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
- Kist, LF, Wolf, JM, Rocha, MLG, da Silva, AD, Pereira, RB, da Veiga, ABG et al.. The role of health institutions in the epidemiological surveillance of arboviral diseases in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: notification, hospitalization, and regional differences. BMC Public Health. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-28238-8. PubMed PMID:42399836 .
- Leão-Cordeiro, JAB, Nogueira, DJ, Silva, AMTC. Suicide mortality in Brazil: Post-pandemic excess mortality and spatial inequalities. J Affect Disord. 2026; :122209. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.122209. PubMed PMID:42398674 .
- Batista, VL, Martins, JR, Dias, ASL, Fonseca, TCM, Silva, LS, Rocha, FEO et al.. P2Y12-P-selectin-mediated platelet activation in a murine model of dengue-associated thrombocytopenia. EBioMedicine. 2026;130 :106363. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2026.106363. PubMed PMID:42398184 .
- Rein, B, Marconi, C, Shabashvilli, D, Chipman, P, Gragg, M, Sayour, E et al.. A Rapid Method for Accurately Determining Lipid Nanoparticle Size Using Nano-Flow Cytometry. J Biomol Tech. 2026;37 (2):48-53. doi: 10.7171/001c.163225. PubMed PMID:42396395 PubMed Central PMC13327552.
- Tavares, ALT, Pasa, VD, de Jesus Fernandes Martins Lima, JF, Pereira, JZ, Maia, MQ, Diniz, GP et al.. Protocol for the ECLIPSE-BRAZIL: a prospective cohort study on biomarkers and risk stratification for Preeclampsia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s12884-026-09253-4. PubMed PMID:42393560 .