Andreia earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Algarve (2010-2013) and subsequently pursued a specialized Master's program in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Aveiro (2013-2015). Later, she completed her Master's in Biochemistry at the Faculty of Sciences and School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (2019-2021). Her Master's thesis focused on innate immunity and infection, specifically investigating the role of adenosine A2A receptors in invasive group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease in newborns and establishing an invasive GBS model in elderly mice. During her scientific training, she undertook a 4-month voluntary placement at Sandra Costa's laboratory at the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) - University of Minho, where she acquired new techniques and insights into immunology and developmental biology. Since 2022, Andreia has been a Fellowship Researcher in the ReNEU team at the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) - University of Minho. She has extensive experience in Colony Management and possesses a wide range of laboratory skills including cell culture, flow cytometry, immunostaining, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. Furthermore, she specializes in precision surgery techniques for spinal cord injury, particularly in contusion models at the T8 and T11 levels. Andreia has authored 5 peer-reviewed international publications and has 8 communications in national and international meetings. Additionally, she served as a member of the organizing committee for the VIII Symposium of the Portuguese Glial Network. Her research interests revolve around (1) Understanding the role of the immune system in health and disease, (2) Identifying and validating immunomodulatory targets in translational/clinical studies, and (3) Developing combinatory approaches for spinal cord protection and regeneration.