Name: Amanda de Almeida Silva

Affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMUSP), Heart Institute (InCor), São Paulo, Brazil

Email: manda.a.silva94@gmail.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandadealmeidasilva/

Tell us about yourself.

I am 28 years old with a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences and a Master’s from the University of São Paulo Medical School (FMUSP). I am currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Cardiology at FMUSP. Since my undergraduate research, I have been supervised by Prof. Maria Cláudia Irigoyen at the Experimental Hypertension Laboratory of the Heart Institute (InCor), developing expertise in cardiac function assessment via echocardiography in animal models. During my PhD, I am co-supervised by Prof. Gabriela Placoná Diniz and responsible for acquiring and analyzing echocardiographic images in various collaborative research projects.

What are your research interests?

My main interests include understanding the mechanisms by which the autonomic nervous system is related to hypertension, how hypertension can affect the cardiorenal axis, conducting research from an integrative physiology perspective, investigating potential pharmacological targets for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and more recently, I have developed an interest in neuroimmunology.

What are you working on right now?

The research developed during my PhD studies aims to validate an animal model of obesity with cardiorenal dysfunction and metabolic syndrome. Subsequently, we intend to test a drug that may improve this condition. One of the primary objectives of this work is to establish the metabolic syndrome and investigate the relationship between autonomic nervous system activity, hypertension, and cardiorenal injury. Additionally, I contribute by performing cardiac function assessments in various research projects from groups at InCor, FMUSP, the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at USP (ICB-USP), and the State University of Campinas (UniCamp).

What do you hope to achieve in the field of hypertension over the next 5 years?

I hope to achieve significant publications in the field of hypertension through my PhD research and collaborations; I also aim to undertake a one-year research exchange abroad in a group working on one of my research interests, fostering a mutually beneficial exchange of experiences; and to secure a more stable position upon completion of my doctorate.

What challenges have you faced in your career to date?.

I believe that establishing collaborations with research groups outside my country has been the greatest challenge to date, including engaging with these groups at scientific events and identifying or creating opportunities with other researchers.

Which of your publications are you proudest of and why?

I am most proud of the research developed during my master’s degree: "Novel model of cardiac hypertrophy with cardiorenal dysfunction," DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90435-z, through which I gained significant expertise. I am also proud of the work in which the echocardiographic images I acquired were selected as the cover for the December 2022 issue of Clinical Science: “Set7 deletion attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac fibrosis and delays cardiac dysfunction,” DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20220466. Both studies investigated cardiac hypertrophy, remodeling, and function in distinct animal models that mimic cardiac alterations secondary to hypertension.

What is your favourite manuscript from a lab other than your own?

Valensi, P. Autonomic nervous system activity changes in patients with hypertension and overweight: role and therapeutic implications. Cardiovasc Diabetol 20, 170 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-021-01356-w

What are your passions outside of work?

I greatly enjoy spending quality time with my family, going to bars and restaurants with friends to socialize while eating, visiting museums, and attending cultural events. I love gathering to play board games or other types of games such as volleyball or video games.
Additionally, I am passionate about learning new languages; I am currently studying English, have completed short courses in Mandarin, and have an interest in learning Spanish and French.