Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
MD in the University Federal of Pelotas, Brazil. Residency in Neurology in the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. PhD and Postdoctoral Fellowship at McGill University. Currently, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at University of Pittsburgh.
Research Assistant Professor
Research Assistant Professor
I am a Pharmacist from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) with a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences, focusing on astrocyte functionality during aging. During my Ph.D., I studied the connection between astrocytes and peripheral mediators of inflammation. I also participated in a one-year exchange student program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Additionally, I have experience working with molecular biology, biochemical assays, primary cell culture, cerebral energetic metabolism, and oxidative stress. Currently, I am a research assistant professor focusing on investigating glial biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease. During my spare time, I like practicing sports and traveling around.
Research Assistant Professor
I am a pharmacist with a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. My research has been dedicated to developing and applying bioanalytical methods for studying biomarkers in various biological fluids. Currently, my work focuses on the evaluation of plasma biomarkers in clinical settings and how these biomarkers can be used to diagnose and monitor individuals at risk of dementia. Furthermore, I’m also evaluating how plasma biomarker levels vary across different populations.
Staff Members
Research Program Administrator
I completed my Master’s in Neuroscience at McGill University under Dr. Pedro Rosa-Neto and have been working at the Pascoal Lab since January 2022. As the Research Program Administrator, I am responsible for managing our active studies, research grants, personnel, and other operations. I also conduct some research on our study datasets. When I’m not at the lab, I enjoy film clubs, farmers’ markets, and going back home to Montreal whenever I can!
Research Operations Coordinator
I completed my master’s degree in special education at Saint Vincent College and post-graduate coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis. My research interests include adverse childhood experiences and their effect on cognitive development later in life. I also have an extensive background in behavioral interventions for the ID/A population. In my free time, you’ll either find me traveling to a new destination or spending time with my family, friends, and puppy Stella.
Data Manager
I am a Computer Scientist with a Master’s in the same field from the Federal University of Pelotas (Brazil). During my academic years, I got involved with research, and exploring data to generate insights became one of my interests. I continued to develop my analytical and technical skills when I joined the industry and helped solve business problems and support decision-making. I currently assist the lab in performing data analysis, data management, and data organization tasks. In my free time, I enjoy going for walks, playing sports, gaming, reading, and listening to music.
Research Project Assistant
I received my B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh in April 2024, and I’ll be pursuing an M.S. in Computational Biomedicine & Biotechnology at Pitt’s School of Medicine beginning in August 2024. As an undergraduate student, I was primarily involved in emergency trauma and pediatric clinical research, however I’m also very interested in the intersection of technology and biomedical research. I currently assist the lab with patient recruitment and scheduling, data collection, participant supervision, and various other tasks. I will also be involved in analyzing imaging data and developing computational tools for analyzing clinical data. Outside of work, you’ll find me staying active by running and kayaking, spending time with family and friends, or catching up on my favorite TV shows.
Postdoctoral Associates
Postdoctoral Associate
I have a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, a Master’s Degree, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). I have spent a year of my undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis (USA) and a year of my PhD studies at the University of California – Irvine (USA) through the Fulbright DDRA program. My current focus lies in advancing Alzheimer’s disease research, particularly in understanding glial biomarkers and their underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Outside of the lab, I am a cat enthusiastic, I love traveling, watching TV shows and movies, reading, and playing game boards.
Postdoctoral Associate
My research focuses on neuroscience and memory-related diseases, and during my PhD I studied synaptic loss and neurodegeneration as key drivers of memory impairment. Through my research, I identified specific changes in the glutamatergic system in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease dementia. I also found that the biomarker total-tau in the CSF better reflects synaptic degeneration rather than the established idea of indicating neurodegeneration. At the Pascoal Lab, I continue to explore the interplay between Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers from biofluids and PET imaging using statistical modeling. My current project focuses on Primary Age-Related Tauopathy (PART), aiming to define its pathological mechanisms and how they differ from those of Alzheimer’s disease. Outside the lab, I enjoy podcasts, comedy, music, puzzles, volleyball, baking, and theater.
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a geriatrician interested in studying healthy brain aging and dementia prevention. I have worked with stroke rehabilitation, neuroimaging, and cognitive training. These helped me understand the potential of neural repair and neuroplasticity in modulating brain functions towards healthy trajectories. Currently, as a post-doc in the Pascoal lab, I am keen to harness the power of advanced Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers. I want to use both fluid and molecular imaging markers to study the early impact of dementing pathologies on brain structure and function with a goal to thwart such deleterious effects.
Postdoctoral Associate
I received an M.D. from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from the same university. During my Ph.D., I investigated the role of non-invasive neuromodulation in treating adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. I am currently a psychiatry resident at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where I am part of the Psychiatry Research Pathway under the supervision of Dr. Tharick Pascoal. My current work involves understanding the epidemiological association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer’s disease using clinical data and in vivo biomarkers of Alzheimer’s pathology. During my free time I like reading, playing boardgames, and traveling.
