Iris Pinheiro

I have extensive expertise in immunology and host-microbiome interactions and a broad scientific knowledge in biomedical research. I hold a PhD in Immunology from the Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent, Belgium, and I was a Marie Curie Fellow at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRAE) in the Unit of Biology of Development and Reproduction in Paris, France. Before that I was an Undergraduate Research Fellow at CIBIO in Portugal. I also hold a Master's in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources from the University of Porto, Portugal. Therefore, since 2002 I am actively working as a researcher, with an initial focus in the field of genetics. However, during my PhD (2007-2011), I have initiated my career in immunology and combined both areas, i.e., I applied genomic studies on the search for new targets to treat sepsis. However, when I joined ProDigest in 2012, my career took a turn, and I specialized in host-microbial interactions, with a focus on gut immunology. I have also extensively developed my skills in cell biology, and therefore implemented numerous in vitro cellular models that mimic disease and can be used on the study of host-microbial interactions. At ProDigest (2012-2017) I was responsible for the tissue culture facilities and developed numerous cell-based assays intended to be employed as a service for food and pharma industries. When transitioning to MRM Health (October 2017 till present), I became Head of the Translational Research Unit, which makes use of in vivo and in vitro models mimicking specific diseases, namely inflammatory, autoimmune, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. We use a multitude of in vitro and in vivo models to develop MRM Health’s products, from early discovery to pre-clinical development, and up to the clinical stage. I currently supervise a team of nine members, including PhD holders, MSc, and Lab Technicians. Therefore, I have a strong experience with all sorts of molecular techniques to study gene and protein expression in tissues and cells. I am also familiar with several in vitro technologies and methodologies, from collection of primary cells to performing in vitro studies including cell transfection, RNAi, FACS, embryonic stem (ES)-cells manipulation, etc. I have also experience with several inflammatory mouse in vivo models, and I am familiar with mouse ES-cells gene targeting technology, including ES-cell culture and manipulation, in vitro fertilization, tetraploid aggregation, ovarian implant, among others. I am specialized in cell culture methods and cell-based assay development.