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Alexandre Neto is currently a PhD student at the CNS, Blood, and Peripheral Inflammation Lab, headed by Professor Adelaide Fernandes, based on iMed.ULisboa - Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon. Alexandre's research journey began with a profound interest in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and during his master's studies was able to work on 3 different projects. He started to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of blueberry leaves to lessen MS-associated inflammation in a mouse model of MS. Afterwards, in a different project, he used in vitro methods to modulate mechanical cues of oligodendrocytes, one of the main affected cells in MS. In the next year during his master’s thesis, he was focused on exploring how the use of specific nanobodies to neutralize an inflammatory molecule could prevent MS-associated pathogenesis, using ex vivo demyelinating models. After this, Alexandre continued the studies as a Research Fellow in an exploratory project led by Dr. Andreia Barateiro, which was aimed at understanding the role of obesity, a known MS risk factor, in the development of MS. More recently, Alexandre received a PhD Research Fellowship to study the biological mechanisms underlying MS progression. His ongoing work is based on the generation of brainspheres to replicate the human CNS environment and study MS-like conditions, using induced pluripotent stem cells from people with MS.
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Alexandre Nunes Neto
Gender
Male

Citation names

  • Neto, Alexandre

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
BC1A-0744-1F88
ORCID iD
0000-0002-9100-5864
Scopus Author Id
57848010900

Addresses

  • Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Neurosciences

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Upper intermediate (B2) Proficiency (C2)
Education
Degree Classification
2023/08/07 - 2027/08/07
Ongoing
Pharmacy (Doutoramento)
Major in Celular and Molecular Biology
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
"3D Brainsphere model of Multiple Sclerosis: A platform to study human disease pathogenesis, obesity as a risk factor and personalized therapeutic strategies" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2023/03/09 - 2023/03/10
Concluded
Cytometry Data Analysis (Outros)
Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal
2022/09/01 - 2022/12/01
Concluded
Scientific Research Methodologies and Techniques (Pós-Graduação)
Major in Neurosciences
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal
2018/09/10 - 2020/12/17
Concluded
Cellular and Molecular Biology (Mestrado integrado)
Major in Neurobiology
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Tackling the role of S100B and associated neuroinflammation in an ex vivo demyelinating model" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
18
2019/06/30 - 2019/09/20
Concluded
Postgraduate Course in Laboratory Animal Science (Pós-Graduação)
Major in FELASA B
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Sociedade Portuguesa de Ciências em Animais de Laboratório, Portugal
Theoretical-77% (0-100%) / Practical-18 (0-20)
2015/09/10 - 2018/07/10
Concluded
Biology (Licenciatura)
Major in Molecular Biology and Genetics
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
13
2017/10/10 - 2018/01/18
Concluded
English Course (Outros)
Major in B2 level
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Letras, Portugal
17
2017/05/08 - 2017/05/29
Concluded
Public Speaking for Science (Outros)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Speak and Lead Unipessoal Lda, Portugal
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution
Employer
2022/09/01 - 2023/06/30 Researcher (Research) Associação da Faculdade de Farmácia para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Farmácia, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution
Employer
2022/08/01 - 2022/08/31 Técnico de Laboratório Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa, Portugal
Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa, Portugal
2021/02/04 - 2022/04/30 Biólogo Centro de Medicina Laboratorial Germano de Sousa, S.A, Portugal
Centro de Medicina Laboratorial Germano de Sousa, S.A, Portugal
Projects

