ROSA MOURAO | Neuropharmacology | Women Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. ROSA MOURAO | Neuropharmacology | Women Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. ROSA MOURAO, UNIVERSIDADES FEDERAL DO OESTE DO PARÁ, Brazil.

Prof. Dr. Rosa Helena Veras Mourão is a distinguished Brazilian biochemist and full professor at UFOPA, with a strong academic foundation in Biological Sciences and Plant Biochemistry. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Pernambuco, including a research fellowship at UNICAMP under Prof. Dr. Mário Saad. Her research centers on the biochemical properties of Amazonian medicinal plants, focusing on diabetes, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, essential oils, and the effects of Bothrops atrox venom.

Profile

Orcid

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Rosa Helena Veras Mourão embarked on her scientific journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Ceará in 1993. Her early academic choices reflected a deep curiosity about the natural world, especially the biochemical aspects of plant life. She soon pursued a Master’s degree in Plant Biochemistry at the same institution, which she completed in 1996. Her growing interest in health-related plant biochemistry led her to a doctoral program in Biological Sciences at the Federal University of Pernambuco, awarded in 2006. During her Ph.D., she was selected for a prestigious sandwich fellowship at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), where she conducted research under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Mário Saad, further sharpening her expertise in metabolic disorders like diabetes.

🧪 Professional Endeavors in Biochemistry

Currently a Full Professor at the Institute of Collective Health at the Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Prof. Mourão has built a solid career blending academic research with community outreach. Her expertise lies in Biochemistry, particularly medicinal plants and their applications in treating chronic diseases. Her work consistently merges scientific rigor with social relevance, focusing on diabetes, antimicrobial resistance, anti-inflammatory responses, and the effects of Bothrops atrox venom. She has mentored numerous Master’s students through UFOPA’s Health Sciences and Natural Resources programs and also advises Ph.D. candidates under the REDE BIONORTE initiative, reflecting her pivotal role in academic mentorship and capacity building in the Amazon region.

🌿 Contributions and Research Focus

Prof. Mourão’s research delves into the pharmacological potential of Amazonian flora, particularly essential oils and plant extracts with therapeutic effects. Her contributions include advancing the standardization of bioactive extracts, evaluating their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and assessing their applicability in the treatment of diabetes. Her scientific investigations into Bothrops atrox venom have added critical insights to toxinology. Furthermore, her interdisciplinary approach bridges biochemistry with ethnopharmacology, respecting traditional knowledge systems while applying rigorous scientific methods to validate their efficacy.

🏅 Accolades and Recognition

Her commitment to research excellence earned her the prestigious CNPq Research Productivity Fellowship (PQ2), which she held until 2023. This national recognition highlighted her sustained contributions to Brazilian science, particularly in the fields of medicinal chemistry and natural products. In academic circles, her name appears under various bibliographic formats such as MOURÃO, R.H.V. and Rosa H. Mourão, indicating her prolific and diverse scholarly output. She is also active on national platforms such as the Lattes Curriculum system and holds an ORCID iD, further ensuring her work’s visibility and impact within global research communities.

🌎 Impact and Social Innovation

Beyond academia, Prof. Mourão is deeply involved in projects that fuse scientific knowledge with social innovation. She co-founded Deveras Amazônia, a startup that transforms Amazonian biodiversity into culinary experiences, and Xibé Oficial, a fashion-focused enterprise using natural dyes extracted from Amazonian plants. Her technological extension projects with local communities in Western Pará demonstrate her commitment to applying scientific research for social impact, focusing on sustainable development and strengthening regional production chains. Her work empowers Amazonian communities by integrating traditional knowledge with entrepreneurial strategies.

🔬 Legacy in Scientific Mentorship

Throughout her academic career, Prof. Mourão has mentored a generation of scientists who now contribute to fields as diverse as biochemistry, pharmacognosy, and public health. As a Master’s and Ph.D. advisor, she fosters critical thinking, innovation, and social responsibility in her students. Her guidance helps shape professionals capable of addressing both local health challenges and broader scientific questions. Her legacy lies not only in her publications and projects but also in the human capital she has developed over decades of service.

🌱 Future Contributions and Vision

Looking ahead, Prof. Rosa Helena Veras Mourão remains a beacon of interdisciplinary research in the Amazon. Her vision includes expanding collaborations that promote bioeconomic development rooted in sustainability, enhancing the integration of indigenous knowledge systems into mainstream science, and scaling up social-impact projects. With her strong academic foundation and unwavering dedication to public health and biodiversity, she continues to serve as an inspiring force in Brazilian science, forging a future where innovation, ecology, and equity go hand in hand.

