inflammation by dietary polyphenols in comparison with 5-aminosalicylic acid: an in vitro approach" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 Louvor e distinção
2005 - 2010
Concluded
 Mestrado Integrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
"Relatório de estágio curricular e monografia intitulada: Esclerose Múltipla" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 16
Affiliation

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2021/09/01 - Current Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, Portugal
2016/09 - 2018 Invited Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2015/05 - 2016 Invited Assistant (University Teacher) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2018/09/03 - Current Doctorate Researcher CNC.IBILI, Portugal
2011/04/01 - 2015/04/01 Ph.D. fellow Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2018/09 - 2021/08 Role of anthocyanins from Portuguese blueberries on gut-to-brain connection in autism spectrum disorder by using in vitro and in vivo models
POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029089
Post-doc
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2017/01 - 2017/12 Tackling Alzheimer's disease with a new peptide inhibitor of BACE1
PTDC/NEU-SCC/1351/2012
Post-doc
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2011/04 - 2015/08 Modulation of intestinal inflammation by polyphenols
PTDC/SAU-OSM/102907/2008
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Book
  1. Serra, D.; Almeida, L.M.; Dinis, T.C.P.. Polyphenols in the management of brain disorders: Modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. 2019.
    10.1016/bs.afnr.2019.08.001
Conference abstract
  1. "Resveratrol counteracts inflammation more effciently than the drug 5-aminosalicylic acid in cytokine-stimulated human intestinal cells". Paper presented in 19th Biennial Meeting of SFFRI, Lisbon, 2018.
    Published
  2. Serra D.; Paixão, J.; Nunes, C.; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "The mechanisms behind the inhibition of cytokine-induced inflammatory response by Cyanidin 3-Glucoside and Resveratrol in human intestinal cells: comparison with 5-ASA". Paper presented in SFRR-Europe 2013 Conference, Atenas, 2013.
    Published • 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2013.08.147
  3. Serra D.; Paixão, Joana; Nunes, Carla; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "Cyanidin-3-glucoside suppresses cytokine-induced inflammatory response in human intestinal cells: comparison with 5-aminosalicylic acid". Paper presented in 16th Biennial Meeting of SFFRI, Londres, 2012.
    Published • 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.08.358
Conference poster
  1. Serra, Diana; Joana Henriques; Sousa, Fábio J.; Laranjo, Mariana; Resende, Rosa; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Freitas, Victor; et al. "AN ANTHOCYANIN-RICH EXTRACT FROM PORTUGUESE BLUEBERRIES AS A NOVEL STRATEGY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: AN IN VIVO MODEL". Paper presented in 4th International Conference on Food Bioactives and Health, 2023.
  2. "A blueberry anthocyanin extract still reduces microglial activation after simulated digestion.". Paper presented in 20th Biennial Meeting of SFRRI, 2021.
  3. "The beneficial effect of an anthocyanin-rich extract from Portuguese blueberries on behavioral, molecular and cellular alterations in prenatal valproic acid-induced mice model of autism". Paper presented in 20th Biennial Meeting of SFRRI, 2021.
  4. "Resveratrol counteracts inflammation more efficiently than the drug 5-aminosalicylic acid in cytokine-stimulated human intestinal cells". Paper presented in 19th Biennial Meeting of SFFRI, 2018.
  5. "The potential of cyanidin-3-glucoside and an anthocyanin-rich extract obtained from Portuguese blueberries in counteracting intestinal inflammation and neuroinflammation". Paper presented in 2nd Conference on Food Bioactives and Health, 2018.
  6. Serra D.; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "Resveratrol activates Nrf2 pathway in cytokine-stimulated human intestinal cells: comparison with 5-aminosalicylic acid". Paper presented in OCC 2015 World Congress of Oxidants and Antioxidants in Biology, Valencia, Espanha, 2015.
  7. Serra D.; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "New insights into the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory and the antioxidant activities of Cyanidin-3-Glucoside in cytokine-exposed human intestinal cells: comparison with 5-ASA". 2014.
  8. Serra D.; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "Cyanidin 3-glucoside and Resveratrol modulate JAK/STAT pathway in cytokine-treated intestinal cells: comparison with 5-aminosalicylic acid". Paper presented in XVIII Congresso da Sociedade Portuguesa de Bioquímica, Coimbra, 2014.
  9. Serra D.; Paixão, Joana; Nunes, Carla; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "Study on the potential anti-inflammatory properties of Cyanidin 3-Glucoside on the inhibition of cytokine-induced inflammatory response in human intestinal cells". 2013.
  10. Serra D.; Paixão, Joana; Nunes, Carla; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "Cyanidin-3-glucoside inhibits pro-inflammatory mediators expression in human intestinal cells by down-regulating STAT1 activation: a comparative study with 5-aminosalicylic acid". 2013.
