The Program:
The Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences (CAPES Grade 4) offers both the master’s and the PhD programs in the research area of Physiological Sciences. The program aims to: a) provide knowledge on physiological phenomena, preparing graduate students to carry out research, foster innovation, and develop higher education teaching skills; b) encourage research and increase research productivity in the field of Physiological Sciences; c) expand the number of professionals with modern and distinguished qualifications with a high level of excellence in the area, being able not only to carry out research projects and teach, helping expand and consolidate the region of the State University of Londrina, but also to compete with the best national and international research facilities.
Subjects and supervisors:
– Pharmacology and Toxicology: research in this theme investigates the effects of drugs and xenobiotics in biological systems.
Supervisors and Laboratories:
Dr. Andressa de Freitas Mendes Dionísio
Laboratory of Inflammation Pharmacology
Research themes: Immunopharmacological mechanisms in inflammatory responses and tissue repair.
Description: Sepsis is a syndrome shaped by factors related to both the pathogen and the host. Certain comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, and alcoholism, have been appointed as determining factors influencing its occurrence. Our laboratory aims to understand the mechanisms by which the presence of comorbidities increases the susceptibility to infections. In this context, one of our goals is to understand how ethanol consumption induces the suppression of the innate immune responses, which predisposes to sepsis.
Dr. Daniela C. Ceccatto Gerardin
Laboratory of Reproductive Pharmacology
Research Theme: Reproductive Toxicology
Description: Evaluation of reproductive and developmental risks due to the use of xenobiotics during pregnancy and/or lactation in rat offspring and evaluation of the effects of xenobiotics on the reproductive system of male and female rats.
Dr. Estefânia Gastaldello Moreira
Laboratory of Pharmacological and Toxicological Analyses
Research Theme: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology
Description: Recently, there has been growing concern over the greater susceptibility of fetuses, neonates, and children to the toxic effects of environmental contaminants or drugs. The nervous and reproductive systems are possible targets of such substances. Projects developed in this theme aim to evaluate possible teratogenic, reproductive, and neurotoxic effects caused by maternal exposure to xenobiotics.
Dr. Fábio Goulart de Andrade
Laboratory of Histopathological Analysis
Research Theme: Histopathology, tissue repair, adaptation, and regeneration.
Description: In the Laboratory of Histopathological Analysis, we carry out research on tissue alterations and biological processes of tissue repair, adaptation, and regeneration which are the result of the action of chemical, physical, and biological factors of spontaneous or induced origin, through experimental tests. We apply microscopy techniques and, in collaboration with other laboratories, molecular, immunological, biochemical, microbiological, and physiological tests.
Dr. Gislaine Garcia Pelosi Gomes
Laboratory of Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Research Theme: Neural regulation of the cardiovascular system and neurophysiology and neural regulation of the behaviour of the cardiovascular system
Description: The main activities of the laboratory aim to study the neural pathways and their control over the functioning of the cardiovascular system in normotension, hypertension, and stressful conditions, in addition to the central modulation over different processes, such as anxiety and stress.
Dr. Glaura Scantamburlo Alves Fernandes
Laboratory of Toxicology and Reproductive Metabolic Disorders
Research Theme: Toxicology and Reproductive and Developmental Metabolic Disorders
Description: The research projects carried out in the Laboratory of Toxicology and Reproductive Metabolic Disorders aim to investigate the toxic potential of different compounds on the morphophysiology of the adult or developing reproductive system (prenatal or postnatal). In the experiments, rodents are used as an experimental model and different analyses are applied to answer the hypotheses of the studies, such as hormonal, spermatic, histopathological parameters, evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers, and inflammatory mediators.
Dr. Graziela Scalianti Ceravolo
Laboratory of Vascular Pharmacology
Research Theme: Vascular and Endothelial Pharmacology.
Description: In the Laboratory of Vascular Pharmacology, we study the changes in vascular function observed in adjustments resulting from pathological (hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus) and physiological (menopause) processes. We also evaluate in blood vessels the late effects of intrauterine and neonatal exposure to drugs. Functional experiments of vascular reactivity in conductance arteries are performed; in addition to molecular diagnostics for the evaluation of endothelium-derived factors.
– Physiology and Ecophysiology: the study of the physiology and pathophysiology of organs and systems and the adaptations of organisms to environmental conditions.
Supervisors and Laboratories
Dr. Cássia Thais Bussamra Vieira Zaia
Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Physiology and Metabolism
Research Theme: Neural and hormonal control of food intake and peripheral metabolism
Description: In the Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Physiology and Metabolism (LaFiNeM) we study the hormonal and metabolic changes in plasma in rats in different situations, for example: herbicide poisoning, treatment with herbal medicines in the control of blood glucose and cholesterolemia, alteration of estrous cycle under stressful situations, microinjections of neuromodulators in the hypothalamus to control food intake, among others. We work in collaboration with other laboratories for biochemical determinations of HPLC (LQP-QUI-UEL) and fluorimetry (LEFA-CIF-UEL) and for histological analysis of organs and tissues (LaHIP-HIT-UEL).
