Degeneration and Ageing

Our group's goal is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ageing that lead to degeneration in age-related diseases of the brain and retina, with a particular emphasis on proteostasis. 

Cellular ageing means the progressive decline of several molecular mechanisms that protect DNA, proteins, and organelles from damage, resulting in a gradual loss of cellular functions, and ultimately in cell death.

Our group's goal is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ageing that lead to degeneration in age-related diseases of the brain and retina, with a particular emphasis on proteostasis. Our purpose is to use that knowledge to develop new therapeutic approaches for diseases such as Parkinson's disease, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration in close collaboration with clinicians.

As models, we use cellular models (from yeast to human cells), and brain and retinal organoids.

Graphical Abstract
  • 2022-2025 - “NRF2 as a novel therapeutic target in early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration-NASCENT” 
    HR22-00569 ”la Caixa” Foundation; PL: Miguel Seabra; PI: Antonio Cuadrao, UAM, ES
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  • 2022-2024 - "Utilização de um modelo de organoide de retina humano de Retinopatia diabética para identificação de novos fármacos”
    Bolsa Charneco da Costa - Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia
    PI: Sandra Tenreiro
  • 2021-2022 - "Mimetizando as condições de hiperglicemia em organoides de retina humanos: um modelo 3D de Retinopatia diabética precoce para identificação de novos fármacos”
    iNOVA4Health.
    PI: Sandra Tenreiro; Co-PIs: Gabriela Silva (CEDOC) and Cláudia Nunes dos Santos (CEDOC).
  • 2021-2022 - "Exossomas na proteostase transcelular em Degenerescência Macular relacionada com a idade"
    iNOVA4Health.
    Co-PI: Sandra Tenreiro;PI: João Ferreira (CEDOC).
  • 2018-2022- "Recuperação da função neuronal e promoção de neuroproteção em retinopatia diabética”
    PTDC/MED-PAT/29656/2017 finaciado pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
    PI: Sandra Tenreiro
  • Dias SB, de Lemos L, Sousa L, Bitoque DB, Silva GA, Seabra MC, Tenreiro S. 2023. Biomolecules. Age-Related Changes of the Synucleins Profile in the Mouse Retina. 2023 Jan 15; 13(1):180. doi: 10.3390/biom13010180.
  • Cabral D, Ramtohul P, Kaden TR, Tenreiro S, Seabra MC, Freund KB.Eye (Lond). 2022. Hyperpigmented epiretinal membrane in macular telangiectasia type 2: imaging characteristics and correlation with transretinal pigment migration.2022 Sep 22. doi: 10.1038/s41433-022-02260-7. Online ahead of print.
  • Cabral D, Fradinho AC, Pereira T, Ramakrishnan MS, Bacci T, An D, Tenreiro S, Seabra MC, Balaratnasingam C, Freund KB.Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022. Macular Vascular Imaging and Connectivity Analysis Using High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography. 2022 Jun 1;11(6):2. doi: 10.1167/tvst.11.6.2.
  • Flores R, Carneiro Â, Neri G, Fradinho AC, Quenderra B, Barata MJ, Tenreiro S, Seabra MC. Diagnostics (Basel). 2022. Choroidal Vascular Impairment in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration. 2022 May 22;12(5):1290. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12051290.
  • Camacho P, Ribeiro E, Pereira B, Varandas T, Nascimento J, Henriques J, Dutra-Medeiros M, Delgadinho M, Oliveira K, Silva C, Brito M. DNA methyltransferase expression (DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b) as a potential biomarker for anti-VEGF diabetic macular edema response. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2023 Apr 20:11206721231171623. doi: 10.1177/11206721231171623. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37082811.
  • Menino J, Camacho P, Coelho A. Initial medication adherence in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients: three adherence measures. Int J Ophthalmol. 2023 Apr 18;16(4):630-637. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2023.04.18. PMID: 37077479; PMCID: PMC10089901.
  • Flores R, Carneiro A, TENREIRO S, Seabra MC. 2021. Retinal Progression Biomarkers of Early and Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Life. Doi: 10.3390/life12010036. Online ahead of print. Review.
  • Flores R, Carneiro A, Vieira M, TENREIRO S, Seabra MC. 2021. Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Pathophysiology, Management, and Future Perspectives. Ophthalmologica. Doi: 10.1159/000517520. Online ahead of print. Review.
  • Escrevente C, Falcão AS, Hall MJ, Lopes-da-Silva M, Antas P, Mesquita MM, Ferreira IS, Cardoso MH, Oliveira D, Fradinho AC, Ciossek T, Nicklin P, Futter CE, TENREIRO S, Seabra MC. 2021. Formation of Lipofuscin-Like Autofluorescent Granules in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Requires Lysosome Dysfunction. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 62:39.
  • Ferreira C, Couceiro J, TENREIRO S, Quintas A. 2021. A biophysical perspective on the unexplored mechanisms driving Parkinson's disease by amphetamine-like stimulants. Neural Regeneration Research. 16:2213-4. Review.
  • Flores R, Carneiro A, Serra J, Gouveia N, Pereira T, Mendes JM, Coelho PS, TENREIRO S, Seabra MC. 2021. Correlation Study Between Drusen Morphology and Fundus Autofluorescence. Retina. 41:555–62.
  • Klionsky DJ, et al, 2021 Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition) Autophagy. 17:1-382.
  • Ferreira C, Almeida C, TENREIRO S, Quintas A. 2020. Neuroprotection or Neurotoxicity of Illicit Drugs on Parkinson's Disease. Life 10:86. doi: 10.3390/life10060086. Review.
  • Ferreira C, Couceiro J, Família C, Jardim C, Antas P, Santos CN, Outeiro TF, TENREIRO S, Quintas A. The synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018 modulates S. cerevisiae energetic metabolism. 2019. FEMS Yeast Research. 19 :foz042. DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foz042
  • Best Poster Award from iMED 2022 to Marta Cação
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  • Charneco da Costa Grant 2022 from Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia;
  • Paper Marked as Editor's Choice: The paper Ferreira et al., 2020 was handpicked by the section editor-chief, Prof. Dr. Ramón Cacabelos, from Life journal, as the best paper 2020;
  • Top Altmetric Scoring Article and Paper Marked as Editor's Choice: The paper Ferreira et al., 2019 was in the top 10 highest Altmetric scores of all papers published in the FEMS Yeast Research journal in 2019.
PhD Opportunities @ Sandra Tenreiro & Paula Macedo Labs
Grants

