Brain injury is characterized by neuronal loss and dysfunction, accompanied by neuroinflammation and an upregulation of the formation of new neurons (neurogenesis). Nevertheless, the phenomena of Injury-induced neurogenesis is far from being efficient. In our group, we are interested in understanding how the inflammatory microenvironment of the brain regulates the neurogenic response. Establishing the mechanisms by which inflammatory factors influence the formation of new neurons after injury will help in the identification of new strategies to repair the damaged brain.

For more information, please also see: http://dcbm.ualg.pt/rc/pt/content/ines-araujo#sthash.tu1I3jZz.dpuf

5 Selected Publications

Martinez-Ruiz A., Araújo IM., Izquierdo-Álvarez A., Hernansanz-Agustín P., Lamas S., Serrador JM. (2013) Specificity in S-nitrosylation: a short-range mechanism for NO signaling? Antioxid. Redox Signal, 19 (11) : 1220-35.

Carreira BP., Morte MI., Lourenço AS., Santos AI., Inácio Â., Ambrósio AF., Carvalho CM., Araújo IM. (2013) Differential contribution of the guanylyl cyclase-cyclic GMP-Protein kinase G pathway to the proliferation of neural stem cells stimulated by nitric oxide. Neurosignals, 21(1-2): 1-13.

Carreira BP., Carvalho CM., Araújo IM. (2012) Regulation of injury-induced neurogenesis by nitric oxide. Stem Cells Int., 2012:895659.

Carreira BP., Morte MI., Inácio Â., Rosmaninho-Salgado J., Costa G., Agasse F., Carmo A., Couceiro P., Brundin P., Ambrósio AF., Carvalho CM., Araújo IM. (2010) Nitric oxide stimulates the proliferation of neural stem cells bypassing the epidermal growth factor receptor. Stem Cells, 28 (7) : 1219-1230. 

Araújo IM., Gil J., Carreira BP., Mohapel P., Petersén Å., Pinheiro PS., Soulet D., Bahr BA., Brundin P., Carvalho CM. (2008) Calpain activation is involved in early caspase-independent neurodegeneration in the hippocampus following status epilepticus. J. Neurochem., 105 (3) : 666-676.

Awards, Fellowships and Honours

2011            PI, “iCALP-Identification of the physiological roles of calpains in the control of cell proliferation and migration in the CNS", FCT
2005            Medal of Honour L´Oréal Portugal for Women in Science
2004            Postdoc Fellowship, Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation
2003            Short-Term Fellowship, FEBS
2000            Ph.D. Fellowship, Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation

• Adult neurogenesis
• Stem cells
• Brain repair
• Neuroinflammation
• Glutamate receptor-mediated excitotoxcity in the hippomcampus
• Proteases involved in neurotoxicity
• In Vitro and In Vivo models for neurodegeneration
• Brain ischemia
• Laser scanning microscopy
• Time-lapse imaging (intracellular recordings and cellular migration)
• CNS histology
• Primary cell cultures (hippocampal neurons, retinal cells, subventricular zone cells, astrocytes, microglia)