Our members

Patrícia Gama
PI
Graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of São Paulo (1991), graduated in Short and Full Degree in Biology from the University of São Paulo (1991), PhD in Sciences (Cell and Tissue Biology) from the University of São Paulo (1997) and Post -PhD from New York University (2001). She is currently Full Professor at the Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology at the ICB at the University of São Paulo. She works in the area of Cellular and Tissue Biology, focusing on the mechanisms that control growth and development of the gastrointestinal mucosa, and uses models of food manipulation during early childhood, especially those involving breastfeeding. It is dedicated to undergraduate, graduate and extension teaching. Among the management activities are: the Board of Directors of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at USP, the coordination of the USP Network of Animal Facility, and acting on the boards of the Brazilian Society of Cellular Biology and the International Federation of Cellular Biology .

Cruz Alberto Mendoza Rigonati
Lab Technician
Cruz is a lab technician of the BDE lab since 2002, being responsible for helping the experimental procedures done in the lab.

Fabiana de Abreu Silva
Master Student
Biologist at the Biosciences Institute of the São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" - UNESP (2023). He was part of the BCSTM (Brazilian Central of Studies on Ticks Morphology) research group, coordinated by Profa. Dr. Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias. Undertook Scientific Initiation in the area of Morphology (2022-2023). He completed an internship at the Bioenergy Research Institute (IPBEN) in the area of Microbiology. Carried out the Update Program of the Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, at the Digestive Epithelial Biology Laboratory (BED LAB) - ICB/USP, coordinated by Prof. Dr Patrícia Gama, where she performed histology, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry techniques on stomach samples. He is currently doing his master in the Systems Biology program at ICB-USP, under the guidance of Profa. Dr Patrícia Gama.
Project: Localization and function of FGF10 and FGFR2 in the gastric mucosa of rats during postnatal development.

Isadora Campos Rattes
Collaborating Researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo
B.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences (2012-2017) at the University of São Paulo. In 2018, she started her Ph.D. at the BDE lab, with the interest to study the stem cell niche on the gastric mucosa in rats. Isadora has experience in the area of Morphology, with an emphasis in Histology.
PhD. Project: Characterization of the stem-cell niche in the gastric mucosa of in development and adult rats, and the role of early weaning in this cell population.

Luciana Harumi Osaki
Collaborating Researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo
B.Sc. (2000-2003) and M.Sc. (2000-2004) in Biological Sciences from the University of São Paulo. Member of the BED lab since scientific initiation (2004). Holds postdoctoral degrees from ICB-USP (2010-2011; 2011-2013; 2013-2014) and from Washington University in Saint Louis (WUSTL, USA) (2014-2015, 2015-2017).
PhD Project: The role of food, transforming growth factor alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor in cell proliferation and differentiation during postnatal development of rat gastric epithelium.

Marcos Aurélio Santos da Costa
Ph.D. Student
Biomedical from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) (2018), Master in Morphotechnology - UFPE (2021). He is currently a PhD student in the area of Cell and Tissue Biology and Development in the Graduate Program in Systems Biology in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, housed at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP). Member of the Laboratory of Biology of Digestive Epithelia (BED LAB) - ICB/USP, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Patricia Gama. Has experience in Morphology, with emphasis on Histology, working mainly on the following topics: General and Systems Histology.
PhD Project: Characterization of the peri-criptal extracellular matrix and the role of myofibroblasts in the intestinal stem cell niche: effects of early weaning.

Mariana Akemi Alves Kuriyama
Scientific Initiation
Pharmacy undergraduate student, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo.
Project: "Effects of corticosterone on myofibroblast distribution in gastric mucosa during postnatal development".

Vilma Regina Martins
Collaborating Researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo
Graduated in Pharmacy and Biochemistry from the University of São Paulo (1984), master's degree (1989) and doctorate (1993) in Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) from the University of São Paulo. She is currently a Collaborating Researcher at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (2021). Superintendent of Research and head of the Tumor Biology and Biomarkers group at A.C.Camargo Cancer Center (2011-20210. Supervisor of post-graduation courses at Fundação Antônio Prudente. Former President of the Brazilian Society of Cell Biology, Council Member of the International Society for Neurochemistry (2010-2013), Chair of the Committee for Aid, Education in Neurochemistry of the International Society for Neurochemistry and International Fellow of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2005-2010). He has experience in General Biology, with emphasis on Cellular and Molecular Biology, working mainly on the following topics: tumor biology, biomarkers, cancer and prion diseases.
Project: Patient-derived organoids for the development of functional precision medicine.

Viviane Rosa de Oliveira
Ph.D. Student
Graduated in Biomedicine from Universidade Anhembi Morumbi (2018), completed Scientific Initiation - FAPESP (2017-2018) and Master's in Science (Cellular, Tissue and Developmental Biology) from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo (2022). He received a FAPESP Technical Training III scholarship (2022-2023). She is currently a PhD student in the Postgraduate Program in Systems Biology at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of São Paulo. He has experience in the area of Clinical Analysis and Biology in general, with an emphasis on cellular, molecular biology and histology.
Project: Characterization of the intestine-pancreas axis in relation to early weaning in the development of type 1 Diabetes mellitus