Overview
Background
Researching venom peptides and ion channel pharmacology to develop next-generation therapeutics for neurological disorders
Dr Fernanda Cardoso is a Brazil-born Australian dual-citizen researcher interested in venom peptide-based biodiscovery and therapeutics development. Cardoso was awarded an MSc in Molecular Pharmacology and a PhD with an emphasis in Biochemistry and Immunology and is part of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, where she develops novel therapies for complex neurological diseases. Cardoso has interdisciplinary training in the fields of neuropharmacology, medicinal chemistry and chemical biology and a strong background in drug discovery, which provides the skills to identify naturally occurring or synthetic bioactive molecules and to study their effects in human physiology with applications in neurologic disorders such as chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and motor neuron disease (MND). Please see Dr Cardoso’s Grants and Publications list for more details.
Before joining the University of Queensland, Dr Cardoso was part of the Queensland Institute for Medical Research, holding a prestigious CAPES Postdoctoral Fellowship. During this period, Cardoso developed unique high-throughput screen platforms for discovering protein and peptide targets of novel therapies to combat infectious diseases and novel helminth-derived bioactives with anti-inflammatory properties. Please see Dr Cardoso’s Publications list for more details.
Dr Cardoso is currently part of the Centre for Drug Discovery and manages several industry and academic projects studying ion channel modulators derived from natural repertoires, particularly venoms, and developing novel, effective drugs to treat neurological disorders.
Availability
- Dr Fernanda Cardoso is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
- Masters (Research) of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
- Doctor of Philosophy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Research interests
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Venom Peptides
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Ion Channels
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Neuropharmacology
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Pain
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Neurodegeneration
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Biophysics
Research impacts
Dr. Fernanda Cardoso's research has provided remarkable insights into the discovery and biology of new agents for therapeutical use in complex disorders such as chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome and motor neuron disease, and vaccinology against tropical diseases. Her ongoing research in ion channel modulators has provided unique leads for treating neuropathic pain and neurodegenerative disorders, which could improve the lives of millions of individuals around the globe, and her past discoveries in vaccine research have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people in Africa, Asia and South America through a vaccine against schistosomiasis.
Works
Search Professor Fernanda Cardoso’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Conference Publication
Modulation of the complex NaV1.2β4 as a therapeutic strategy to cease motor neuron hyperexcitability prior to the onset of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Kotapati, Charan and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2024). Modulation of the complex NaV1.2β4 as a therapeutic strategy to cease motor neuron hyperexcitability prior to the onset of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Institute for Molecular Bioscience Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 12 July.
2024
Journal Article
Phylogeny, envenomation syndrome, and membrane permeabilising venom produced by Australia’s electric caterpillar Comana monomorpha
Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Robinson, Samuel D., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Mitchell, Michela L., Cook, Lyn G., King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2024). Phylogeny, envenomation syndrome, and membrane permeabilising venom produced by Australia’s electric caterpillar Comana monomorpha. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 14172, 14172. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-65078-1
2024
Conference Publication
Probing ion channels on motor neuron pathways to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms and unravel novel drug targets in motor neurodegeneration
Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2024). Probing ion channels on motor neuron pathways to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms and unravel novel drug targets in motor neurodegeneration. Venom Week IX, Durham, USA, 5-8 June 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Probing ion channels on motor neuron pathways to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms and unravel novel drug targets in motor neurodenegeration
Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2024). Probing ion channels on motor neuron pathways to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms and unravel novel drug targets in motor neurodenegeration. 22nd World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Singapore, 20 - 25 May 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Voltage-gated sodium channel 1.6 as a novel target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment
Muller, Jessica A.I. and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2024). Voltage-gated sodium channel 1.6 as a novel target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment. 22nd World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Singapore, 20 - 25 May 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Voltage-gated sodium channel 1.6 as a novel target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment
Muller, Jessica A.I. and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2024). Voltage-gated sodium channel 1.6 as a novel target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment. XIII World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Singapore, Singapore, 20 - 25 May 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Tissue damaging toxins in snake venoms: mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and treatment strategies
Bittenbinder, Mátyás A., van Thiel, Jory, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Casewell, Nicholas R., Gutiérrez, José-María, Kool, Jeroen and Vonk, Freek J. (2024). Tissue damaging toxins in snake venoms: mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and treatment strategies. Communications Biology, 7 (1) 358, 358. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06019-6
2024
Journal Article
High-content fluorescence bioassay investigates pore formation, ion channel modulation and cell membrane lysis induced by venoms
