Professor Carla Denise Bonan

Carla Denise Bonan has a PhD and a Master’s in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. She has a BA in Pharmacy – Food Technology from Universidade Federal de Santa Maria.

Carla studies neurochemical and pharmacological mechanisms in neurological diseases, such as the purinergic system and its metabolites. Her studies focus on unveiling the role of this signaling in models of neurological diseases and how the modulation of this pathway can be useful for understanding the mechanisms of these diseases and the development of new pharmacological targets. Another area of interest for Bonan is the study of the neurotoxicity of drugs, metals and pesticides at different stages of zebrafish development by assessing morphological, behavioral and biochemical parameters.

She advises undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows who currently work in universities and companies in Brazil and abroad. One of the main projects she is involved with is the Projeto no Programa de Apoio a Núcleos de Excelência (PRONEX-FAPERGS) on Neurochemistry and Psychopharmacology of zebrafish. As a result, new progresses have been made in the establishment of new methodological approaches and collaboration with several universities. Carla was also part of the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Cerebrais, Excitotoxicidade e Neuroproteção, where her group developed transgenerational studies on metabolic and neurological diseases at different stages of zebrafish development.

Carla Bonan was featured in two Brazilian studies with scientometric analyzes on the increase of studies involving zebrafish. In these articles, Bonan and her research group stood out for their pioneering role in this area of research in Brazil, with important contributions to scientific production and the use of this model in the areas of Neuroscience and Pharmacology.

In 2020, Carla was named one of the 50 most influential researchers in the field of Biological Sciences by the Open Box Science project. She has served as a Coordinator of Graduate Programs, Director of Research and Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at PUCRS for 14 years. Her roles in these positions, as well as in boards and committees, such as the Superior Council of FAPERGS, for which she has been active since 2018, are a huge learning experience about academic leadership as well as science and technology in Brazil and abroad.

She became interested in research as an undergraduate research student in college, under the advising of Prof. Maria Rosa Chitolina. The way she sees it, more women in STEM areas will bring qualitative gains in studies in several areas. “Diverse environments that explore people’s different skills and traits can lead to more complex and creative ideas. For this reason, it is essential to encourage girls and teenagers to work in any areas they want and seek leadership positions in areas dominated by men”.