Project Description

Biography:

Joana’s journey in cancer biology began at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon in Portugal, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Biology. There, she also pursued her master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics, where she developed a deep interest in the complexity of the molecular pathways and the importance of plasticity in tumour progression. For her master’s thesis, Joana joined Dr. Luís Costa‘s lab in the Molecular Medicine Institute in Lisbon, to investigate resistance mechanisms in Luminal A Breast cancer cells and alternative therapeutic strategies. In 2025, she integrated the Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Lab at CE3C where she studied how the environment shapes melanoma progression.

Now, Joana is joining the Adaptmet network as a PhD student in Roger Gomis’ lab at IRB Barcelona, and her work will aim to uncover previously unrecognised tolerance and resistance patterns, as well as how they evolve during treatment selection and metastasis in HR-positive metastatic breast cancer.

She is delighted to work with and learn from the excellent investigators and students from Adaptmet. She is certain the next years will provide her with the necessary tools to thrive in the field of metastasis research and allow her to build long-lasting friendships within this world-class research community.