Dr. Ana Paula Mendonça

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) is an international non-profit association with a global network of researchers who have benefited from the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA). In my role as a member of the editorial team, I promote scientific events supported by MSCA and write about topics in the scientific community. It is my responsibility to create a bimonthly newsletter with help from a remote team of seven people.

At UNIPD, my project is part of a biomedical research group to develop a treatment to prevent vision loss in an animal model of a rare disease called Autosomal Dominant Optical Atrophy (ADOA). This project involves the collaboration of researchers experts in drug delivery to synthesize nanoparticles having retina as a target. We have granted funds through the Marie Curie Individual Fellowships grant program in 2020 being considered by European Commission innovative and relevant to be funded.

I have received a grant by DAAD to conduct scientific research at the University of Bremen, Germany, from 2018 to 2019. It was my first experience with collaborative and team player spirit of German society. My PhD focused on determining metabolic targets in brain cells. The biggest skill I have applied to this period was project and time management, by publishing the result of 4 years project as a first author in a highly impact journal.

My Master focused on the effect of iron overload exposure on neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cell lines. During my time in the master degree, I had a teaching experience in biochemistry for 3 months for nursery bachelor course.

My bachelor degree covers subjects like: biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, physiology, biophysics, immunology, laboratory techniques, ethical issues and biotechnology.