Research
Molecular and cellular and systems mechanisms of learning and memory
Appointments
- Distinguished Professor– Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences and Psychology
- Director–Integrative Center for Learning and Memory
- Tennenbaum Center for the Biology of Creativity
- Brain Research Institute
- Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology GPB Home Area
- Neuroscience GPB Home Area
Biography
The Silva laboratory is studying the biology of learning and memory. They are interested in the molecular, cellular and circuit processes that underlie the allocation, encoding and storage of information. To accomplish this they are using a variety of techniques including sophisticated molecular and genetic approaches, optical physiology, optogenetics, in vivo imaging and behavioral analysis.
Silva and colleagues have also studied the impact of these mechanisms in animal models of cognitive disorders, including intellectual disabilities. Based on these mechanistic studies, they have developed treatments for Neurofibromatosis type I and Tuberous Sclerosis, that are currently being tested in clinical trials.
The Silva laboratory is also developing bioinformatic strategies for tracking and planning experiments (researchmaps.org).
Publications
- Tudella, GCN, Sasazaki, FY, Kelnhar, I, de Conto, T, de Oliveira, JVB, Franco, FW et al.. Malaria and Chagas disease in non-endemic settings in Brazil: a comparative analysis of national surveillance data (2007-2024). Acta Trop. 2026; :108077. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.108077. PubMed PMID:41916435 .
- Weber, CAT, da Silva, AG. Science Is Not Opinion. Braz J Psychiatry. 2026; :. doi: 10.47626/1516-4446-2026-4850. PubMed PMID:41915763 .
- Castrejón-Castrejón, S, Heeger, CH, Veltmann, C, Schaack, D, Nies, M, Gunawardene, M et al.. Stroke and systemic embolism following atrial fibrillation ablation: the EMBOL-AF Global Registry. Eur Heart J. 2026; :. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehag217. PubMed PMID:41914181 .
- GBD 2023 IHD & Dietary Risk Factors Collaborators. Global, regional and national burden of ischemic heart disease attributable to suboptimal diet, 1990-2023: a Global Burden of Disease study. Nat Med. 2026; :. doi: 10.1038/s41591-026-04250-8. PubMed PMID:41912805 .
- Silva, A, Jaramillo Oquendo, C, Bernal, JE, Martinez, JC, Collins, A, Briceño, I et al.. Rare variants in embryonic development and cell signalling genes in syndromic and non-syndromic orofacial clefts: evidence from a Colombian Caribbean cohort. J Hum Genet. 2026; :. doi: 10.1038/s10038-026-01466-x. PubMed PMID:41912658 .