Sara Carvalhal, PhD, is the Principal Investigator of the Chromosome Segregation in Disease Laboratory at the Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-Ri), University of Algarve. She also serves as the scientific lead of the institute's Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) Facility. She obtained her PhD in Life Sciences from the University of Dundee (UK), where she studied chromosome segregation mechanisms in the laboratory of Eric Griffis. During this period, she also conducted research in Dresden, Germany, investigating the links between mitotic proteins and human disease. She subsequently completed postdoctoral training with Raquel A. Oliveira at Gulbenkian Science Institute (PT). Sara has received several competitive national and international awards and research fellowships, including the L'Oréal Portugal Medal for Women in Science.
Chromosome Segregation in Disease Lab
The Chromosome Segregation in Disease Laboratory investigates the canonical and non-canonical functions of mitotic proteins and their contribution to human disease. We study how proteins classically associated with chromosome segregation acquire additional roles, and how their dysfunction drives rare neurodevelopmental disorders and cancer. Using complementary human stem cell-based systems, animal models, advanced microscopy, and molecular and cellular biology approaches, we aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms linking mitotic protein dysfunction to disease and identify new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Complementary human stem cell-based systems, animal models, advanced microscopy, quantitative image analysis, and molecular and cellular biology approaches.
Non-canonical roles of mitotic proteins in cortical neurons
J Cavaco, S Carvalhal
Trends in Neurosciences 48 (7), 495-507
Cold agglutinin syndrome in a patient with metastatic breast cancer: a Case Report
D Bandarra, D Rochate, B Gosalbez, J Ferreira, NM Cunha, S Carvalhal
Frontiers in Medicine 12, 1711809
S Carvalhal, I Bader, MA Rooimans, AB Oostra, JA Balk, RG Feichtinger, ...
Science advances 8 (3), eabk0114
A quantitative analysis of cohesin decay in mitotic fidelity
S Carvalhal, A Tavares, MB Santos, M Mirkovic, RA Oliveira
Journal of Cell Biology 217 (10), 3343-3353
ALADIN is required for the production of fertile mouse oocytes
S Carvalhal, M Stevense, K Koehler, R Naumann, A Huebner, ...
Molecular Biology of the Cell 28 (19), 2470-2478