Dr. Cláudia Bueno dos Reis Martinez
Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology
Research Theme: Physioecology of aquatic animals, biomarkers of contamination in aquatic organisms, biochemical mechanisms of toxicity.
Description: Development of studies involving physiological, biochemical, molecular, genetic, and cellular analyses and using different biological models, in vivo and in vitro, in order to understand the functioning of organisms in their natural environment or exposed, in the field or in the laboratory, to different types of contaminants.
Dr. Ernane Torres Uchôa
Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology
Research Theme: Neuroendocrine control of energy homeostasis
Description: In the Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, we investigate the participation of glucocorticoids, ovarian steroids, and other hormones in metabolic changes observed in different models of obesity. Therefore, experimental models that induce obesity are used, such as ovariectomy and hyperlactation, and various metabolic parameters are evaluated, both in the peripheral and in the central nervous system.
Dr. Gisele Lopes Bertolini
Laboratory of Metabolic Physiology
giselebertolini@uel.br
Research Theme: Metabolic Physiology
Description: At the Laboratory of Metabolic Physiology, we investigate the participation of the liver in the regulation of blood glucose and energy metabolism under different metabolic conditions. We also investigate changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in pathological states, such as cancer-associated cachexia (Walker-256 tumor).
Dr. Helenir Medri de Souza
Laboratory of Metabolic Physiology
Research Theme: Hepatic Metabolism; liver participation in blood glucose regulation; changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins in pathological states, such as cancer-associated cachexia (Walker-256 tumor).
Dr. Juliana Delatim Simonato Rocha
Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology
Research Theme: Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals.
Description: At the Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology (LEFA), we study physiological, biochemical, molecular, genetic, and cellular parameters as biomarkers in aquatic organisms to understand the exposure of these organisms to different types of contaminants.
Dr. Marcos Polito
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Response and Exercise Research.
Research Theme: Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology
Description: Study of the main cardiovascular responses during and after physical exercise and as a result of long-term training. In addition, the actions of ergogenic resources on physical performance are also studied.
Dr. Maria Fernanda Rodrigues Graciano
Laboratory of the Physiology of the Endocrine Pancreas
Research Theme: Pathophysiological mechanisms that modulate insulin secretion and glycemic control.
Description: The Laboratory of the Physiology of the Endocrine Pancreas investigates how different pathophysiological processes, as well as obesity and cachexia, can modulate insulin secretion by pancreatic islets incubated with different secretagogues, the insulinemia, the glycemic control, and other metabolic parameters in different models of fish and rats.
Dr. Marli Cardoso Martins Pinge
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology
Research Theme: Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology
Description: The Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathophysiology is interested in the study of the mechanisms of central and peripheral cardiovascular control in animals under physiological conditions such as physical exercise and postural changes, as well as in animal disease models with obesity, sepsis, the Chagas disease, and Parkinsonism. We apply stereotaxic techniques; invasive and non-invasive cardiovascular registry; Cardiovascular Variability Analysis and analysis of cardiovascular variability and biochemical measurements of plasma and tissues.
Dr. Paulo Cesar Meletti
Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology
Research Theme: Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Description: Through toxicity tests during the embryo-larval stage of fish, we study possible teratogenic and developmental effects, using morphometric, histological, and behavioural analyses. In juvenile and adult fish, which have a more diversified behavioural repertoire, we seek to develop and apply tests that are interrelated and that can be more robustly used as behavioural biomarkers of contamination.
Curriculum Structure
Admissions
To be admitted, candidates must follow the requirements of each selection process. The selection process usually consists of a written theoretical exam, oral presentation and evaluation of the research proposal, analysis of the candidate’s documented CV, and interview. Candidates must also present a certificate of proficiency in English.
Curriculum and Other Requirements
The curriculum of the PGCIF is organised around core courses and elective courses offered annually. Successful completion of the master’s program includes the completion of 84 credits (18 credits in core courses, 06 credits in elective courses, and 60 credits in the master’s thesis). For the completion of the PhD program, 154 credits are required (34 credits in core courses, 16 credits in elective courses, and 120 credits in the doctoral dissertation).
Qualifying examination, Master’s thesis, and Doctoral Dissertation
The qualifying examination is a requirement for both master’s students and PhD candidates. To request the examination, students must complete all credits of core and elective courses. For the master’s degree, the qualifying examination is taken within 18 months of starting the program and, for the PhD program within 36 months. The qualifying examination in the master’s degree is a presentation and evaluation of the first version of the thesis. It should include a general introduction to the work presented and a manuscript in the form of a scientific paper, in which preliminary results are to be presented. For the PhD, the qualifying examination is a presentation and evaluation of a manuscript in the form of a scientific paper with the results that will be part of the final doctoral dissertation.
The thesis or the dissertation may follow the traditional format, or it may be presented in the format of scientific papers. The master’s program should be completed in 24 months after enrolment and the PhD in 48 months after the enrolment.
Special Admissions
Vacancies for special students are opened every six months and the selection process is regulated by a public notice published on the ‘Public Notices’ tab of this webpage.