dr. Cláudio Pinheiro (PhD)

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a diverse group of nanosized particles released into the extracellular microenvironment by the vast majority cells across multiple kingdoms. EVs can carry a plethora of active biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites and have been separated from most biofluid sources. To date, several studies have linked EVs to numerous biological functions. These evidences make EVs a prime target for liquid biopsies-based biomarkers. However, the plethora of protocols to prepare and characterize EVs, the intrinsic heterogeneity of EV subtypes with varying size and molecular patterns, their origin and the complexity of biofluid sources present considerable challenges for rigorous and reproducible research as a basis for clinical applications. In my research I implement (in-house engineered) EVs, to gain fundamental understanding of the biomolecular interactions between EVs and the tumor microenvironment using state-of-the-art technologies (including super resolution microscopy and patient-derived tumor models). Additionally, I study how the EV production process impacts the application of EVs in day-to-day life. My final aim is to bridge the gap between laboratory and clinic, thus improving the standard of treatment for patients worldwide.
 

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

• 2011 – 2014; Bachelor’s in biology (University of Lisbon, Portugal)
• 2014 – 2016; Master in Biotechnology (NOVA Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal)
• 2018 – 2023; PhD in Health Sciences (Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium)
• 2023 – Present; Postdoctoral researcher @ LECR (Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium)

AWARDS & GRANTS

• CRIG YIPOC grant; 2023
• FWO Junior postdoctoral researcher + Suzanne Duchesne Fund; 2023
• NK and Irene Cheung Family Scholar Award; 2022
• ISEV 2022 Young Investigator Award and Scholarship; 2022
• Best oral presentation, BESEV; 2022
   

• Identification and validation of extracellular vesicle reference genes for the normalization of RT-qPCR data; DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12421
• Extracellular vesicle analysis
• Robust sequential biophysical fractionation of blood plasma to study variations in the biomolecular landscape of systemically circulating extracellular vesicles across clinical conditions 
   

• Lab address: 
  Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, 
  Department of Human Structure and Repair, 
  Campus UZ Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, The Core, ingang 37, 9000 Gent, Belgium 
• LECR
• X (former Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Cláudio Pinheiro is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks