Leonardo de Assis is a molecular biologist with a passionate interest in circadian biology – the body’s built-in circadian rhythm. After his PhD and postdoc in Brazil and Germany, he has now landed in Gothenburg, where, with funding from the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine (WCMTM), he is receiving support to establish his own research group at the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology. His research ranges between wet lab, dry lab and advanced bioinformatics – with the skin as his research focus.
For Leonardo, the skin is much more than just a protective barrier. He sees it as a metabolic organ in which the body’s biological clock plays a crucial role.
– Considering the skin as a metabolic organ can be perceived as provocative in some research fields. And generally, one might think of human skin from an aesthetic or cosmetic perspective, especially linked to aging. So the skin is fascinating from many perspectives, and in my research I want to understand the skin at the molecular level – and what it can reveal about the body’s internal physiological processes.
From basic research to patient benefit
Leonardo is committed to increasing the translational impact of research — building bridges between basic research and clinical applications to ultimately benefit patients.
“My lab is dedicated to elucidating the molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock in skin biology. We study its roles in both healthy and diseased states. My primary goal is to use these insights to develop therapies that improve patients’ quality of life,” says Leonardo.
Original from: University of Gothenburg – read the full article here