  11. Serra D.; Paixão, Joana; Nunes, Carla; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "Cyanidin-3-glucoside suppresses cytokine-induced inflammatory response in human intestinal cells: comparison with 5-aminosalicylic acid". 2012.
  12. Serra D.; Paixão, Joana; Nunes, Carla; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "A Comparative study of Cyanidin-3-glucoside and 5-ASA as suppressors of cytokine-induced inflammatory response in human intestinal cells". 2012.
Journal article
  1. Diana Serra; Joana F. Henriques; Fábio J. Sousa; Mariana Laranjo; Rosa Resende; Marisa Ferreira-Marques; Victor de Freitas; et al. "Attenuation of Autism-like Behaviors by an Anthocyanin-Rich Extract from Portuguese Blueberries via Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis Modulation in a Valproic Acid Mouse Model". International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2022): https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169259.
    10.3390/ijms23169259
  2. Diana Serra; Joana F. Henriques; Teresa Serra; Andreia Bento Silva; Maria Rosário Bronze; Teresa C. P. Dinis; Leonor M. Almeida. "An Anthocyanin-Rich Extract Obtained from Portuguese Blueberries Maintains Its Efficacy in Reducing Microglia-Driven Neuroinflammation after Simulated Digestion". Nutrients (2020): https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123670.
    10.3390/nu12123670
  3. Joana F. Henriques; Diana Serra; Teresa C. P. Dinis; Leonor M. Almeida. "The Anti-Neuroinflammatory Role of Anthocyanins and Their Metabolites for the Prevention and Treatment of Brain Disorders". International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2020): https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21228653.
    10.3390/ijms21228653
  4. Diana Serra; Leonor M. Almeida; Teresa C. P. Dinis. "The Impact of Chronic Intestinal Inflammation on Brain Disorders: the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis". Molecular Neurobiology 56 10 (2019): 6941-6951. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-019-1572-8.
    10.1007/s12035-019-1572-8
  5. Serra, Diana. "Polyphenols as food bioactive compounds in the context of Autism Spectrum Disorders: a critical mini-review". (2019): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.010.
    10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.010
  6. Serra, D.; Almeida, L.M.; Dinis, T.C.P.. "Dietary polyphenols: A novel strategy to modulate microbiota-gut-brain axis". Trends in Food Science and Technology 78 (2018): 224-233. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85048731924&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1016/j.tifs.2018.06.007
  7. Serra, Diana; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C.P.. "Anti-inflammatory protection afforded by cyanidin-3-glucoside and resveratrol in human intestinal cells via Nrf2 and PPAR-¿: Comparison with 5-aminosalicylic acid". Chemico-Biological Interactions 260 - (2016): 102-109.
    Published • 10.1016/j.cbi.2016.11.003
  8. Nunes, C.; Teixeira, N.; Serra, D.; Freitas, V.; Almeida, L.; Laranjinha, J.. "Red wine polyphenol extract efficiently protects intestinal epithelial cells from inflammation via opposite modulation of JAK/STAT and Nrf2 pathways". Toxicology Research 5 1 (2015): 53-65. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84951861397&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1039/c5tx00214a
  9. Serra, Diana; Rufino, Ana T.; Mendes, Alexandrina F.; Almeida, Leonor M.; Dinis, Teresa C. P.. "Resveratrol Modulates Cytokine-Induced JAK/STAT Activation More Efficiently than 5-Aminosalicylic Acid: An In Vitro Approach". PLoS ONE 9 10 (2014): e109048-e109048.
    Published • 10.1371/journal.pone.0109048
  10. Serra, Diana; Paixão, Joana; Nunes, Carla; Dinis, Teresa C. P.; Almeida, Leonor M.. "Cyanidin-3-Glucoside Suppresses Cytokine-Induced Inflammatory Response in Human Intestinal Cells: Comparison with 5-Aminosalicylic Acid". PLoS ONE 8 9 (2013): e73001-e73001.
    Published • 10.1371/journal.pone.0073001
  11. Cavaleiro, Carlos; Gonçalves, Maria José; Serra, Diana; Santoro, Giani; Tomi, Felix; Bighelli, Ange; Salgueiro, Ligia; Casanova, Joseph. "Composition of a volatile extract of Eryngium duriaei subsp. juresianum (M. Laínz) M. Laínz, signalised by the antifungal activity". Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 54 3 (2011): 619-622.
    Published • 10.1016/j.jpba.2010.09.039
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2014 Polyphenols & Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: anti-inflammatory mechanism of Cyanidin-3-Glucoside and Resveratrol in the context of Inflammatory Bowel Disease 8th edition of ISANH Polyphenols World Congress
International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health (ISANH) (Lisboa, Portugal)
2013 The mechanisms behind the inhibition of cytokine-induced inflammatory response by Cyanidin 3-Glucoside and Resveratrol in human intestinal cells: comparison with 5-ASA The new era of -omics in Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine; SFRR-Europe 2013 Conference
SFRR-Europe (Atenas, Greece)
2013 Anti-inflammatory effect of Cyanidin 3-Glucoside and Resveratrol in human intestinal cells: comparison with 5-ASA XI CNC Annual Meeting
Center for Neuroscience and Cell biology (Cantanhede, Portugal)

