Ana Carla Batissoco

Pharmaceutical Biochemist graduated from the Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL), with a postgraduate degree in Clinical Analysis Hematology from the Institute of Tropical Medicine (IMT-FMUSP). Holds a Masters and PhD in Human Genetics from the Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo (IB-USP), and has completed three postdoctoral fellowships funded by FAPESP, CAPES, and CNPq. The first was carried out at the Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (IB-USP), and the subsequent ones at the Department of Otolaryngology LIM32 (FMUSP), where she currently works as a researcher.Her scientific career is grounded in strong expertise in cell and molecular biology applied to medical genetics, with a focus on hereditary hearing loss. Key research contributions include: (i) Screening, functional characterization, and clinical interpretation of pathogenic variants associated with hearing loss, including the identification of novel genes and loci linked to auditory disorders; (ii) Proteomic and gene expression studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cochlear pathophysiology, including integrated multi-omics analyses and reanalysis of public repository datasets; (iii) Research in gene and cell therapy for auditory disorders, particularly using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their differentiation into sensory epithelial cell types of the inner ear and; (iv) Investigation of cochlear regeneration mechanisms, with a focus on the transdifferentiation potential of supporting cells. Current studies explore experimental modeling strategies that may include the future use of organoids.In addition to her research activities, she serves as a Southeast Brazil Ambassador for the Parent in Science initiative, promoting gender equity and supporting researchers who are also parents. She also collaborates on projects at the Laboratory of Human Genetics and Functional Genomics (IB-USP). (Source: Lattes Curriculum)