From October 24–25, 2025, the historic Colégio da Santíssima Trindade in Coimbra - a stunning church and teaching complex dating back to 1562 - welcomed researchers from across Portugal and beyond for the joint GEECD × SPN meeting, themed “From Synapses to Syndromes to Society: Dementia and Aging.”

Our lab was proud to participate, presenting multiple projects focused on Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular emphasis on the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway - a mechanism increasingly recognized as central in neurodegeneration. Our students - Henrique Atalaia-Barbacena, Sara Inteiro-Oliveira and Tiago Costa-Coelho - shone during the poster sessions, selected for oral poster communications and performing concise 1-minute pitches. Their work exemplified the depth and creativity of our research team.

1. TrkB-FL receptor integrity: Our team highlighted innovative approaches to maintain the full-length TrkB receptor, protecting its neuroprotective functions.

2. Mechanisms of TrkB-FL cleavage: We explained why receptor cleavage drives deleterious effects in neurons, shedding light on a critical aspect of Alzheimer’s pathology.

3. TAT-TrkB Toxicity: We shared novel data on the toxicity evaluation of our patented neuroprotective TAT-TrkB peptide.

Our Principal Investigator, Prof. Maria José Diógenes, was invited as a keynote speaker, delivering a compelling talk on our lab’s research in Alzheimer’s disease. She emphasized why the often-overlooked BDNF/TrkB mechanism is critically important for understanding disease progression and identifying therapeutic opportunities.

A special congratulations to Tiago Costa-Coelho, who was awarded Best Poster Presentation in Fundamental Science - a testament to his outstanding contribution.

Participating in the GEECD × SPN 2025 meeting allowed our lab not only to share cutting-edge findings, but also to connect with leading researchers and emerging talent in neuroscience and neurodegeneration. We are proud of our team’s contributions and energized by the discussions, collaborations, and new perspectives gained during these two enriching days.

#Alzheimersdisease #Dementia #ClinicalResearch #FuncamentalResearch #Neurology #Neurosciences