My name is Sandra Pinhanços, and I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at MIA-Portugal, Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing, CNC-UC, CiBB. I investigate metabolism and RNA-based therapies, specifically microRNAs in β-cell dysfunction and metabolic disease.
My area of expertise focuses on metabolic disorders, particularly β-cell dysfunction and microRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms that protect against glucolipotoxicity in diabetes and obesity.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
My days are very dynamic and rarely the same. Some days are dedicated to writing, preparing grant applications or manuscripts, while others are spent at the bench where I design and perform experiments and generating new data. Meetings are an important part of my routine as well; in our group, we hold regular Journal Club discussions to learn about the latest discoveries, discuss innovative approaches, and inspire new directions for our own research.
What first sparked your interest in working in the field of obesity?
My early interest in obesity was sparked by its complexity as a disease. Obesity is not confined to a single organ but affects multiple systems, and its growing global burden, along with strong link to type 2 diabetes, motivated me to explore some shared molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic dysfunction. I became particularly interested in how microRNAs regulate β-cell responses to metabolic stress and whether they can enhance cellular resilience under glucolipotoxic conditions. I was inspired by the work of Mirian Cnop on β-cell dysfunction. This led me to integrate our laboratory’s expertise in microRNA biology and metabolism to identify novel therapeutic microRNAs capable of protecting β-cells from glucolipotoxicity-induced death.
What’s one tool, method, or hack that makes your work life easier that you wish everyone knew about?
What makes my life in the lab much easier is having a supportive and well-organized management team in our institute. I also block my day between bench work and writing, which helps me focus on one task at a time, staying efficient. We have frequent brainstorming sessions, which help generate new ideas, solve problems collaboratively, and make our scientific discussions more productive.
How has being part of the ECN changed your journey so far?
Being part of the ECN and participating in the ECN Masterclass has given me the chance to connect with peers at different stages of their careers and from diverse backgrounds, reminding me that I am part of a supportive network of interdisciplinary researchers committed to advancing metabolic science. Moreover, the consistent eLearning Hub webinars have been invaluable for keeping up with the latest research, novel methods, and innovative strategies in the field.
What has been the most rewarding or exciting project that you’ve worked on?
The most rewarding project I have worked on in recent years involved using an unbiased screening strategy to identify microRNAs capable of protecting β-cells from glucolipotoxicity. Through this approach, we identified miR-642a-3p as both a promising biomarker and a potential therapeutic candidate for preserving β-cell function. This project was particularly meaningful because I joined Dr. Hugo Fernandes’ newly established laboratory and helped initiate a new research line focused on microRNAs in metabolic disease. It was exciting to contribute not only to the experimental design and data generation but also to shaping the lab’s research direction. Beyond the scientific discovery, this work has important translational implications, as it opens new avenues for developing microRNA-based strategies to protect β-cells in diabetes and obesity.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to the “you” who was just starting out?
I would tell my younger self to stay resilient, enjoy the process in the lab, and have fun along the way, while also developing both wet-lab and computational skills, including bioinformatics, to broaden the impact of my research.
What excites you most about the future of obesity research?
What excites me most about the future of obesity research is the potential to develop targeted delivery systems for microRNAs, allowing precise modulation of pancreatic β-cell function. I am particularly motivated by the possibility of creating miRNA-based therapies that could effectively treat obesity and its associated metabolic complications. I am also fascinated by how interventions such as bariatric surgery can reshape miRNA profiles, which could lead to the identification of novel biomarkers and insights into the mechanisms driving metabolic improvements.
Where do you see yourself in five years – what’s your dream project or role?
In five years, I aim to contribute at the interface of metabolic disease biology and RNA delivery, focusing on developing miRNA-based strategies to preserve pancreatic β-cell function in obesity and diabetes. In parallel, I hope to continue mentoring young researchers and attract highly motivated PhD students to help build a collaborative and innovative research environment.
What kinds of projects or initiatives would you be most interested in collaborating on with other ECN members?
Within the ECN, I am particularly interested in collaborative projects that integrate diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives on obesity, combining molecular research, clinical insights, and computational approaches. I am excited by opportunities to work with other members to design innovative studies, share expertise, and develop solutions that could translate into new therapeutic strategies.
Connect with Sandra!
Email: sandra.pinhancos@uc.pt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-mimoso-pinhan%C3%A7os-073542149/
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