From Brain to Gut: Two New PhD Researchers Join the SUGAR Lab!
October has brought some exciting new additions to the SUGAR Lab! We are delighted to welcome Gabriel Trigo Pereira and Victória Trindade Maller Carvalho, who have joined our research group at the University of Groningen through international dual-doctorate collaborations with Brazilian universities. Both researchers bring fascinating biological questions to our lab, and although their projects explore very different areas of health and disease, they share a common scientific connection: understanding how protein glycosylation influences biological processes and how advanced mass spectrometry can help us unravel these molecular changes.
Gabriel Trigo Pereira – Exploring Glycosylation in Cognitive Decline
Gabriel joins us from the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), where his PhD research focuses on molecular signatures associated with cognitive decline and modifiable risk factors for dementia. His project investigates changes in the proteins and glycoproteins present in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, aiming to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment. During his time at the SUGAR Lab, Gabriel will focus on developing and optimizing advanced LC-MS-based glycoproteomics workflows. These methods will eventually support the analysis of biological samples from the Brazilian BioAz cohort, connecting molecular information with clinical assessments and lifestyle-related risk factors.
Victória Trindade Maller Carvalho – Understanding Glycosylation in the Gut
Victória joins us from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), where she investigates the role of O-GlcNAcylation in intestinal homeostasis. Her research explores how changes in an intracellular protein modification influence intestinal epithelial metabolism, the glycans displayed on the cell surface, and interactions with the gut microbiota. Using a colon-specific mouse model deficient in O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), Victória aims to understand how this modification contributes to intestinal barrier integrity and metabolic regulation. At the SUGAR Lab, she will complement these biological investigations with advanced glycomics approaches, including CE-MS and spatial mass spectrometry, to characterize glycosylation changes in intestinal epithelial cells and tissue.
Connecting Analytical Innovation with Biological Questions
From cognitive decline to intestinal homeostasis, these projects illustrate how glycomics and glycoproteomics can provide new perspectives on complex biological processes. Their arrival also strengthens our international collaborations with UNIFESP and UFRJ, bringing together complementary expertise in analytical chemistry, glycobiology, proteomics, and biomedical research. Both research trajectories are supported by the Brazilian funding agency CAPES. We are excited to have Gabriel and Victória joining our team and look forward to the scientific discoveries, new ideas, and collaborations ahead.
Welcome to the SUGAR Lab, Gabriel and Victória!
Meet our new researchers: Gabriel Trigo Pereira | Victória Trindade Maller Carvalho