SMALS - Smart Microscopy for Adaptative Live Super-resolution imaging to elucidate the initial steps of the HIV viral transmission
Agency: FCT
Type: CEEC Individual
Principal Investigator: Estibaliz Gómez-de-Mariscal
Start-date: April 2024
End-date: March 2027
The research proposal by Estibaliz Gómez-de-Mariscal, focuses on developing a novel super-resolution microscopy technology called Smart Microscopy for Adaptative Live Super-resolution (SMALS). This technology aims to elucidate the initial steps of HIV viral transmission by overcoming the limitations of current super-resolution microscopy (SRM) techniques, particularly their low time resolution, which restricts the observation of virus-cell interactions in real-time. Gómez-de-Mariscal's project proposes to combine live-cell imaging, SRM, and advanced bioimage analysis to provide a detailed view of the nanoscale host-pathogen interactions during the early stages of HIV infection in T cells. This approach is expected to significantly increase the throughput of observations and contribute to a better understanding of how HIV hijacks the host's innate immunological mechanisms.
Gómez-de-Mariscal has a strong academic background, with a Master's degree in Mathematics and Statistical and Computational Data Processing, and a PhD from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain. Her research has been recognized with awards and she has secured significant research funding. Her work spans across artificial intelligence, image processing, and life sciences, with notable contributions to the development of analytical methods for studying cell motility and intercellular communication, as well as the development of deep learning workflows for bioimage analysis.
The SMALS project aligns with global efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic, contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It promises to advance the understanding of HIV infection mechanisms and support the development of treatments and vaccines. The technology developed will be made accessible worldwide, adhering to the FAIR principles to support open science and the digitalization of biomedical research.
Gómez-de-Mariscal's career development plan outlines her transition from a PhD student to a postdoctoral researcher in the Henriques Lab at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, focusing on live microscopy and bioimage analysis. Her goal is to establish herself as an independent researcher, with the SMALS project playing a crucial role in achieving this objective. The project benefits from the multidisciplinary environment of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian - Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, which provides the necessary resources and support for its successful completion.
