Expertise: Human Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells; Bone Marrow Microenvironment; Biomimetic Hematopoietic Niche; Acquired Aplastic Anemia; Bioinformatics.
Short Bio:
Maria Catarina Carreira, a Bioengineering PhD student specializing in Cell Therapies and Regenerative Medicine, is dedicated to developing a bio-inspired 3D co-culture system to expand autologous hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) in the context of acquired aplastic anemia (AA). With a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering (2022), Catarina focuses on exploring the interactions between HSPC and various components of the bone marrow niche. Through a combination of ex-vivo cell expansion and bioinformatics, her objective is not only to enhance the understanding of AA mechanisms but also to contribute to the advancement of novel therapies for AA patients.
Research Focus:
Investigating hematopoietic niche impact on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) in acquired aplastic anemia, while developing biomimetic systems for the development of novel therapies.