Juliana Xavier de Miranda

Researcher in Human Genetics and Nutrition, with solid experience in integrating genetic and genomic data into clinical applications focused on precision medicine and nutrition. My work centers on the use of advanced bioinformatics and computational tools to analyze large-scale datasets, aiming to generate scientific evidence that contributes to improved clinical outcomes and public health.I began my scientific journey during my undergraduate studies in Nutrition at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), participating in research projects in clinical nutrition, obesity, and bariatric surgery. I later deepened my training in genomics at the University of São Paulo (USP), joining the Diet and Cancer research group at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. In this context, I conducted research using in vitro breast cancer models, investigating epigenetic mechanisms and the effects of selenium bioactive compounds on tumor progression, which strengthened my foundation in molecular biology and translational research.Currently, I am a PhD candidate in a joint program between Tampere University (Finland) and the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Porto (Portugal), as part of the Celiac Disease research group. My doctoral research focuses on the genetic characterization of phenotypic variability in celiac disease, employing approaches such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), biobank data analysis (e.g., FinnGen), and polygenic risk score (PRS) modeling. The goal is to identify risk groups and integrate functional biological mechanisms to better understand the clinical heterogeneity of the disease, with potential applications to other autoimmune and complex disorders.Beyond academia, I serve as a consultant and former Vice-President of the Young Committee of the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG-Young, https://www.eshg.org/eshgy), and I am a member of the Scientific Programme Committee of the same society (https://www.eshg.org/spc). In these roles, I contribute to strengthening the representation of young European geneticists, promoting high-quality scientific training initiatives and supporting the organization of the ESHG annual conference.I have experience organizing workshops, supervising master's theses in genetics in Finland, and serving as a peer reviewer for scientific journals such as Scientific Reports (Nature) and Gastroenterology Journal. I am also co-editor of an Elsevier volume titled "The Emerging Genomic Landscape of Complex Immune-Mediated Traits", and first-author of chapters and manuscritps in the field.Recently, I was awarded an observership grant to join Dr. Gosia Trynkas group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK, https://www.sanger.ac.uk/person/trynka-gosia/), where I received training in eQTL and CRISPR analyses, focusing on translating GWAS findings into functional mechanisms, validations, and potential drug targets into personalized medicin.I firmly believe that new generations represent a vital force for meaningful and lasting change in the advancement of human genetics, both in Europe and globally. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)