Publication

1. Antifungal chemosensitization through induction of oxidative stress: A model for control of candidiasis based on the Lippia origanoides essential oil
Authors: Sandra Layse F. Sarrazin, Jean-Paul Bourdineaud, José Guilherme S. Maia, Rosa Helena V. Mourão, Ricardo B. Oliveira
Year: 2024

2. Lip balm made from butter extracted from bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart.) Amazonian fruit seeds: Development and characterization
Authors: Bruna Carvalho Cantal de Souza, Walberson da Silva Reatgui, Junior Avelino de Araújo, Rosa Helena Veras Mourão, Leopoldo C. Baratto, Gabriela B. dos Santos, Kariane M. Nunes
Year: 2024

3. Volatile Constituents of Some Myrtaceous Edible and Medicinal Fruits from the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Adenilson S. Barroso, Lais T. Massing, Chieno Suemitsu, Rosa Helena V. Mourão, Pablo L. B. Figueiredo, José Guilherme S. Maia
Year: 2024

4. Molecular modelling and anticholinesterase activity of the essential oil from three chemotypes of Lippia alba (Mill.)
Authors: Antônio Q. Silva Júnior, Gabriela dos Santos Rodrigues, Karina A. de Sousa, Leoneide E. M. Bouillet, Gabriela B. dos Santos, Adenilson S. Barroso, Rosa Helena Veras Mourão
Year: 2024

5. Seasonal Variation in Essential Oil Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Aniba canelilla
Authors: Ellen de Nazaré S. da Cruz, Luana de Sousa P. Barros, Bruna de Araújo Guimarães, Rosa Helena V. Mourão, José Guilherme S. Maia, William N. Setzer, Joyce Kelly da Silva, Pablo L. B. Figueiredo
Year: 2023

6. Distribution of Carapa Guianensis Associated to Topoclimatic Variables Indicating Potential Clusters for Cultivation in the State of Pará
Authors: Denison Lima Correa, Lucieta G. Martorano, Leila Sheila S. Lisboa, Carlos T. dos S. Dias, Alberdan S. Santos, Rosa Helena V. Mourão
Year: 2023

7. Seasonal Influence on Volatile Composition of Psidium friedrichsthalianum Leaves, Sampled in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Paulo V. L. Santos, Ellen de N. S. da Cruz, Jennifer de A. Nunes, Rosa Helena V. Mourão, Walnice M. O. do Nascimento, José Guilherme S. Maia, Pablo L. B. Figueiredo
Year: 2023

8. Seasonal Variability of a Caryophyllane Chemotype Essential Oil of Eugenia patrisii Vahl Occurring in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Ellen de N. S. da Cruz, Luana de S. Peixoto, Jamile S. da Costa, Rosa Helena V. Mourão, Walnice M. O. do Nascimento, José Guilherme S. Maia, William N. Setzer, Joyce Kelly da Silva, Pablo L. B. Figueiredo
Year: 2022

9. Atividade antioxidante de extratos de Myrciaria dubia (camu-camu)
Authors: Carlena Sinara M. da Silva, Rosa Helena Veras Mourão
Year: 2022

10. Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh (Myrtales: Myrtaceae): análise dos produtos elaborados a partir do seu fruto
Authors: Carlena Sinara M. da Silva, Rosa Helena Veras
Year: 2021

🧾 Conclusion

Prof. Rosa Helena Veras Mourão exemplifies a modern scientist whose work harmonizes rigorous biochemical research with social and environmental impact. Her commitment to advancing science in the Amazon, empowering communities, and nurturing future scholars positions her as a transformative figure in Brazilian research. Her legacy is defined not only by academic excellence but also by her visionary efforts to blend innovation with inclusivity, ensuring that science serves both nature and society.

Camilla Bellone | Translational Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Camilla Bellone | Translational Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Camilla Bellone,  University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr. Camilla Bellone is a renowned neuroscientist whose academic and research career has been marked by excellence, innovation, and impact. From her foundational training in Italy to her leadership role in Geneva, she has made pioneering contributions to understanding the neural underpinnings of social behavior. Her work bridges basic science and clinical relevance, and she has played a vital role in training, mentorship, and international collaboration within the neuroscience community.

Profile

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Camilla Bellone began her academic journey with a Master’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Milano in 2000. With a strong foundation in pharmacology and medical chemistry, she pursued her Ph.D. in “Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Medical Chemotherapy” at the same institution, completing it in 2006. Her early education shaped a robust scientific mindset, preparing her for a career at the intersection of neuroscience and pharmacology. These formative years set the tone for her later work on the molecular mechanisms that govern complex behaviors in both healthy and diseased states.

🧪 Professional Endeavors

After her doctoral studies, Dr. Bellone enhanced her research acumen through a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), gaining international exposure. She later returned to Switzerland, where she served as a scientist under the Ambizione Fellowship at the University of Geneva. Her academic path took a significant leap when she became an Assistant Professor at the University of Lausanne in 2014, followed by a transition to the University of Geneva in 2016. In 2020, she was promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Basic Neuroscience, where she continues to lead cutting-edge investigations and mentor future neuroscientists.

