(Chemical) Bonding is what makes life possible

Lúcia graduated in Biochemistry at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, in 2020. For her curricular internship project, she worked in Professor Artur Silva's laboratory at LAQV-UA, to investigate the potential of steroid-based theranostic compounds as a promising alternative strategy for future diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. She improved her skills in synthetic organic chemistry, as well as NMR characterization of small organic compounds. During this work, she got increasingly interested in neurodegenerative disorders and ways to find new and proper treatments for patients. As such, in her master’s degree, she joined the Molecular Neurology group at the lnstitute for Research and lnnovation in Heath (I3S) to study the therapeutic role of Transthyretin (TTR) in stroke. During this time, Lúcia gained experience in a variety of fields, including molecular biology (recombinant proteins expression and purification from E.Coli), cellular biology (performed culture of embryonic cortical cells, qPCR, western blot, histology, immunohistochemistry, and iodine staining), and also in in-vivo mice models (mice handling, administration of substances, collection of fluids, brain perfusion and slicing). She finished her master's with a final grade of 18. She was hired for an eight-month master's scholarship for the project "I&D Teranósticos multi-alvo para a doença de Alzheimer" (2022.06064.PTDC). During this scholarship, she had the opportunity to attend scientific congresses, and also to publish an article. Presently, she is enrolled as a PhD student at the Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) after receiving a PhD Research Scholarship from FCT.