Fábio Teixeira, obtained his Ph.D. in Health Sciences from the University of Minho’s Medical School in 2015 while working with the Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility (PPRF) at the University of Calgary. He then completed his postdoctoral research at ICVS Lab from 2015 to 2019, focusing on regenerative medicine strategies and pharmacological treatments for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Currently, as an FCT-CEEC Assistant Researcher at i3S, he has developed his own research line in Experimental Neurodegeneration Biology in collaboration with the Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research (TBIO), E2S|P. Porto.

Our Research:

PD is a prevalent condition with an unclear basic pathophysiology. The next significant advancement in PD treatment should focus on slowing disease progression, informed by a better understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. The creation of disease-modifying drugs faces challenges due to insufficient diagnostics and biomarkers that indicate early disease signs.

The traditional motor symptoms of PD are frequently preceded by non-motor signs like depression. Enhancing our understanding of these early clinical indicators of PD is crucial, as neuroprotective and reparative therapies should be administered as early as possible to significantly alter the disease’s trajectory. In our research settings, cell and animal models are created to replicate the progressive nature of PD. Various techniques—including biochemical, histological, pharmacological, molecular biology, and behavioral methods—are employed in these investigations, with a special emphasis placed on basal ganglia regional areas, non-motor symptoms, and the identification of potential biomarkers.

Research Purposes:

• Studies on neuron-glia interactions in Parkinson’s disease onset and progression
• Studies of depression in Parkinson's disease
• Pre-clinical mechanistic studies on compounds suitable for clinical trials in Parkinson's disease

Research Team:

Bruna Araújo, PhD Student (FCT Fellow – 2022.13292.BD)

Carla Guedes, PhD Student (FCT Fellow – 2023.03466.BD)

Catarina Teixeira, PhD Student (FCT Fellow – 2022.12641.BD)

Joana Macedo, PhD Student (FCT Fellow – 2023.00893.BDANA)

Rita Caridade, PhD Student (FCT Fellow – 2022.13323.BD)