Annual Report of Activities CNC 2008 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
Annual Report of Activities CNC 2008 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
Annual Report of Activities CNC 2008 - Center for Neuroscience and ...
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the evidence that polyphenolic antioxidants interfere with NO metabolism <strong>and</strong> endothelial function pointsto new potential therapeutical targets in atherosclerosis prevention. Characterization <strong>of</strong> mitochondrialbioenergetics <strong>and</strong> immunological pr<strong>of</strong>iles in heart ischemia <strong>and</strong> ischemia/reperfusion, evaluation <strong>of</strong>metabolic fluxes in hippocampus <strong>and</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> cognition by caffeine were demonstrated by NMR. Thedevelopment <strong>of</strong> new potential MRI contrast agents <strong>and</strong> the first evidence <strong>for</strong> P2X receptors in pancreatic β‐cells which modulate insulin release, together with the identification <strong>of</strong> Substance P as an orexigenicneuropeptide, crucial in wound healing in diabetes were important achievements. The identification <strong>of</strong> themolecular mechanisms <strong>of</strong> phagocytosis involving Rab proteins, the discovery <strong>of</strong> the function <strong>of</strong> the geneproduct <strong>of</strong> an essential gene in Mycobacterium spp, the underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> yeast metabolic response tobacterial endotoxin, the identification <strong>of</strong> novel species <strong>of</strong> extreme environment bacteria <strong>and</strong> analysis <strong>of</strong>their adaptive response, open potential new therapeutic pathways, which can benefit <strong>of</strong> pharmacosatisticalmethods to study drug efficacy <strong>and</strong> toxicity. New exciting developments <strong>of</strong> neuroprotection <strong>and</strong> tissuerepair, using gene delivery, created the basic conditions to develop strong research lines devoted to theuse <strong>of</strong> viral vectors <strong>and</strong> gene delivery as tools to stop the progression <strong>of</strong> diseases, particularly cancer <strong>and</strong>brain diseases. A transversal interest, involving different research areas, in stem cells biology <strong>and</strong> tissueengineering, namely on the use <strong>of</strong> stem cells in tissue repair, led to the clarification <strong>of</strong> the mechanisms <strong>of</strong>stem/progenitor cell proliferation <strong>and</strong> differentiation, involving not only neurons <strong>and</strong> oligodendrocytes,but also cardiac cells. Under this scope two patents were produced <strong>and</strong> several collaborations established.Translational research <strong>of</strong> neurodegenerative disorders genetics, in collaboration with Neurogenetics Lab,NIH, led to the description <strong>of</strong> novel mutations in FTD <strong>and</strong> AD. An algoritm to unveal clusters <strong>of</strong> genesassociated with human diseases was established. In <strong>2008</strong> 14 prizes were awarded to young talentedinvestigators at <strong>CNC</strong>. The following five are representative: “Medal <strong>of</strong> Honor L’Oreal <strong>for</strong> Women inScience”, L’Oreal Portugal/Unesco/FCT; Crioestaminal Prize; GSK IdeaSpring Prize BioTecnologia;Programa Estímulo à Investigação <strong>2008</strong>, FCG; prize “ Nunes Correa Verdades de Faria”8
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