🧠 Contributions and Research Focus

At the core of Dr. Bellone’s research lies a deep interest in the neurobiological basis of social behavior, with a particular focus on how these processes are disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders. Her lab explores the synaptic and circuit-level mechanisms that underpin social cognition, often using advanced molecular and behavioral techniques. Her work has provided critical insights into how alterations in neural plasticity and connectivity contribute to diseases such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. With over 40 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals like Nature Neuroscience and Neuron, Dr. Bellone’s research continues to advance the field of behavioral neuroscience.

🏆 Accolades and Recognition

Dr. Bellone’s scientific excellence has been recognized through several prestigious honors. In 2023, she received the EBBS Mid-Career Award and the Leenaards Scientific Prize for her collaborative project on cerebellar stimulation in schizophrenia. Earlier, she was elected to the distinguished FENS-KAVLI Network of Excellence in 2015, highlighting her position among Europe’s most promising neuroscientists. In 2014, she was honored with the Fondation du Prix Pfizer de la Recherche, marking an early milestone in her independent research career.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Beyond her lab, Dr. Bellone has made meaningful contributions to the academic and scientific community. She has delivered over 20 invited lectures at international conferences and institutions, sharing her discoveries with a global audience. As a dedicated mentor, she has guided eight master’s students and seven PhD candidates, nurturing the next generation of neuroscientists. Her commitment extends to active service on academic committees, grant review panels, and editorial boards, reflecting her role as a respected leader in the field.

👩‍🔬 Balancing Science and Life

A champion of work-life integration, Dr. Bellone has managed to thrive professionally while embracing motherhood. She took two career breaks following the birth of her three children, exemplifying resilience and balance in a demanding academic landscape. Her story is an inspiration to young scientists, especially women, striving to build careers in STEM while honoring personal life choices.

🔬 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking ahead, Dr. Bellone’s work holds promise for transforming our understanding of social dysfunction in mental illness. Her innovative approaches—blending circuit neuroscience, pharmacology, and behavior—position her as a leading voice in the neurobiology of social behavior. With continued support from initiatives like the ERC Consolidator Grant, her research will likely pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions, leaving a lasting legacy in neuroscience and psychiatry.

Publication

  • Title: NMDA receptor subunit diversity: impact on receptor properties, synaptic plasticity and disease
    Author: P Paoletti, C Bellone, Q Zhou
    Year: 2013

 

  • Title: Cocaine triggered AMPA receptor redistribution is reversed in vivo by mGluR-dependent long-term depression
    Author: C Bellone, C Lüscher
    Year: 2006

 

  • Title: Rapid bidirectional switching of synaptic NMDA receptors
    Author: C Bellone, RA Nicoll
    Year: 2007

 

  • Title: Cocaine inverts rules for synaptic plasticity of glutamate transmission in the ventral tegmental area
    Author: M Mameli, C Bellone, MTC Brown, C Lüscher
    Year: 2011

 

  • Title: In vivo reprogramming of circuit connectivity in postmitotic neocortical neurons
    Author: A De la Rossa, C Bellone, B Golding, I Vitali, J Moss, N Toni, C Lüscher, …
    Year: 2013

 

  • Title: Mechanisms of synaptic depression triggered by metabotropic glutamate receptors
    Author: C Bellone, C Lüscher, M Mameli
    Year: 2008

 

  • Title: Effects of streptozotocin‐diabetes on the hippocampal NMDA receptor complex in rats
    Author: F Gardoni, A Kamal, C Bellone, GJ Biessels, GMJ Ramakers, F Cattabeni, …
    Year: 2002

 

  • Title: Neurons under T cell attack coordinate phagocyte-mediated synaptic stripping
    Author: G Di Liberto, S Pantelyushin, M Kreutzfeldt, N Page, S Musardo, R Coras, …
    Year: 2018

 

  • Title: mGluRs induce a long‐term depression in the ventral tegmental area that involves a switch of the subunit composition of AMPA receptors
    Author: C Bellone, C Lüscher
    Year: 2005

 

  • Title: SHANK3 controls maturation of social reward circuits in the VTA
    Author: S Bariselli, S Tzanoulinou, C Glangetas, C Prévost-Solié, L Pucci, …
    Year: 2016

 

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Bellone’s journey reflects a remarkable blend of scientific curiosity, academic leadership, and personal resilience. As she continues to explore the brain’s most intricate social circuits, her influence will undoubtedly expand across neuroscience, psychiatry, and therapeutic innovation. Her career serves as both a roadmap and an inspiration for emerging scientists navigating the evolving landscape of brain research.