International Scientific Programme Committee and Symposium Speaker

Catarina Resende de Oliveira

Catarina Isabel Neno Resende de Oliveira awarded her MD PhD in Neurology in 1984 at the University of Coimbra.

She is full Professor of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Consultant of Neurology at the Neurological Clinic, in the Coimbra University Hospital and coordinator of the scientific area of Neuroscience and Disease at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology. Research in this area has been particulary effective in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of neuroprotection, neurotoxicity of drugs of abuse and in promoting translational research on neurodegenerative disorders. She has coordinated several scientific projects on brain aging and dementia.

Her contributions to science are described in over 200 publications, dealing with biochemical, molecular and genetic studies aiming to elucidate the mechanisms of neurodegeneration, particularly on the signalling role of mitochondria, reactive oxigen species and its involvement in neuronal death, occurring in prion and Alzheimer’s dementia, in order to identify biomarkers of disease and new targets for therapeutical intervention.

Professor Catarina Oliveira has served on and chaired several committees at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, being involved in the last curricular reform undertaken at her Medical School. She is currently coordinating the PhD program on Health Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine and is the Director of the Department Graduate Studies at the same Faculty. As Professor of Biochemistry, she has implemented PBL teaching and learning strategies, fostering the interaction with clinical areas. She has worked with the Faculty of Medicine and the University of Coimbra in the design of educational and research programmes. She has a vast experience in organization and leadership of research and in evaluation of research projects. She is member of the Health Sciences Scientific Council of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

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