Dr. Fernanda G. Q. Barros-Aragão, pictured left on stage. Photo courtesy of the Alzheimer's Association.
Dr. Fernanda G. Q. Barros-Aragão is a postdoctoral fellow in the Centre for Neurosciences and Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Fernanda De Felice and Dr. Brendon Gurd. Dr. Barros-Aragão completed her doctoral training in Morphological Sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she explored the impact of the Zika virus infection in adults’ central nervous system. Her doctoral research was complemented by her earlier degrees in Biomedicine and Pharmacology. Before joining Queen’s University, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the D’Or Institute for Research and Education in Brazil with a project to understand COVID-19’s acute and long-term impacts on the brain.
Dr. Barros-Aragão’s current research with Dr. De Felice and Dr. Gurd expands on her previous experience to investigate how the brain and muscles communicate following exercise via nanosized particles released by cells, named extracellular vesicles. The project supports the development of novel treatments for neurological diseases, such as dementia, because the research identifies potential opportunities for treatment interventions in this communication pathway to mimic or recreate the positive and protective impact of exercise on the brain. Dr. Barros-Aragão’s research also explores sex differences, and her work on this project was most recently published in .
As an early-career researcher, Dr. Barros-Aragão’s work has been recognized by the which is a leading global organization that supports cutting-edge research on Alzheimer’s and supports those living with Alzheimer’s disease. She presented at the organization’s annual international conference and won best poster prize in the “Basic Science, Pathogenesis, and Drug Development” postdoctoral category. The SGSPA was thrilled to support Dr. Barros-Aragão with a Postdoc Travel Award to attend.
The Alzheimer’s Association also recognized Dr. Barros-Aragão’s research with a grant to continue her exciting research. Dr. Barros-Aragão is the Principal Investigator on the grant which is a part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Research Grant Program. The grant will support her current line of inquiry investigating sex differences in neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition to her own research, Dr. Barros-Aragão is an active mentor and has supported undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. She provides thoughtful support to junior colleagues in the lab as they develop research and scientific skills. At Queen’s University and at the D’Or Institute for Research and Education, Fernanda has seen her past trainees succeed in further graduate study and transition into careers in biomedical industries. The SGSPA looks forward to seeing where Dr. Barros-Aragão’s research career takes her next!