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
- Pereira, CN, Câmara, RSB, Lage, DP, Corrêa, LVA, Freitas, CS, Silva, AL et al.. Diagnostic evaluation of a novel recombinant multi-epitope protein for paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2026;157 :102732. doi: 10.1016/j.tube.2026.102732. PubMed PMID:41512343 .
- Guedes, AR, Cunha, R, Silva, AM, Gaivão, I. Evaluating DNA Damage in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes: A Promising Biomarker for Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment Monitoring in Colorectal Cancer. Mutagenesis. 2026; :. doi: 10.1093/mutage/geag001. PubMed PMID:41510948 .
- Guy, CR, Moverman, MA, Da Silva, A, Joyce, CD, Chalmers, PN, Tashjian, RZ et al.. Two-year functional and radiographic outcomes of an inlay, metaphyseal-based short humeral stem component in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. JSES Int. 2026;10 (1):101404. doi: 10.1016/j.jseint.2025.10.006. PubMed PMID:41510311 PubMed Central PMC12774743.
- St Aubin, B, Poorten, T, Fister, A, Ochsenfeld, C, Reiner, J, Castillo, AS et al.. The control of prickle formation in Rubus. bioRxiv. 2025; :. doi: 10.64898/2025.12.22.695586. PubMed PMID:41509256 PubMed Central PMC12776125.
- 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 .