Europass
Curriculum Vitae
Personal information
First name(s) / Surname(s)
Alves, Ana Catarina dos Santos
Address(es) Rua Manuel Bernardes, n.º 29-A r/c 1200-251 Lisboa
Telephone(s)
(+351) 96 508 51 32
Fax(es)
E-mail
[email protected]
Nationality
Portuguese
Date of birth
25.03.1980
Gender
Female
Desired employment / Genetics of cardiovascular diseases
Occupational field
Work experience
Dates
Occupation or position held
January 2008 onwards
Phd student, project “Genetic basis of familial hypercholesterolaemia”
Main activities and responsibilities
Clarification of the genetic cause of the hypercholesterolaemia in patients with no identified mutation
in the 3 genes described for FH, by the identification of other gene defects that can cause FH. Using
techniques such as PCR, DHPLC, MLPA, automated sequencing, pyrosequencing, culture cells and
FACS.
Name and address of employer
Unidade de Investigação & Desenvolvimento (Grupo de Investigação Cardiovascular), Departamento
de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Crónicas, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA) –
Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Faculty of Sciences/ University of Lisboa
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Campo Grande, C8 Building
1749-016 Lisboa / Portugal
Type of business or sector
Dates
Health Sciences
January 2004 – December 2007
Occupation or position held
Research assistant, project “Portuguese FH Study - Clinical and molecular characterization of
Portuguese patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia”.
Main activities and responsibilities
Clinical and molecular characterization of patients with a clinical diagnosis of Familial
Hypercholesterolaemia (FH). Study of genes involved in Familial hypercholesterolaemia phenotype:
LDLR and ApoB, using techniques such as PCR, DHPLC, MLPA and automated sequencing. Data
analysis by SPSS.
Name and address of employer
Unidade de Investigação & Desenvolvimento (Grupo de Investigação Cardiovascular), Departamento
de Promoção da Saúde e Doenças Crónicas, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA) –
Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Type of business or sector
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Alves, Ana Catarina
Health Sciences
Dates
Occupation or position held
Main activities and responsibilities
Name and address of employer
Type of business or sector
October 2002 – December 2003
Trainee (BSc traineeship)
Identification of mutations in LDLR and ApoB of patients with clinical diagnosis of
hypercholesterolaemia using techniques such as PCR and automated sequencing.
Familial
Unidade de Investigação Cardiovascular, Centro de Biopatologia, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr.
Ricardo Jorge (INSA) – Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Health Sciences
Education and training
Dates
September de 1999 a December de 2003
Title of qualification awarded Degree in Biotechnology of Natural Products
Principal subjects/occupational skills Biotechnology
covered Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Name and type of organisation
providing education and training
University Independent
Level in national or international
classification
16 (mean value)
Personal skills and
competences
Mother tongue(s)
Portuguese
Other language(s)
Self-assessment
Understanding
Listening
European level (*)
Reading
Speaking
Spoken interaction
Writing
Spoken production
English
French
B2 Independent user C1
Spanish
B1 Independent user B2 Independent user B1 Independent user B1 Independent user B2 Independent user
A2
Basic user
A2
Proficient user
Basic user
B2 Independent user B2 Independent user B2 Independent user
A2
Basic user
A2
Basic user
A2
Basic user
(*) Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Social skills and competences
Team Spirit;
Good communication and social interaction skills;
Good ability to adapt to multicultural environments;
The skills above mentioned were gained through my work experience in a dynamic research group
where I established contact with several researchers and medical clinicians, and also with my
participation in several national and international congresses where my communication was improved.
Organisational skills and
competences
Leadership;
Sense of organization;
Good experience in project.
These skills were acquired through my participation in several research projects that requires a
methodic and organized work.
I was also responsible for tutoring trainees in laboratory work, Ciência Viva 2010 and 2011, project
title: Portuguese FH Study - Clinical and molecular characterization of Portuguese patients with
familial hypercholesterolaemia.
Field coordinator in the project e_COR (Prevalência de factores de risco cardiovascular na população
portuguesa).
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Alves, Ana Catarina
Technical skills and competences
Competent with common techniques in molecular biology such as DNA extraction, PCR, automated
sequencing, enzymatic restriction and more advanced techniques as MLPA, pyrosequensing analysis,
cell culture and FACS.
Computer skills and competences
Competent with most Microsoft Office programs and Internet Explorer.
Other skills and competences
Winner of the Prize Young Investigator in the Congresso Português de Cardiologia Vilamoura 2012
with
the
work
“Functional
Studies
of
LDLR
Mutations". Ana
Catarina Alves, Sónia Silva, Dilip Patel, Anne Katherine Soutar, Mafalda Bourbon.
Winner of the 1st Prize of the Poster Session in the “XI Jornadas de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e
Metabolismo” given by the Hospital Egas Moniz.
Winner of the 2009 Pfizer Award for Clinical Research with the work “Familial Hypercholesterolaemia:
an opportunity for preventive medicine” given by Pfizer Laboratories and Society of Medical Sciences
of Lisbon.
Team member of the research project “Prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia and analysis of
cardiovascular risk factors in the Portuguese population” funded by Foundation for Science and
Technology (FCT) of Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education.
Team member of the research project “novel genes causing Familial Hypercholesterolaemia” funded
by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) of Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and
Higher Education.
Team member of the research project “Portuguese Study of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia” founded
by Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC).
Team member of the research project “Young Heart – a study of cardiovascular prevention in schools”
founded by Astrazeneca.
Member of the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS).
Member of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC).
Member of the study group of Cellular Biology and Cardiovascular Genetics of the SPC.
Member of the Center for Biodiversity, Functional and Integrative Genomics (BIOFIG).
Driving licence
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Alves, Ana Catarina
Category B
Additional information PUBLICATIONS
Alves AC, Etxebarria A, Soutar AK, Martin C, Bourbon M. Novel functional APOB mutations outside
LDL-binding region causing familial hypercholesterolaemia. (submitted)
Medeiros AM, Alves AC, Bourbon M, on behalf of the investigators of the Portuguese FH Study.
Cardiovascular risk assessment of pediatric dyslipidemic patients. (submitted)
Rocha T, Rocha E, Alves AC, Medeiros AM Francisco V, Silva S, Guiomar S, Gaspar IM, Rato Q,
Bourbon M. Cardiovascular risk profile of high school students: a cross-sectional study (submitted)
MC Espinheira, C Vasconcelos, AM Medeiros, AC Alves, M Bourbon, A Guerra. Hipercolesterolemia –
uma patologia com expressão desde a idade pediátrica. Rev Port Cardiol. 2013 May;32(5):379-386.
Silva S, Alves AC, Patel D, Malhó R, Soutar AK, Bourbon M. In vitro functional characterization of
missense mutations in the LDLR gene. Atherosclerosis. 2012 Nov;225(1):128-34.
Medeiros AM, Alves AC, Francisco V, Bourbon M, on behalf of the investigators of the Portuguese FH
Study. Update of the Portuguese Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Study. Atherosclerosis 2010; 212:
553–558
Alves AC, Medeiros AM, Francisco V, Gaspar, IM, Rato Q, Bourbon M. Molecular diagnosis of
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia: an important tool for cardiovascular risk stratification. Rev Port
Cardiol 2010; 29 (06): 907-921
Alves AC, and Bourbon M. Resequencing of LDLR and APOB genes in patients with clinical diagnosis
of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia. European Journal of Human Genetics (suppl), 2010 Vol.18:2
(Abstract).
Bourbon M, Duarte MA, Alves AC, Medeiros AM, Marques L, Soutar AK. Genetic diagnosis of Familial
Hypercholesterolaemia: the importance of functional analysis of potential splice site mutations.
Journal of Medical Genetics 2009;46:352-357
Alves AC, Francisco V, Medeiros AM, Marques L, Bourbon M. "Characterization of potential splice
site mutations in the LDL receptor gene in patients with clinical diagnosis of Familial
Hypercholesterolaemia". European Journal of Human Genetics (suppl), 2009 Vol.17:2 (Abstract).
Bourbon M, Rocha T, Francisco V, Alves AC, Medeiros AM, Santos T, Paixão E. Young Heart – a
study of cardiovascular prevention in schools. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention &
Rehabilitation (suppl), 2009 Vol.16(1):40 (Abstract).
Bourbon M, Alves AC, Medeiros AM, Silva S, Soutar AK; on behalf of the investigators of the
Portuguese FH study. Familial hypercholesterolaemia in Portugal. Atherosclerosis, 2008 Feb;
196(2):633-42.
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ORAL COMMUNICATION BY INVITATION:
Instituto Piaget, 6th December 2011. "Genetic Disorders of Lipoprotein Metabolism" seminar to the
students of Nutrition from Instituto Piaget.
Instituto Piaget, 10th December 2009. "Genetic Disorders of Lipoprotein Metabolism" seminar to the
students of Nutrition from Instituto Piaget.
Instituto Piaget, 19th December 2008. “Genetic Disorders of Lipoprotein Metabolism" seminar to the
students of Nutrition from Instituto Piaget
"the bad cholesterol also is inherited?" open week of the national institute of health Dr. Ricardo Jorge
(2004)
ORAL COMMUNICATION:
Prémio Jovem Investigador - Investigação Básica: "Functional Studies of LDLR Mutations" Ana
Catarina Alves, Sónia Silva, Dilip Patel, Anne Katherine Soutar,
Mafalda
Bourbon. Congresso
Português de Cardiologia Vilamoura 2012
XXX Congresso Português de Cardiologia, 2009. Vilamoura, Portugal, 20-23 Abril.
"Hipercolesterolemia Familiar: uma oportunidade para a medicina preventiva". Alves AC, Medeiros
AM, V. Francisco, M. Bourbon em nome dos investigadores do Estudo Português de FH.
XXVIII Congresso Português de Cardiologia, 2007. Vilamoura, Portugal, 21-25 Abril. "Estudo
Português de Hipercolesterolemia Familiar: Actualização dos Resultados". Medeiros AM, Alves AC,
Silva S, Bourbon M, pelos Investigadores do Estudo Português de Hipercolesterolemia Familiar.
Ana Catarina Alves.“Mutation identification in the LDLR gene in patients with clinic diagnosis of Familial
Hypercholesterolaemia". II symposium of natural Products (2004)
Ana Catarina Alves, Quitéria Rato, José Manuel Silva, António Guerra, Pedro Marques Silva, Graça
Morais, Mafalda Bourbon. “Molecular Study of Portuguese Patients with Familial
Hypercholesterolaemia” – Human Genetic Portuguese Society 8º Meeting, OPorto, Portugal (2004).
Ana Catarina Alves, Quitéria Rato, Graça Morais, Mafalda Bourbon. “Mutation identification in the ApoB
gene in patients with clinic diagnosis of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia”. XIII Portuguese Congress of
Ateriosclerosis, Albufeira, Portugal (2005)
Alves, AC and Bourbon, M "Study of PCSK9 gene in the patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia".
Young Investigator Day, INSA, Lisbon (2006)
POSTERS IN CONFERENCES:
More than 50 in international and national congress.
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