The perks of being a PhD student on RENOIR

My name is Filipa Ferreira and I am from Porto, Portugal. I graduated in Biochemistry, and I hold a master’s in Medicine and Molecular Oncology by the University of Porto, Portugal. 

My PhD project, within the RENOIR network, is being developed at the Heva Research Lab under the supervision of Professor Silvia Brunelli. The main goal is to understand how different cells in the muscle communicate to achieve a successful regeneration. The study will focus on a mechanism known as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition that has been shown to jeopardize muscle repair and contribute to its decline. In the end we expect to identify promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of muscle-based diseases and ageing.

The main advantage of being involved in an ITN project is the chance to work with a group of academic and non-academic experts of a specific field. This, aligned with all the training events, mobility opportunities and collaborations between groups and students in the network, contributes a lot for the higher scientific education and success of each ESR.

I think that in science is very important to leave our comfort zone and experience how research is done in different working environments. It makes us learn how to look at things in a different way and widen our scientific knowledge and skills. This ITN allows us to do that because it is composed by a multidisciplinary and international team, with training courses, mobilities and networking opportunities. Therefore, I think RENOIR is having a significant impact on my personal and professional growth and on my future career.