Contract

Designation Funders
2023/08/07 - Current Interplay between innate and acquired immune response at the basis for Multiple Sclerosis cognitive deficits
PTDC/MED-PAT/2582/2021
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Ongoing
2022/09/01 - 2023/06/30 Role of obesity in multiple sclerosis: oligodendrocyte-related miRNAs as new targets to induce remyelination
EXPL/MED-NEU/1033/2021
Research Fellow
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "Obesity-driven changes in CNS pathology leads to a more aggressive phenotype in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.". Paper presented in 39th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), 2023.
  2. Neto, Alexandre; Barros, Catarina; Costa, Inês; Farsetti, Elisa; Barateiro, Andreia; Fernandes, Adelaide. "Esclerose Múltipla: A Ciência em Busca de Soluções". Paper presented in Jornadas Científicas 2023 - Ciência Aberta e Inovação: uma abordagem colaborativa, transparente e acessível, 2023.
  3. Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "Exploring the impact of obesity on multiple sclerosis severity: an in vivo model unveiling aggressive clinical progression". Paper presented in 14th iMed.ULisboa Posgraduate Students Meeting, 2023.
  4. Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "Obesity induces a more aggressive clinical course in an animal model of multiple sclerosis". Paper presented in FENS Regional Meeting 2023, 2023.
  5. Neto, Alexandre; Alberro, Ainhoa; Barros, Catarina; Ribeiro, Ana Rita; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "Exploring the adverse effects of obesity on clinical progression and CNS pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis: an in vivo model study". Paper presented in VII Simposium of The Portuguese Glial Network, 2023.
  6. Neto, Alexandre; Barros, Catarina; Barateiro, Andreia; Fernandes, Adelaide. "S100B: Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target for Multiple Sclerosis". Paper presented in XVII Congresso Nacional de Esclerose Múltipla, 2022.
  7. Barros, Catarina; Neto, Alexandre; Barateiro, Andreia; Fernandes, Adelaide. "S100B deletion protects from Multiple Sclerosis-like pathology.". Paper presented in V Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network, 2021.
Journal article
  1. Neto, Alexandre; Fernandes, Adelaide; Barateiro, Andreia. "The complex relationship between obesity and neurodegenerative diseases: an updated review". Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 17 (2023): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2023.1294420.
    Published • 10.3389/fncel.2023.1294420
  2. Barros, Catarina; Barateiro, Andreia; Neto, Alexandre; Soromenho, Beatriz; Basto, Afonso P.; Mateus, Joana M.; Xapelli, Sara; et al. "S100B inhibition protects from chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis". Brain Communications 4 3 (2022): http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac076.
    Open access • Published • 10.1093/braincomms/fcac076
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2024/04/05 Experimental model of multiple sclerosis exacerbated by obesity’s influence: a thorough examination of clinical progression 8th Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network
ICVS – Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (Braga, Portugal)
2024/02/08 The impact of obesity on disease severity in an animal model of multiple sclerosis: a comprehensive analysis of clinical progression 54th Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology
NOVA Medical School - Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (Lisboa, Portugal)
2021/02/18 Nanobody-based strategies to target S100B and improve recovery in an ex vivo demyelinating model 51st Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon (Lisboa, Portugal)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role
Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2023/09/01 - 2024/09/30 Provisional title: Effects of obesity in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis: oligodendrocyte development, myelination and glia reactivity
Co-supervisor
Bioquímica (Master)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023/01/01 - 2023/06/30 Efeitos da obesidade na patogénese da esclerose múltipla: desenvolvimento de oligodendrócitos, mielinização e reatividade da glia
Co-supervisor
Bioquímica (Degree)
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role)
Institution / Organization
2024/03/20 - 2024/03/21 A colleague and I engaged with all the 4th grade classes of our shared primary school, focusing on explaining how the brain and heart work and why healthy habits matter. We made it hands-on and interactive, with activities like microscope slides viewing, sensory games, and demonstrating lab equipment use. (2024/03/20 - 2024/03/21)
Workshop (Co-organisor)
2024/03/12 - 2024/03/12 In the context of the Brain Awareness week, I went to a primary school to perfom different activities related with brain functions. (2024/03/12 - 2024/03/12)
Workshop (Co-organisor)
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento e das Ciências Farmacêuticas, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event
Event name
Institution / Organization
2023/06/01 - Current Engagement in science communication targeted at children during the Children's Day event at "Pavilhão do Conhecimento – Centro Ciência Viva" as part of the "Feira de Ciência" (Science Fair).
Workshop
Dia da Criança 2023
Pavilhão do Conhecimento-Centro Ciência Viva, Portugal

Interview (newspaper / magazine)

Activity description Newspaper / Forum
2023/12/05 Interview with Sábado magazine with an excerpt entitled "Esclerose Múltipla: A doença não é só da pessoa que a carrega" Sábado
Distinctions

Award

2023 Winner of FENS Regional Meeting 2023 Neuroscience Photography Contest
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, Belgium

Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências, Portugal
2018 Winner in the photography competition entitled "Effects of Pollution on Ecosystems"
Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal