tl2

Neurosciences

The Thematic Line 2 – Neurosciences studies prevalent neurological, psychiatric, and mental health conditions. Its mission is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of major disorders, thereby advancing clinical assessment, prognostication, and effective management strategies.

Coordinated by Elsa Azevedo, TL2 explores the intricate relationship between molecular neurobiology and clinical manifestations in various disorders, with a strong translational focus and a multidisciplinary team that orchestrates a continuous from laboratory research activities to bedside application. 

This thematic line aims to improve scientific knowledge and clinical management in this field, including the complex area of pain, drawing on solid collaborations with different disciplines, clinical departments, research laboratories, and biobanks.

Elsa Azevedo

Elsa Azevedo coordinates RISE-Health Thematic Line 2 – Neurosciences. In the realm of research, she has been coordinating since 2007 the Cerebrovascular Team of UnIC, promoting research and international collaborations. 

After obtaining an MD degree at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) in 1985, she finished a post-graduation in Intensive Care in 1997 and a PhD in Medicine in 2011 (FMUP). She started teaching Neuroanatomy at CESPU in 1993, and since then, she has been teaching Neurology at this medical school. Additionally, she served on its Pedagogic Council. Since 2019, she has coordinated the Neurology Unit of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health. 

Regarding clinical experience, she has been working as a neurologist at the Hospital of São João since 1993. She developed expertise in Cerebrovascular Diseases and Neurosonology, with fellowships in esteemed institutions (Toulouse, Lisbon, Angers, Heidelberg, Giessen, Leicester). She has coordinated the Neurosonology Unit since 1996 and the Cerebrovascular Disease Group since 2005. 

In Portugal, she has been the cerebrovascular Coordinator of the Cerebro-cardiovascular Diseases National Program. She has been one of the founders with leadership positions in the Portuguese Stroke Society, Portuguese Neurosonology Society, and the stroke support association “Portugal AVC”. Internationally, she has integrated several organisms, namely the European Society of Neurosonology and Cerebral Hemodynamics and the European Academy of Neurology. 

Groups

Joana Guimarães

Neuroinflammation, Neurodegeneration, Epilepsy and Neurooncology

Elsa Azevedo

Cerebrovascular Diseases, Neurocritical Care and Neurorehabilitation

Francisco Cruz

Pain, Neurology and Spine

Lia Fernandes

Psychiatry, Psychology & Mental Health

Patrícia Monteiro

Pre-clinical & Translational Neuroscience