- R2RL24, John Bull Building, Plymouh Science Park, 16 Research Way, Plymouth, PL6 8BU
- claudia.barros@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Dr Claudia Barros
Associate Professor of Neuroscience (Research)
Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)
Dr Claudia Barros can be contacted through arrangement with our Press Office, to speak to the media on these areas of expertise.
- Brain tumour
- Neuroscience
- Stem cell
- Laboratory methods
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Principal Investigator, Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth.
Qualifications
- Diploma (5-years) Biology, Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal (1999)
- PhD, Gurdon Institute, Professor Andrea Brand laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK. Focus: Neural Stem Cell division and cell fate, Drosophila models (2003)
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Professor Ulrich Müller laboratory, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, USA. Focus: Cellular and molecular mechanisms directing neural development and function, mouse models (2009)
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford University, UK. Focus: Drosophila Gene expression systems (2010)
- Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow, Bangor University, Wales and Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth (2010-13)
- Lecturer and Principal Investigator, Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth (2013-2020)
Claudia is currently Associate Professor of Neuroscience, her team investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms directing Neural Stem Cell development and Brain Tumourigenesis.
Other qualifications: Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (2014).
Other roles: Peninsula Medical School Senior Management Team member.
Other (former) roles at UoP:
Deputy Director of Doctoral College & Faculty of Health Doctoral College Committee chair (Nov 2019-Dec 2022)
Faculty of Health Research Degrees Committee member 2013-2019 (Vice-chair 2015-2019)
Peninsula Medical School postgraduate Research Coordinator (2015-Jan 2020)
Professional membership
Higher Education Academy Fellow UK
British Society for Cell Biology member and Ambassador at University of Plymouth
British Society for Developmental Biology member
King's College Cambridge University Fellow
Key publications
(2019) 'STRIPAK Members Orchestrate Hippo and Insulin Receptor Signaling to Promote Neural Stem Cell Reactivation' Cell Reports 27, (10) 2921-2933.e5 , DOI Open access
(2016) 'The Hippo signalling pathway maintains quiescence in Drosophila neural stem cells' Nature Communications 7, (0) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2012) 'Disruption of Microtubule Integrity Initiates Mitosis during CNS Repair' Developmental Cell 23, (2) 433-440 , DOI Open access
(2009) 'Impaired maturation of dendritic spines without disorganization of cortical cell layers in mice lacking NRG1/ErbB signaling in the central nervous system' Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106, (11) 4507-4512 , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Microtubule disruption upon CNS damage triggers mitotic entry via TNF signaling activation' Cell Reports 36, (1) , DOI Open access
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
Neuroscience, Cancer, Neural Stem Cell Development in Health and Disease,
Current contributions to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching:
Peninsula Medical School - Biomedical Sciences Special Session Units (SSU2, SSU3 and/or SSU5, year 1 and 2)
Peninsula Dental School, Life Sciences - Emerging Concepts in Biomedical Science (year 2) and Molecular Biology of Cancer (year 2)
School of Biomedical Sciences, BHCS3007 - Contemporary issues in Neurobiology - Neural Stem Cells (year 3)
School of Biomedical Sciences, BHCS3001 - Personal Research Projects (year 3)
School of Biomedical Sciences5006 - MSc Research Project
School of Biomedical Sciences3030 - 1-year long Personal Research Project (year 3)
School of Biomedical Sciences, Summer research placements, year 1
Pastoral Tutoring, Peninsula Medical Schools of Medicine and Dentistry undergraduates, all years
Past contributions:
Peninsula Medical School SSU R- Research in Action (year 4)
Research
Research
Research interests
Current research in our team focus on the identification and characterisation of molecular signals controlling Neural Stem Cell mitotic activation, cell identity and differentiation in normal and in pathological conditions such as upon neoplastic transformation. Our work involves functional genetics, gene expression and imaging studies. We take advantage of the fruit fly Drosophila brain as an in vivo model, and we translate findings into mammalian systems including human brain tissues, patient-derived brain tumour stem cells and neural stem cell cultures.
