Main achievements
1. The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor sitagliptin ameliorates retinal endothelial cell dysfunction triggered by inflammation.
2. Sitagliptin improves oxidative stress and ameliorates glomerular lesions in animal model of type 1 diabetes.
3. Novel porphyrin- and phthalocyanine-based photosensitizers show remarkable photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficiency in an in vitro model of bladder cancer.
4. Caveolin-1 modulation increases efficacy of a galacto-conjugated phthalocyanine in bladder cancer cells resistant to PDT.
5. Patients with diabetic retinopathy show changes in tear fluid proteins profile.
Publications
Scientific interests and ongoing research projects
Rosa Fernandes’ research interests are mainly focused on the study of blood-retinal barrier impairment in retinal degenerative diseases, namely diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In particular, she has been interested in investigating the contribution of small extracellular vesicles to the dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelial cells (disruption of the outer blood-retinal barrier, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metabolic reprogramming) and neovascularization in AMD.
Other scientific interests:
- Identification of biomarkers in tear fluid that could aid early diagnosis and monitor therapeutic interventions in diabetic retinopathy and AMD.
- Evaluation of the efficacy of novel photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in AMD and bladder cancer.