Silva, Alcino J., Ph.D.

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

1. da Cruz, LF, Mello-Oliveira, VS, das Chagas, MEM, Soares, G, Calchi, AC, Castro-Santiago, AC et al.. A survey of vector-borne bacteria in bat-associated mites (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae) from Brazil reveals the presence of Ehrlichia spp. Vet Res Commun. 2026;50 (2):87. doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-11015-0. PubMed PMID:41504810 .
2. Allais, R, Espinas, V, Capart, A, Da Silva, A, Boiron, O. Design and characterisation of intervertebral disc mimicking phantoms for photoacoustic imaging. Photoacoustics. 2026;47 :100783. doi: 10.1016/j.pacs.2025.100783. PubMed PMID:41503348 PubMed Central PMC12771533.
3. Scheer, CS, Giamarellos-Bourboulis, EJ, Annane, D, Artigas, A, Tarik Aslan, A, Bottari, G et al.. Blood culture practices and microbiological capacity for sepsis diagnostics in Europe (2021-2022): a cross-sectional analysis of the European Sepsis Care Survey. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2026;62 :101570. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101570. PubMed PMID:41502864 PubMed Central PMC12771334.
4. da Silva, AF, França, SB, Ferreira, EGA, de Oliveira Barreto, E, Mclaine Duarte de Freitas, J, Duarte de Freitas, J et al.. New Cinnamamide and Derivatives as New Larvicides against Aedes aegypti Vector Larvae: Facile Synthesis, In Silico Study, In Vitro Noncytotoxicity, and Nontoxicity against Zebrafish. ACS Omega. 2025;10 (48):59078-59095. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c08177. PubMed PMID:41502753 PubMed Central PMC12771257.
5. Barros, FJS, Eduardo, SDS, Cardozo, KLP, Vitorino, HA, Aiube, CM, Sado, MLI et al.. Enhanced Supercapattery Performance Enabled by Nitrogen-Doped Nb₂O₅ Nanostructures. ACS Omega. 2025;10 (48):59004-59020. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.5c07882. PubMed PMID:41502749 PubMed Central PMC12771455.

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