Meet the group of researchers involved in this scientific initiative.
Graduated in Physical Education from the University of Brasília (2005). Specialist in Resistance Trainning from Veiga de Almeida University (2006). Completed a Master's degree in Neuroscience from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2009). Completed a sandwich master's internship at the Universidad Nacional de Cordoba (Cordoba, Argentina) for 2 months (2009). PhD in Neuroscience from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2013). Completed a sandwich doctoral internship at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Madrid, Spain) for 6 months (2010). Completed a postdoctoral internship in Neuroscience and Biochemistry at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2013-2020). He was a professor of Biochemistry for undergraduate courses and was affiliated with the Multicenter Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PMBqBM) at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) in Governador Valadares, MG (2020-2022). He worked as a researcher at the Center for Innovation and Preclinical Trials (CIEnP) in projects related to Innovation in the development of new drugs (2023-2024). Hired as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences (CFS) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, UFSC (2024). He is accredited as an advisor in the Postgraduate Program in Neuroscience and in the Multicenter Postgraduate Program in Physiological Sciences (PPGMCF) at UFSC.
With extensive experience in molecular, cellular, and behavioral neuroscience, Dr. Cunha’s research focuses on the effects of experimental models of physical activity and exercise (and associated molecular and cellular mechanisms) on psychiatric diseases (such as depression), neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease), and metabolic diseases (such as diabetes and obesity), as well as on glutamatergic excitotoxicity (cerebral ischemia), the aging process, cellular senescence, and on exhaustion and physical performance. Dr. Cunha has led groundbreaking studies showing that Irisin, a hormone synthesized and secreted as a result of physical exercise, has protective actions in depression. In addition, he studies intermediate molecules of energy metabolism synthesized and secreted by skeletal muscle as a result of physical exercise, such as creatine, lactate, α-ketoglutarate, and methylglyoxal in behavioral and biochemical changes related to chronic stress. His studies have contributed to the understanding of how neuronal dysfunction occurs in the brains of patients with chronic stress-related diseases and have thus robustly helped in the understanding of how lifestyle interventions, in particular physical exercise, have the potential to preserve brain health and prevent or manage stress-related diseases such as depression and anxiety.
Student of the Pharmacy course at UFSC and scientific initiation student with a PIBIC scholarship. Studies the behavioral effects of lactate administration in mice.
Biology student at UFSC and scientific initiation student. Study of the effects of inhibition of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase on behavior and neurochemical patterns.
Medical student at UFSC and scientific initiation student. Studies the molecular targets of lactate in depression using bioinformatics tools.
Pharmacy student at UFSC and scientific initiation student. Studies the molecular targets of creatine in depression using bioinformatics tools.