Neuronal Growth and Plasticity

We use the model system Drosophila to uncover the genes and cellular mechanisms responsible for these structural and functional changes in order to understand the impact of external stimuli, such as changes in activity, in neuron and glial function.

We study how genes, intercellular interactions, and the modulation of the extracellular microenvironment contribute to synapse formation and neuronal function.

Additionally, we are now exploring how biomechanical forces affect neuronal structure and function. Mechanical compression around synaptic boutons alters structural plasticity, shedding light on external factors influencing synapse formation in neural circuits. This emerging field of neuro-mechanobiology will help understand brain function and address synapse loss in neurodegenerative disorders.

Our work will integrate Drosophila, human-derived neurospheroids and biomaterials to understand synapse formation in 3D.

Projects

2025-2028 FCT ICDT23 - SYN3D: Exploring Biomechanical Pathways during Synaptic Remodeling and Neurodegeneration (PI)
2025-2028 FCT ICDT23 - COMPASS - Mapping Common Pathways Associated to Motor Neuron Disease Gene Networks: translating insights from Drosophila to cellular models of human disease. (Team member)

We are always open to start projects related with cellular neuroscience, in Drosophila, in Health and Disease. Please contact if you have a cool idea.

Publications

Teodoro RO*, Ramos MR, Carvalho L* (2025) Contribution of mechanical forces to structural synaptic plasticity: insights from 3D cellular motility mechanisms. Neural Regen Res 20(7):1995-1996. * Corresponding Authors.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39254555/
Lee J. Y., Gala, D.S., Kiourlappou M., Olivares-Abril J., Joha J., Titlow J.S., Teodoro R.O. and Ilan Davis. Murine glial protrusion transcripts predict localized Drosophila glial mRNAs involved in plasticity. J. Cell Biol. 223, e202306152 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202306152
bioRxiv.doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.30.518536
Fernandes, A. R., Martins, J. P., Gomes, E. R., Mendes, C. S. & Teodoro, R. O*. Drosophila motor neuron boutons remodel through membrane blebbing coupled with muscle contraction. Nature Communications 14, 3352 (2023). * Corresponding Author, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38421-9
BioRxiv. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.07.434250v2.
Dalia Sara Gala, Josh S Titlow, Rita O Teodoro*, Ilan Davis* (2022). Far from home: the role of glial mRNA localization in synaptic plasticity. RNA Journal, doi:10.1261/rna.079422.122. *Corresponding Author.
Barral DC, Staiano L, Almeida CG, Cutler DF, Eden ER, Futter CE, Galione A, Marques ARA, Medina DL, Napolitano G, Settembre C, Vieira OV, Aerts JMFG, Atakpa-Adaji P, Bruno G, Capuozzo A, De Leonibus E, Di Malta C, Escrevente C, Esposito A, Grumati P, Hall MJ, Teodoro RO, Lopes SS, Luzio JP, Monfregola J, Montefusco S, Platt FM, Polishuck R, De Risi M, Sambri I, Soldati C, Seabra MC. (2022). Current methods to analyse lysosome morphology, positioning, motility and function. Traffic. Mar 28. doi: 10.1111/tra.12839.
Carregosa D, Mota S, Ferreira S, Alves-Dias B, Loncarevic-Vasiljkovic N, Crespo CL, Menezes R, Teodoro RO and Nunes dos Santos C. (2021). Overview of Beneficial Effects of (Poly)phenol Metabolites in the Context of Neurodegenerative Diseases on Model Organisms. Nutrients 2021;13::2940. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu13092940.
Silva-Rodrigues JF, Patrício-Rodrigues CF, Sousa-Xavier V, Augusto PM, Fernandes AC, JP Martins, Farinho AR and Teodoro RO* (2020). Peripheral axonal ensheathing is regulated by RalA GTPase and the exocyst complex. Development Feb 4; 147(3). pii: dev174540. doi: 10.1242/dev.174540. * Corresponding Author
Teodoro RO*, Pekkurnaz G, Nasser A, Higashi-Kovtun ME, Balakireva M, McLachlan IG, Camonis J and Schwarz TL* (2013). Ral mediates activity-dependent growth of postsynaptic membranes via recruitment of the exocyst. EMBO J. Jul 17, 32(14):2039-55. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2013.147.
* Corresponding Authors
Murthy M#, Teodoro RO#, Miller TP, Schwarz TL (2010). Sec5, a member of the exocyst complex, mediates Drosophila embryo cellularization. Development 137(16):2773-83. doi: 10.1242/dev.048330. # Equal 1st Author Contribution.
Teodoro RO and O’Farrell PH (2003). Nitric oxide-induced suspended animation promotes survival during hypoxia. EMBO J. 22, 580-587.
(Editor’s choice, Science Feb 14 2003: 979; DOI: 10.1126/science.299.5609.979a)

Prizes and Awards

Awards to Neuronal Growth and Plasticity Lab Students:

2021 - 2nd Place Oral Presentation AIMS Research Competition (to Margarida Rafael Cruz)
2019 - Honor Mention Innovate Competition (iMED Conference 11.0) Poster award in basic research Astrazeneca Foundation (to Pedro Augusto)
2018 - Portuguese Drosophila Meeting Runner-up Talk Prize (to Joana Silva-Rodrigues)
2018 - Portuguese Drosophila Meeting Runner-up Poster Prize (to Andreia R. Fernandes)
2017 - 1st prize Innovate Competition (iMED Conference 9.0) Poster award in basic research Astrazeneca Foundation (to Andreia R. Fernandes)

Awards to PI (Rita Teodoro):

2024 - Travel Award EMBO Molecular Neurobiology Meeting (Crete, Greece)
2023 - Travel Award EMBO Workshop Neuronal Remodeling (Israel)
2022 - Winner of Blended Learning International Award (Health and Wellbeing)2018 Travel Award EMBO Workshop Neuronal Remodeling
2015 - MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE IF
2013 - FCT Investigator 2013
2013 - Travel Grant Portuguese Neuroscience Society (SPN)
2008 - Postdoctoral Career Development Fellowship Harvard Medical School/Children’s Hospital Eleanor and Miles Shore for Scholars in Medicine, USA
2004 - Postdoctoral Fellowship Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT), Portugal
1998 - Doctoral Fellowship from FCT-Portugal, within the Gulbenkian PhD Program in Biology and Medicine (PGDBM)

Open Positions

PhD Opportunities @ Rita Teodoro Lab

Grants

Contact: rita.teodoro@nms.unl.pt

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Research Grant (BI), for the conduct of R&D activities by a graduate with a “Licenciado” degree enrolled in a Master degree - Notice SF/2025/16

Grants

There is an open call for applications for a Research Grant (BI), for the conduct of R&D activities by a graduate with a “Licenciado” degree enrolled in a Master degree, under reference SF/2025/16 in the scope of the LISBOA2030-FEDER-00766500 - 16494 SYN3D project, at the institution Faculdade de Ciências Médicas|NOVA Medical School (FCM|NMS) from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), supported by income from the above mentioned project, financed by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P.), under the following conditions:

Field of study: Biomedicine

Link for EURAXESS: Notice SF/2025/16

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