Jury of academic degree

Topic
Role 		Candidate name (Type of degree)
Institution / Organization
2021/11/11 The therapeutic potential of Psychoplastogens
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Carolina Santos Vinagre (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2020/10/07 O regime alimentar vegan e a saúde: impacto na microbiota intestinal humana e protecção contra a doença
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Rita Castanheira Simões (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2019/09/19 Depressão e interconexão microbioma-intestino-cérebro
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Catarina Cruz Silva (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2018/09/20 Doenças inflamatórias intestinais: qual a importância da microbiota?
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Júlia Micaela Pereira da Silva Albuquerque (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2018/07/27 O stresse oxidativo como estratégia terapêutica anticancerígena
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Tânia Luís João (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2017/10/04 Os tecidos adiposos castanho e bege: potenciais alvos terapêuticos para a obesidade
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Pedro do Couto Gonçalves (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2017/09/29 Recentes avanços nos sistemas de entrega de nanofármacos no contexto da Doença Inflamatória Intestinal
Supervisor
 Marina Albino Costa (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2017/09/29 Estratégias farmacológicas da Doença de Alzheimer: progressos e desafios futuros
(Thesis) Main arguer
 André Joaquim Constante Lourenço (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2017/09/28 Doença Celíaca: da etiologia ao tratamento
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Raquel Sofia da Costa Leitão (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2017/09/25 Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity and coeliac disease: analysis of a Portuguese population
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Joana Clímaco Henggelar Antunes (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2017/07/28 Doença celíaca - novas abordagens terapêuticas
Supervisor
 Patrícia Mendes Ramos (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2017/07/25 Influência da Microbiota Intestinal nas Perturbações do Espectro do Autismo
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Raquel Araújo Soares (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2017/07/21 Doença Inflamatória Intestinal: os polifenóis como terapia alternativa
Supervisor
 Joana Rita Patrão Silva Zagalo (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2016/09/30 A importância da microbiota intestinal na Doença Inflamatória Intestinal
Supervisor
 Francisco Gonçalo Simões Baptista (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2016/09/29 O microbioma intestinal humano e as suas implicações na saúde
(Thesis) Main arguer
 Sílvia Raquel França Gonçalves (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2016/07/27 Psoríase: abordagens terapêuticas e perspetivas futuras
Supervisor
 Teresa Nunes de Moura Pinheiro de Magalhães (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2016/07/27 Novas abordagens terapêuticas na Doença Celíaca
Supervisor
 Madalena de Oliveira Duarte (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2011 - Current Society for Free Radical Research Europe (SFRR Europe)
Distinctions

Award

2018 Poster award
MDPI AG, Switzerland

Other distinction

2017 Bolsa Edgar Cruz e Silva
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, Portugal
2012 SFRRI 2012 Young Investigator Award
Society for Free Radical Research, Portugal