Prof. Dr. Ana Lúcia Severo Rodrigues was the winner of the First Edition of the Women in Science, Life Sciences Award, senior category, promoted by the Propesc UFSC.

The selection took into account aspects such as internationalization, experience outside the research group, social impact of scientific production, originality of the research line, scientific independence and training of new researchers.

Prof. Ana Lúcia Severo Rodrigues joined UFSC in 1992 and is currently a full professor in the Department of Biochemistry and permanent professor in the Graduate Programs in Biochemistry and Neurosciences. As coordinator of the Neurobiology of Depression research group, she has contributed to the understanding of the molecular targets associated with stress, depression and anxiety. In addition, his research seeks to characterize the behavioral and biochemical effects related to the antidepressant and anxiolytic potential of new biomolecules, as well as physical exercise. His contribution in recent years to the understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the rapid antidepressant response, dependent on synaptogenesis and synaptic protein synthesis in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, is also noteworthy.

A study published by researchers at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in the international journal Molecular Psychiatry, by the Nature group, may help to understand the neurobiology of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders.

The work “The ERK phosphorylation levels in the amygdala predict anxiety symptoms in humans and MEK/ERK inhibition dissociates innate and learned defensive behaviors in rats” by Dr. Cristiane Ribeiro de Carvalho from PPG Neurosciences is part of a project coordinated by Prof. Dr. Roger Walz (PPG Neurosciences and Medical Sciences) and had the collaboration of PPGBQA graduate Mark W. Lopes, professors Alexandra Latini and Rodrigo Bainy Leal, as well as collaborators from PPG Neurosciences, Pharmacology, Medical Sciences at UFSC and international collaborators.

The work demonstrated that the phosphorylation status of ERK1,2 proteins in the amygdala is able to predict anxiety in humans and rats. Furthermore, ERK1,2 in the basolateral portion of the amygdala was required for the expression of learned but not innate defensive behavior in rats. The findings may help to understand the neurobiology of highly prevalent psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.

To read the full article, access:C. R. de Carvalho et al., 2021.
More details can be found in the article published by Agecom/UFSC. 

Title: “Translating models of aging into therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias”
Invited speaker: Dr. Antonio Currais – Salk Institute for Biological Studies – San Diego
Date and time: August 17th, 2 p.m.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81649585437

Title: “Papel da microglia nas respostas comportamentais e de neuroplasticidade induzidas pela exposição precoce ao Poly I:C”
Ph.D. candidate: Nicolle Platt dos Santos
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Manuella Kaster
Date and Time: August 10th 2021, 2 p.m.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87861306777

Title: “Efeitos da sepse e do exercício físico aeróbio sobre o metabolismo do metilglioxal em um modelo experimental”
PhD candidate: Jéssica Jorge Probst
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Alcir Luiz Dafré and Profa. Dra. Debora Hizume Kunzler
Data and time: August 3rd 2021, 2p.m
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86336876231

The Graduate Program in Biochemistry will receive Prof. Dr. Eduardo Alves de Almeida for the lecture “Assessment of negative effects of pesticides and drugs on aquatic organisms.” Dr. Eduardo Alves de Almeida has a degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (1998) and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences ( Biochemistry) from the University of São Paulo (2003). He held a post-doctoral internship at the Universidad de Córdoba, Spain (2004), in the area of ​​environmental toxicology, and at the CSIC in Barcelona (2013). of Blumenau (FURB).

Date and Time: July 27, 2021 – 2p.m.
Link: https://meet.google.com/gxy-gswg-kbf

The Graduate Program in Biochemistry will receive Dr. Jean Bertoldo for the lecture “Site-directed bioorthogonal chemical editing of RNA-binding oncoproteins: principles and uses in the identification of “druggable pockets” and in the development of covalent antitumor inhibitors”. Dr. Jean Bertoldo (Doctorate by PPGBQA in 2013) is a Research Associate at Universitaetsklinikum Halle, Martin-Luther-Universitaet Halle (Germany). His research group is focused on molecular oncology and medicinal chemistry in cancer.
Date: July 20th (Tuesday)
Time: 2 p.m.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87190398010

Title: “Estudo de Proteínas Envolvidas nos Mecanismos de Plasticidade Sináptica em Animais Adultos e em Envelhecimento”
PhD candidate: Beatriz Dos Santos
Supervisor: Profa. Dra. Carla I. Tasca
Date and time: July 13th, 2021, 2 p.m.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87248046697

       A Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) comunica, com imenso pesar, o falecimento do professor do Centro de Ciências Biológicas (CCB), Adair Roberto Soares dos Santos. O professor faleceu nesta terça-feira, 6 de julho, de um infarto.
Ele tinha 52 anos. O professor Adair recebeu seu primeiro título,  sua Graduação em Farmácia-Análises Clínicas pela UFSC em 1992, e foi na UFSC também que ele concluiu seu mestrado, em 1995, e doutorado em 2000, pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia da UFSC.

    A UFSC se tornou seu local de trabalho, como professor efetivo, a partir de sua nomeação em agosto de 2002. Desde então, foi coordenador do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, chefe e vice-chefe do Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas. Atualmente destacava-se como pesquisador do CCB e bolsista de produtividade 1B do CNPq, atuando em seu departamento e nos Programas de Pós-graduação em Neurociências (UFSC); Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas (UFSC); Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica e Farmacologia da (UFSC); Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), e como colaborador no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM).

        O Prof. Adair era especialista na pesquisa da dor e da inflamação, atuava como coordenador do Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Dor e Inflamação (Landi) do Centro de Ciências Biológicas. PPG Bioquímica destaca o brilhante cientista, colaborador, professor e amigo, Adair Roberto Soares dos Santos. Foi uma honra ter a sua companhia e compartilhar do seu amor pela ciência. Nossa solidariedade aos familiares, colegas e alunos neste momento de dor.

       Uma cerimônia em sua memória ocorrerá na quarta-feira, dia 7 de julho às 15h no Crematório Vaticano, em São José (Rua Antônio Jovita Duarte, 9203, Forquilhinha).

Fonte: https://noticias.ufsc.br/2021/07/nota-de-pesar-falece-o-professor-adair-roberto-soares-dos-santos-do-centro-de-ciencias-biologicas/

Title: “Eficiência do sistema antioxidante na proteção de mexilhões Perna perna contra estresse ambiental”
Ph.D. candidate: Heloísa Gabe
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Alcir Luiz Dafré
Date and time: July 06th, 2021, 2 p.m.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88266314867