Neuronal Trafficking in Aging

We aim to understand how neuronal trafficking dysfunction underlie synapse loss during aging, potentiating Alzheimer's disease (AD).

We are currently investigating the pathogenicity of endosomal genetic risk factors associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease and how neuronal aging impacts endocytosis of AD-related proteins and lysosomal function.

We rely on advanced quantitative microscopy, from live-cell Imaging to super-resolution, to perform mechanistic studies using cultures of primary mouse cortical neurons, neuronal cell lines, human neurons derived from hIPSCs and aged mice. We are introducing patients' mutations into healthy neurons using gene-editing techniques to model late-onset AD.

Our goal is to uncover druggable molecular mechanisms that underlie synapse dysfunction early on in a still reversible cellular phase of neurodegeneration. Moreover, we are establishing neuronal models that recapitulate late-onset AD early cytopathology.

Graphical Abstract
  • 2019-2024 Understanding the Impact of a Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Mutation in CD2AP on Synapses, Alzheimer Association (AARG 2168 and Rapid Funding) (PI: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 2019-2021 Excel in Rare Diseases' Research: Focus on LYSOsomal Disorders and CILiopathies (LysoCil), H2020-TWINN-2017 (Partner: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 2018 – 2020 Lysosome dysfunction in age-related diseases, FCT (PTDC/MED-PAT/30385/2017) (Partner: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 2018 Impact of the genetic risk factor CD2AP on the development of Alzheimer's disease, INOVA4Health (CO-PI: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 2017 Impact of the genetic risk factor CD2AP on the development of Alzheimer's disease, Award Maratona da Saúde (PI: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 2016-2019 NAB3, cofund JPND/H2020, (Partner: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 2015 Recapitulating late-onset Alzheimer’s disease in a three dimensional human neural cell model, Award Santander/Totta and Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (PI: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 1/4/2013-31/3/2017 Marie Curie Integration grant (334366, TrafficInAD), Marie Curie Actions, EC (PI: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 15/5/2013-14/5/2018 Investigador FCT exploratory project, 50.000€, Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (PI: Cláudia G. Almeida)
  • 1/7/2013 - 31/12/2016 Imaging the structure and dynamics of molecules and complexes in living organisms (RECI/BEX-BCM/0083/2012), Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (PI: Nuno Moreno, Partner: Cláudia G. Almeida)

*corresponding author

  • 2019-2025 Guimas Almeida C, Scientific Stimulus Contract (CEEC 2017), Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal
  • 2018 Guimas Almeida C, FLAD Travel Grant, Fundação Luso-Americana, Portugal
  • 2018 Guimas Almeida C, SPN Travel Grant, Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências, Portugal
  • 2015 Guimas Almeida C, NOVA/Santander-Totta award for collaborative project in life sciences, Portugal
  • 2013-2018 Guimas Almeida C, “Investigador FCT”, Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal
  • 2007-2009 Guimas Almeida C, European Molecular Biology Organization, EMBO long-term fellowship, Paris, France
  • 2002-2006 Guimas Almeida C, Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal - PhD. Fellowship
  • 2001-2002 Guimas Almeida C, Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal - MS fellowship.
PhD Fellowship @ Cláudia Almeida Lab (SAI/2022/07)
Grants

There is an open call for applications for a Research Grant (BI), for the conduct of R&D activities by a PhD student, under reference SAI/2022/07, in the scope of the project Recapitulating late-onset Alzheimer's disease in a three dimensional human neural cell model, at the institution CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Centre (Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas) from Faculdade de Ciências Médicas|NOVA Medical School (FCM|NMS), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), supported by income from the above mentioned project financed by the Prémio de Investigação Colaborativa Santander/NOVA. Application deadline: May 10th 2022

Collaboration between multiple NMS labs leads to joint publication

Research carried out by several of our laboratories is supported by the LYSOCIL project and has been published in Traffic magazine.

LYSOCIL project on rare diseases has its final conference

The final conference of the LYSOCIL project took place on the 8th and 9th of April at the Hotel Vila Galé in Cascais. It featured presentations from the various project partners and collaborators worldwide, including Italy and Germany.

NMS Research with full representation at Ciência 2022

NOVA Medical School will be present at Ciência 2022, the largest meeting of Science and Technology in Portugal, with full representation of its research with its four Research Units and three Associate Laboratories, during for the entire duration of the event at Centro de Congressos de Lisboa.

 

NMS Research promotes brain science literacy among youth and seniors

To observe the Brain Awareness Week, NMS organized two neuroscience fairs in two schools in Lisbon and one "pop-up" science center at Museu da Saúde, between March 13th and 17th.

NOVA Medical School participates in debate “The Future of Neurosciences”

Researchers and Professors from NOVA Medical School, Miguel Xavier and Cláudia Almeida, participated in the conference organized by Jornal Económico and Biogen Portugal.

  • José Ramalho (CEDOC)
  • Alisson Gontijo (CEDOC)
  • Vasco Barreto (CEDOC),
  • Miguel Seabra (CEDOC)
  • Catarina Brito (iBET/ITQB)
  • Luísa Lopes (iMM)
  • Edgar Gomes (iMM)
  • Gunnar Gouras (U Lund, Sweden)
  • Ira Milosevic (CNC)
  • Francesca Re (Italy)

Principal Investigator

Cláudia Guimas Almeida
Principal Investigator

Team

Tatiana Burrinha
PhD student
Farzaneh Mirfakhar
PhD student
Catarina Perdigão
PhD student
Mariana Barata
PhD student
Jorge Castanheira
PhD student
César Cunha
NBR master student
Tiago Piconêz
NBR master student