Tiago P. Dias

PhD Candidate

Background

M.Sc. in Biotechnology, IST-UTL, 2011
B.Sc in Biochemistry, FCT-UNL, 2009

Research Activities

The work addresses the use of systems bioengineering for studying the mechanisms that affect human stem cell pluripotency, and aims at contributing to a better understanding of the cellular and molecular events that regulate stem cell function. Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) will be used as model systems to establish in vitro artificial platforms that can be used to study important cellular events, such as self-renewal and differentiation. Modeling approaches will be used to unveil complex interactions, and the effects of microenvironmental conditions (e.g. small molecules and growth factors) will be thoroughly analyzed in an integrated fashion due to their capacity to modulate intracellular signaling pathways. Consequently, this project is expected to contribute for the development of innovative cell culture models that better reflect in vivo function and provide important information regarding the mechanisms that control stem cell fate.

E-mail (click on)