Ana Santos Almeida

My ultimate career goal is to direct my own innovative translational research program focused on exploiting the human microbiota for cancer therapeutic strategies.

I have acquired a strong background in microbiology, host-pathogen interactions and tumor immunity through the training and my work experience to date. During my PhD in Prof. Sansonetti’s laboratory, I studied the mechanisms by which bacteria interact and subvert the immune system to promote disease. I developed a strong expertise in using bacteria genetic techniques, in vivo mouse models and immunology approaches. Through my graduate training I realized the great potential of strategies to target the immune system to effectively fight disease. To broaden my scientific knowledge to include cancer pathogenesis and tumor-host interplay I joined Dr. Egeblad’s laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow. My research focused on the interaction between macrophages and cytotoxic T cells in tumors and how this interaction can be modulated to achieve tumor rejection. I worked with mouse models of breast and pancreatic cancer and used state-of-the-art intravital imaging to follow the hijacked immune response in real-time.

For the next step of my career, I am thrilled to be able to combine my expertise in microbiology and tumor immunity to develop a project at the APC Microbiome Institute on the mechanisms by which tumor-associated microbiota may alter immune function and influence clinical outcome in colorectal cancer. These studies will establish the basis for my independent research career, in which I will contribute to the development of novel immunotherapies based on modulating the human microbiota.

During my research career I have been actively involved in Science Public engagement events and teaching.