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a medical doctor from Faculdade Ciencias Medicas de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Currently pursuing a postdoc at the Pascoal Lab and in the future wish to become a psychiatrist. Outside of the lab, I enjoy baking, arts & crafts, and spending time with my family and my dogs.
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a Biomedical Scientist (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) and a Biomedical Informatician (Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil) with an M.S. in Neuroscience and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. This unique combination of expertise has allowed me to interact with key stakeholders in Health Sciences. My previous research focused on using animal models to investigate neurodevelopmental disorders and applying bioinformatics methods to analyze circular RNAs. Currently, I am focused on developing machine learning models and utilizing data-driven approaches for imaging biomarkers analysis in neurodegenerative conditions. In my spare time, I enjoy watching basketball, cooking, and baking with my wife.
Postdoctoral Associate
I’m a Ph.D. in Biochemistry with B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science. Currently, I’m a postdoc at Pascoal Lab. I have experience with neuroimaging (analysis and processing of PET and MRI) and with the application of artificial intelligence techniques for diagnosing and predicting events related to neurodegenerative diseases. My current work focuses on PET imaging harmonization using Deep Learning techniques. During my spare time, I like to play mobile games and cooking.
Postdoctoral Associate
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and an MD from the American University of Beirut, in addition to a Master’s degree in psychiatric research from King’s College London. I am interested in identifying biomarkers that correlate with specific symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, gaming, and sports!
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a Brazilian Neurologist and a postdoc associate in Pascoal Lab. I currently study the clinical utility of AD biomarkers. I received my MD at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, and I did my Medical Residency at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. Other current projects include investigating the relations between dementia, depression and circadian rhythms. I am a fan of musical theater, Coldplay, comedy, Internacional (soccer) and a proud dog mom to Logan, a good-boy akita-chow.
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a Biomedical scientist by training with a master’s degree in immunology from the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil (focusing on phytopharmacology and reactive astrogliosis modulation). My Ph.D. is scaffolded in pharmacogenomics and drug-repurposing strategies in progressive Multiple sclerosis animal models and its role over white-matter reactive astrocytes and disease outcomes. This part of my research training was developed at the University Clinic of Duesseldorf-Heinrich Heine University, Germany. After concluding my Ph.D., I worked in the biotech industry as a scientific advisor in synthetic biology strategies for research and diagnostics in neuroscience. I joined Dr. Tharick Pascoal’s lab at the University of Pittsburgh as a postdoctoral research associate directing research on the impact of reactive astrogliosis in the AD continuum. In my spare time, I like a good stroll with a sunset completing the view and some Jazz and good Rap on my earphones.Some weight lifting and good food do a fair job for my daily-basis enjoyment.
Postdoctoral Associate
I`m a biomedical scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). During my PhD, I investigated the influence of metabolic diseases on microglia reactivity and cognitive impairment. I also participated in a one-year exchange student program in neuroscience at Linkoping University (Sweden), where I worked on understanding the impact of obesity on microglia reactivity. I joined the Pascoal lab as a postdoctoral research associate, willing to understand the influence of metabolic diseases on glial cell reactivity and AD progression. During my spare time, I enjoy walking in nature, watching TV series, practicing some weightlifting, and cooking.
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a neuroscience researcher, and I received my Ph.D. degree from University of Calcutta, India. During my Ph.D. tenure, I investigated astrocytes, the most prevalent brain glial cells, to understand their impact on neuron health in Alzheimer’s disease condition. I have two previous postdoctoral trainings at the University of Pittsburgh during which I worked on several mice model systems to decipher the molecular basis of traumatic brain injury, Huntington disease, neuroinflammation etc. I joined Pascoal lab as a postdoctoral associate and I am working on how glial cells either positively or negatively are associated with human Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology leveraging RNA sequencing information. I like art, photography, traveling, soulful music and in general I like to enhance my knowledge on anything that is aesthetically valuable and closer to life.
Postdoctoral Associate
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Psychology along with an MD from the American University of Beirut. Throughout my undergraduate and medical training, I developed a passion for psychiatry, particularly forensic and geriatric psychiatry and one day hope to become a psychiatrist. I joined the Pascoal Lab to further my understanding of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Disease and its effects on patients and their loved ones. I am interested in exploring the relationship between medication use and tau tracers. In my free time I enjoy exploring contemporary classical and Arabic music, or spending quality time with friends and family.
Clinical/Lab Visitors
Visiting Medical Student
I am an undergraduate Medical Student at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, aiming to pursue a career in Neurology and clinical research. As of 2025, my ongoing projects include the investigation of different pharmacological strategies for symptom management in frontotemporal dementia and their impact on patient outcomes, as well as investigating the impact of gender on Tau deposition. In my free time I enjoy exercising, reading and going out with friends.