Contacts: stenreiro@nms.unl.pt & rita.oliveira@nms.unl.pt

Deadline for contacts: 10th March 2023

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.

  • António Cuadrado, Faculty of Medicine Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
  • Donata Wawrzycka, Department of Genetics and Cell Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wroclaw, Poland
  • Agnieszka Rybak-Wolf, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology of the Max Delbrück Center
  • Alexandre Quintas, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Lisboa.
  • Susana Simões and Lino Ferreira, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra.
  • Catarina Brito, ITQB NOVA - Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Oeiras.
  • Evguenia Bekman, Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Research Group, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisboa.
  • Federico Herrera, Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa.
  • João Raposo, MD and Rogério Ribeiro, Associação Protetora dos Diabéticos de Portugal
  • Nuno Matela, Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Departamento de Física da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
  • Cláudia Nunes dos Santos, NOVA Medical School, UNL
  • Gabriela Silva, NOVA Medical School, UNL.
  • Rune Matthiesen, NOVA Medical School, UNL.
  • Paulo Pereira, NOVA Medical School, UNL.
  • António Jacinto, NOVA Medical School, UNL.

Principal Investigator

Sandra Tenreiro
Principal Investigator

Team

Luisa Lemos
PhD/Post-doctoral Researcher
Pedro Camacho
PhD/Post-doctoral Researcher
Ana Fradinho
PhD Student
Beatriz Felgueiras
PhD Student
Bruno Pereira
PhD Student
Margarida Pedro
MSc Student
Marta Cação
MSc Student
Olga Carreira
MSc Student
Zélia Monte
MSc Student , MD
Vicente Miguel
Trainee