About the research:
The project will investigate the effects of psychedelic compounds on neural plasticity, energy metabolism, and neuroprotection in human brain organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We will evaluate how these compounds modulate neuronal networks, inflammatory responses, and cellular resilience mechanisms under stress conditions. The approach integrates three-dimensional human models with real-time functional and metabolic analyses, including electrophysiological recordings via multielectrode arrays (MEA) and biosensors. By exploring non-canonical effects of psychedelics, the project seeks to elucidate cellular mechanisms associated with neuroplasticity and neuroprotection, generating translational knowledge relevant to neurodegenerative diseases and brain aging.
Awards and honors:
🏆 National Order of Scientific Merit – Commander Class (2023). Brazil’s highest scientific honor, awarded by the Presidency of the Republic.
🏆 Fulbright Visiting Research Scholar Program (2022)
🏆 International Servier–Fiocruz Prize in Neurosciences (2018). International recognition for outstanding contributions to neuroscience.
🏆 Member of the Latin American Academy of Sciences (2017)
🏆 Saúde Award – Mental and Emotional Health Category, Editora Abril (2015)
🏆 Faz Diferença Prize, O Globo newspaper (2011)
Selected publications:
Dakic, V. et al. Short-term changes in the proteome of human cerebral organoids induced by 5-MeO-DMT. Scientific Reports, 2017
Ornelas, I. M. et al. Nootropic effects of LSD: Behavioral, molecular and computational evidence. Experimental Neurology, 2022
Costa, M. et al. LSD modulates proteins involved in cell proteostasis, energy metabolism and neuroplasticity in human cerebral organoids. ACS Omega, 2024
Salerno, J. A. et al. Human pluripotent stem cells as a translational toolkit in psychedelic research in vitro. iScience, 2024