Kramer, Simon, Kotapati, Charan, Cao, Yuanzhao, Fry, Bryan G., Palpant, Nathan J., King, Glenn F. and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2024). High-content fluorescence bioassay investigates pore formation, ion channel modulation and cell membrane lysis induced by venoms. Toxicon: X, 21 100184, 100184. doi: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2024.100184
2024
Journal Article
Inhibition of N-type calcium channels by phenoxyaniline and sulfonamide analogues
Bispat, Anjie, Cardoso, Fernanda, Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Dongol, Yashad, Wilcox, Ricki, Lewis, Richard, Duggan, Peter James and Tuck, Kellie (2024). Inhibition of N-type calcium channels by phenoxyaniline and sulfonamide analogues. RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 15 (3), 916-936. doi: 10.1039/d3md00714f
2024
Book Chapter
Amphibian and Reptile Neurotoxins
Muller, Jessica A.I., Kotapati, Charan, Bourke, Lachlan, Tran, Le Thuy Van and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2024). Amphibian and Reptile Neurotoxins. Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. (pp. 1-1) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-95702-1.00238-4
2024
Journal Article
N-Sulfonylphenoxazines as neuronal calcium ion channel blockers
Schmit, Matthieu, Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Dongol, Yashad, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Kuiper, Michael J., Lewis, Richard J., Duggan, Peter J. and Tuck, Kellie L. (2024). N-Sulfonylphenoxazines as neuronal calcium ion channel blockers. RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 15 (7), 2400-2412. doi: 10.1039/d4md00336e
2023
Journal Article
Structure-function and rational design of a spider toxin Ssp1a at human voltage-gated sodium channel subtypes
Dongol, Yashad, Wilson, David T., Daly, Norelle L., Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2023). Structure-function and rational design of a spider toxin Ssp1a at human voltage-gated sodium channel subtypes. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14 1277143, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1277143
2023
Conference Publication
Novel neuroprotective drugs inspired by venom-peptide inhibitors of ion channels to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2023). Novel neuroprotective drugs inspired by venom-peptide inhibitors of ion channels to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. XVII Congress of the Brazilian Society of Toxinology/XIII Congress of the Pan American Section of the International Society on Toxinology, Brasilia, Brazil, 9-13 November 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Peptide-based medicine: designing novel voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitors to treat motor neuron disease
Kotapati, Charan and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2023). Peptide-based medicine: designing novel voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitors to treat motor neuron disease. Centre for Chemistry and Drug Development Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2 November 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Venom peptide inhibitors of sodium channels are a new drug class to treat neurodegenerative diseases
Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2023). Venom peptide inhibitors of sodium channels are a new drug class to treat neurodegenerative diseases. V2D 2023: 8th Venom to Drugs Conference, Moreton Island, QLD, Australia, 9 - 14 October 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Structure, function, and evolution of nettle caterpillar venom toxins
Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh H., Robinson, Samuel, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Lawrence, Nicole, Eagles, David, Chin, Y., King, Glenn F. and Walker, Andrew A. (2023). Structure, function, and evolution of nettle caterpillar venom toxins. V2D 2023: 8th Venoms to Drugs Conference, Moreton Island, QLD Australia, 9-13 October 2023.
2023
Journal Article
From squid giant axon to automated patch-clamp: electrophysiology in venom and antivenom research
Ahmadi, Shirin, Benard-Valle, Melisa, Boddum, Kim, Cardoso, Fernanda C., King, Glenn F., Laustsen, Andreas Hougaard and Ljungars, Anne (2023). From squid giant axon to automated patch-clamp: electrophysiology in venom and antivenom research. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14 1249336, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1249336
2023
Journal Article
Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae)
Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Merritt, David J., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Mercedes, Raine S., Eagles, David A., Cooper, Paul, Zdenek, Christina N., Fry, Bryan G., Hall, Donald W., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2023). Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (29) e2305871120, e2305871120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2305871120
2023
Conference Publication
Using a novel high throughput multiplex assay to evaluate cytotoxicity and calcium modulation of Bothrops venoms
Bourke, Lachlan A., Fry, Bryan, G. and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2023). Using a novel high throughput multiplex assay to evaluate cytotoxicity and calcium modulation of Bothrops venoms. Institute for Molecular Bioscience Student Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7 July 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Novel inhibitors of sodium channels in the fight against motor neuron disease
Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2023). Novel inhibitors of sodium channels in the fight against motor neuron disease. Gordon Research Conference in Motor Neuron Disease, Les Diableretes, Switzerland, 2 - 7 July 2023.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Fernanda Cardoso is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Selective modulation voltage gated sodium channels to investigate pathophysiology and treatment for motor neuron disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Clinical implications and evolutionary insights of Latin American pit viper venom function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Walker, Professor Bryan Fry
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Venom Components as Analgesics and Pharmacological Tools to Elucidate Mammalian Pain Signalling Pathways
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler, Professor Glenn King
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A Pharmacological and Transcriptomic approach to exploring Novel Pain Targets
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Cabot, Professor Irina Vetter
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Fernanda Cardoso directly for media enquiries about:
- Analgesics
- Bio-active peptides
- Drug discovery
- Ion channels
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Motor Neuron Disease
- Neurodegeneration
- Neurological disorders
- Pain
- Snake
- Spider
- Toxins
- Venoms
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