Visiting Clinician
I’m a neurologist who graduated from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) with a PhD in Neurosciences by Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. Currently, Associate Professor of Neurophysiology at University of Taquari Valley, Rio Grande do Sul. I joined the Pascoal Lab to deepen my studies in cognitive disorders and related diseases. In this period of three months in the Lab I had a direct contact with patients with cognitive disorders, while I also had immersion in highest level of research in Alzheimer’s Disease. This high-level period studies have contributed to my professional work as to my personal life experience. It was a pivotal for changing concepts and practical activities in my academic, professional and personal life! Outside of working I like spending time with my family and doing activities with my son, as well as a good read and a soccer game.
Alumni
PhD Student
During my doctoral studies in neuroscience at McGill University, I joined Dr. Pascoal’s laboratory for a one-year exchange (2021-2022). This experience significantly deepened my understanding of Positron Emission Tomography methodology and enhanced my understanding of the unique characteristics of various tracers. Additionally, it provided the opportunity to collaborate more closely with Suzanne Baker at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, CA, USA), where I subsequently joined as a postdoctoral scholar in November 2023. The mentorship of Dr. Pascoal during these formative years played a pivotal role in my scientific growth and my career! Outside of the lab I enjoy cooking & baking, especially exploring recipes from diverse cultural backgrounds! Additionally, I love attending concerts and soaking in nature by going on hikes!
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a Neurologist from the São Lucas Hospital from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, as well as a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health from the University of California in San Francisco. Currently, I am working as a postdoc in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. I believe that research in biomarkers offers a powerful opportunity to better characterize neurodegenerative disorders and improve earlier diagnosis and better management of patients. My ongoing projects include the study of microglial activation in Alzheimer’s disease, and the study of the frequency and clinical impact of AD clinical syndromes and positive biomarker status among patients hospitalized in psychiatric wards in Brazil. My personal interests include a visual art project under the pseudonym of Tata Owen (last exhibition in Gallery 190 – https://memory.ucsf.edu/about/art-mac/gallery190), and a music project called Homem Café, which is influenced by rock and folk aesthetics.
Regulatory Affairs Coordinator
I received my undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. I have experience in regulatory and clinical coordination in pulmonary, critical care, and now Alzheimer’s research. I currently assist in coordinating the team’s research projects by submitting applications and reporting to regulatory institutions. I enjoy gaming, tennis, camping, and hiking in my free time.
Postdoctoral Associate
I am a biologist and completed my master’s and doctoral degrees in biochemistry at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. During my postdoctoral research, I was a fellow at the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) in the field of Neurochemistry. I worked as a senior postdoctoral researcher at the Pascoal Lab, where I expanded my knowledge by working with bioinformatics in R and utilizing fluid biomarkers to study Alzheimer’s disease. The focus of my project was to investigate the effects of glial reactivity on pre- and post-synaptic dysfunctions. Currently, I am back in Brazil as a postdoctoral fellow supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). My professional interests revolve around research in neuropathology, including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke, as well as the use of adipose-derived stem cell exosomes as an alternative treatment. The year I spent at the Pascoal Lab brought me a wealth of knowledge, not only scientifically but also for my professional and personal life. I am confident that this training will make a significant difference in my career. I already miss it!
Visiting MD-PhD Student
I’m currently an MD student at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and a PhD student at the Biochemistry Department in the same institution, under the supervision of Prof. Eduardo R. Zimmer. I’ve also done part of my PhD as a Visiting Scholar at the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Pittsburgh (USA) under the supervision of Dr. Tharick A. Pascoal. My current research interest is using neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers to better understand Alzheimer’s disease etiology and progression. I’ve always been a curious person, driven by a desire to understand the explanations behind everything. I found in science a way to satisfy my need for answers. The 18 months that I spent in the Pascoal Lab provided me with the best scientific training I could have in the early stage of my scientific career.
Research Specialist
I received my B.A. in Linguistics with Honors Research Distinction from the Ohio State University in May 2023. My undergraduate research focused on computational phonology and natural language processing, and I intend to focus on the neurobiology of language in future studies. I currently assist the lab with recruitment, scheduling, participant supervision, and data collection. Besides research, my passions include triathlon, bonding with friends and family, and searching for the perfect cup of coffee.
Data Coordinator and Analyst
I received my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and my Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. During my tenure at Pascoal Lab, I helped to organize the databases and provide support and solutions for programming projects in the lab. In my free time, I like to make pies, cook, and play tennis!
Postdoctoral Associate
I received my MD from Ziauddin University in Pakistan and currently pursue a postdoc at the Pascoal Lab. I’m currently working on exploring sex differences in core biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. My hobbies include spending time in nature, cooking, and practicing yoga.