Grants & contracts
Research Grant (PhD studentship; PI), Brain Tumour Research (2023-26)
Research Grant (PhD studentship; PI), Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth (2021-24)
Research Grant (ResM, PhD studentship; PI), Brain Tumour Research & PMS, University of Plymouth (2019-22)
Research Grant (PhD studentship; PI), ITSMED University of Plymouth (2018-21)
Research Grant (Project grant, PI), Brain Research Trust, UK (2018-21)Research Grant (PhD studentship; PI), ITSMED University of Plymouth (2016-19)
BBSRC New Investigator Research grant, UK (2015-18)Research Grant (PhD studentship; PI), ITSMED University of Plymouth (2013-16)
Research Grant (PhD studentship; PI), Tenovus Cancer Care UK (2011-2015)
Research Grant (MRes studentship; PI), KESS UK/EU (2012-13)
Early Career Fellowship, Leverhulme Trust UK (2010-13)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation USA (2005-07)
PhD Studentship, FCT Portugal (1999-2003, Cambridge University UK)
Science Initiation grant, FCT Portugal (1998-99)
Undergraduate studentship, Prodep Portugal (1997-98)
Publications
Publications
Key publications
(2019) 'STRIPAK Members Orchestrate Hippo and Insulin Receptor Signaling to Promote Neural Stem Cell Reactivation' Cell Reports 27, (10) 2921-2933.e5 , DOI Open access
(2016) 'The Hippo signalling pathway maintains quiescence in Drosophila neural stem cells' Nature Communications 7, (0) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2012) 'Disruption of Microtubule Integrity Initiates Mitosis during CNS Repair' Developmental Cell 23, (2) 433-440 , DOI Open access
(2009) 'Impaired maturation of dendritic spines without disorganization of cortical cell layers in mice lacking NRG1/ErbB signaling in the central nervous system' Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106, (11) 4507-4512 , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Microtubule disruption upon CNS damage triggers mitotic entry via TNF signaling activation' Cell Reports 36, (1) , DOI Open access
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
(2022) 'Direct isolation of single cells from living brains of Drosophila melanogaster without dissociation for transcriptome analysis' STAR Protocols 3, (4) , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Microtubule disruption upon CNS damage triggers mitotic entry via TNF signaling activation' Cell Reports 36, (1) , DOI Open access
(2019) 'STRIPAK Members Orchestrate Hippo and Insulin Receptor Signaling to Promote Neural Stem Cell Reactivation' Cell Reports 27, (10) 2921-2933.e5 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'A zinc-finger fusion protein refines Gal4-defined neural circuits' Molecular Brain 11, (1) 46-46 , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Inhibition of STEP61 ameliorates deficits in mouse and hiPSC-based schizophrenia models' Molecular Psychiatry , DOI Open access
(2016) 'The Hippo signalling pathway maintains quiescence in Drosophila neural stem cells' Nature Communications 7, (0) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2012) 'Disruption of Microtubule Integrity Initiates Mitosis during CNS Repair' Developmental Cell 23, (2) 433-440 , DOI Open access
(2012) 'Colocalization between endogenous erbB4 and endogenous kalirin-7 in interneuronal dendrites' Molecular Psychiatry 17, (1) 1-1 , DOI
(2012) 'Control of interneuron dendritic growth through NRG1/erbB4-mediated kalirin-7 disinhibition' Mol Psychiatry 17, (1) 1-107 , DOI Open access
(2011) 'Extracellular matrix: functions in the nervous system' Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 3, (1) , DOI Open access
(2009) 'Beta1 integrins are required for normal CNS myelination and promote AKT-dependent myelin outgrowth' Development 136, (16) 2717-2724 , DOI Open access
(2009) 'Regulation of radial glial survival by signals from the meninges' J Neurosci 29, (24) 7694-7705 , DOI Open access
(2009) 'Impaired maturation of dendritic spines without disorganization of cortical cell layers in mice lacking NRG1/ErbB signaling in the central nervous system' Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106, (11) 4507-4512 , DOI Open access
(2003) 'Drosophila nonmuscle myosin II promotes the asymmetric segregation of cell fate determinants by cortical exclusion rather than active transport' Dev Cell 5, (6) 829-840 , DOI Open access
(2002) 'Rapid tissue-specific expression assay in living embryos' genesis 34, (1-2) 123-126 , DOI Open access
(2002) 'Two-color GFP imaging demonstrates cell-autonomy of GAL4-driven RNA interference in Drosophila' Genesis 34, (1-2) 170-173 , DOI Open access
Chapters
(2005) 'Integrin Functions in Nervous System Development' Integrins in Development Georgetown, TX Landes Bioscience
Conference Papers
(2012) 'Extrinsic and intrinsic regulation of postembryonic neural stem cell development' 22-23
(2006) 'In vivo functions of erbB signaling in the developing mammalian CNS' 77-78