Joana Serra

PhD Student

 

Research Activities

Development of a cell/gene therapy for the treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease. The work is focused on genetic manipulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) using non-viral vectors containing pro-angiogenic factors in order to improve the therapeutic potential of those cells. Optimization of development, production and purification of DNA-based vectors (plasmids and minicircles) for MSC transfection with the goal of maximizing the angiogenic ability of modified MSC.

 

Selected Publications

 

Serra, J., Monteiro, G., da Silva, C.L., Prazeres, D.M. "VEGF-overexpressing mesenchymal stem/stromal cells for angiogenic therapies." MicroBiotec '15, Évora Portugal, December 2015. (poster communication)

Serra, J., da Silva, C.L., Cabral, J.M.S. "Cultivation of human MSC as 3-D aggregates to enhance their therapeutic potential." E3 forum - Education, Employment & Entrepreneurship. Lisbon (Portugal). June 2013. (poster communication)

 

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