SYNOPSIS

I graduated in biochemistry but rapidly moved to developmental biology and vascular biology during my PhD. Over the years, my laboratory has explored and acquired competences in a very diverse set of techniques, ranging from mouse genetics, advanced imaging techniques, bioengineering, quantitative analytics, computational modeling and more recently artificial intelligence methods applied to image analysis. We used these methods to unravel critical processes in vascular biology, for instance:

i) we discovered that endothelial cells migrate against the blood flow direction, which requires a shear stress set point (Franco CA et al. 2016);

ii) we identified a novel and unique actin-based protrusion enabling endothelial cell invasion into tissues, termed dactylopodia (Figueiredo A et al. 2021);

iii) we have revealed how mechanobiology is at the heart of vascular morphogenesis, and how the interaction between chemoattractants and flow-induced shear stress dictates individual and collective behaviors in vascular biology (Carvalho J et al. 2019; Barbacena P et al. 2022).

iv) we have developed open-source computational tools to help the community tackling difficult problems on imaging and blood flow analysis using in vivo samples (Bernabeu MO et al. 2018; 10.5281/zenodo.7036288; Github HemaxiN/3D_U-Vec).

In addition, our broad range of skills, synergistic attitude, and willingness to contribute to open science led us to engage in several fruitful collaborations, as showcase by the numerous publications either as second last-author or co-lead authors. One clear example is the strong collaboration with the FIGUEIREDO lab (2 publications and 1 other in preparation).

My international reputation is highlighted by the prestigious grants or collaborative projects I have been awarded (ERC StG, ERC PoC, LeDucq Foundation, La Caixa Foundation, EU FETOPEN, EU Twinning, up to 3.5M€). It is also highlighted by more than 30 communications in International Meetings such as the prestigious Gordon Conferences, EMBL conferences, IVBM, EVBO, Seeon Meeting on Angiogenesis, and more than 35 lectures by invitation in institutions like the Max-Planck Institutes, Uppsala University, Karolinska Institute, IDIBELL, CNIC, ICGEB Trieste. My track-record led me to become associate professor at the Católica Medical School and vice-director of the Católica Biomedical Research Centre, and Vice-President of the European Vascular Biology Organization.