Mariana Teixeira Rodrigues

Mariana holds a Bachelors degree in Biological Sciences (UNIFESP, Brazil, 2010-2014), a Masters in Structural and Functional Biology (UNIFESP, 2014-2017), and a PhD in Structural and Functional Biology (UNIFESP, 2017-2022), with a training period at the Houston Methodist Research Institute (Texas, USA). Her doctoral research focused on the action of bioactive compounds in thyroid cancer, particularly in anaplastic and papillary carcinomas, using 3D and monolayer culture models. Her research also includes investigating the genetic causes of familial non-medullary thyroid cancer through whole-exome sequencing, as well as studying the role of microRNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers. Currently, Mariana is a Research Technician for the CInTech project at the University of Coimbra, where she is part of the functional assay team. In addition to her research, she has gained teaching experience in genetics, including cancer genetics, and has contributed to science communication initiatives. Scholarships from CAPES and FAPESP have supported her professional journey, and she continues to build on her expertise in cancer molecular biology and the development of therapeutic strategies for thyroid cancer and other malignancies. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)