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
2021
Conference Publication
Structure-function of the spider peptide ProTx-III
Zhao, Tianjiao, Rosengren, Johan K., Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). Structure-function of the spider peptide ProTx-III. Venom to Drugs, Daydream Island, QLD Australia, 15-19 March 2021.
2021
Journal Article
A spider-venom peptide with multitarget activity on sodium and calcium channels alleviates chronic visceral pain in a model of irritable bowel syndrome
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Castro, Joel, Grundy, Luke, Schober, Gudrun, Garcia-Caraballo, Sonia, Zhao, Tianjiao, Herzig, Volker, King, Glenn F., Brierley, Stuart M. and Lewis, Richard J. (2021). A spider-venom peptide with multitarget activity on sodium and calcium channels alleviates chronic visceral pain in a model of irritable bowel syndrome. Pain, 162 (2), 569-581. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002041
2020
Conference Publication
Rationally Designed Analogues of the Novel Spider-venom Peptide Phlo3a Shifts the Potency and Subtype Selectivity at Therapeutic Nav Channel Targets for Pain and Epilepsy
Dongol, Y., Choi, P., Wilson, D., Cardoso, F. C. and Lewis, R. J. (2020). Rationally Designed Analogues of the Novel Spider-venom Peptide Phlo3a Shifts the Potency and Subtype Selectivity at Therapeutic Nav Channel Targets for Pain and Epilepsy. SBMS Postgraduate Symposium in Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24 November 2020.
2020
Journal Article
Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency
Peschel, Alicia, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Walker, Andrew A., Durek, Thomas, Stone, M Rhia L., Braga Emidio, Nayara, Dawson, Philip E., Muttenthaler, Markus and King, Glenn F. (2020). Two for the price of one: heterobivalent ligand design targeting two binding sites on voltage-gated sodium channels slows ligand dissociation and enhances otency. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 63 (21), 12773-12785. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01107
2020
Journal Article
The neuronal calcium ion channel activity of constrained analogues of MONIRO-1
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Marliac, Marie-Adeline, Geoffroy, Chloe, Schmit, Matthieu, Bispat, Anjie, Lewis, Richard J., Tuck, Kellie L. and Duggan, Peter J. (2020). The neuronal calcium ion channel activity of constrained analogues of MONIRO-1. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 28 (18) 115655, 115655. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115655
2020
Journal Article
Characterisation of δ-Conotoxin TxVIA as a mammalian T-type calcium channel modulator
Wang, Dan, Himaya, S.W.A., Giacomotto, Jean, Hasan, Md. Mahadhi, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ragnarsson, Lotten and Lewis, Richard J. (2020). Characterisation of δ-Conotoxin TxVIA as a mammalian T-type calcium channel modulator. Marine Drugs, 18 (7) 343, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/md18070343
2020
Journal Article
Multi-targeting sodium and calcium channels using venom peptides for the treatment of complex ion channels-related diseases
Cardoso, Fernanda C (2020). Multi-targeting sodium and calcium channels using venom peptides for the treatment of complex ion channels-related diseases. Biochemical Pharmacology, 181 114107, 114107. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114107
2020
Conference Publication
Harnessing multifunctional spider-venom peptides to modulate pain pathways
Cardoso, Fernanda (2020). Harnessing multifunctional spider-venom peptides to modulate pain pathways. 20th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8-13 September 2019. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.10.082
2019
Journal Article
Spider knottin pharmacology at voltage-gated sodium channels and their potential to modulate pain pathways
Dongol, Yashad, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). Spider knottin pharmacology at voltage-gated sodium channels and their potential to modulate pain pathways. Toxins, 11 (11) 10.3390/toxins11110626, 626. doi: 10.3390/toxins11110626
2019
Journal Article
Venomic, transcriptomic, and bioactivity analyses of Pamphobeteus verdolaga venom reveal complex disulfide-rich peptides that modulate calcium channels
Estrada-Gomez, Sebastian, Cardoso,Fernanda Caldas, Vargas-Muñoz, Leidy Johana, Quintana-Castillo, Juan Carlos, Gómez, Claudia Marcela Arenas, Pineda, Sandy Steffany and Saldarriaga-Cordoba, Monica Maria (2019). Venomic, transcriptomic, and bioactivity analyses of Pamphobeteus verdolaga venom reveal complex disulfide-rich peptides that modulate calcium channels. Toxins, 11 (9) 496, 496. doi: 10.3390/toxins11090496
2019
Journal Article
Multifunctional toxins in snake venoms and therapeutic implications: From pain to hemorrhage and necrosis
Ferraz, Camila R., Arrahman, Arif, Xie, Chunfang, Casewell, Nicholas R., Lewis, Richard J., Kool, Jeroen and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2019). Multifunctional toxins in snake venoms and therapeutic implications: From pain to hemorrhage and necrosis. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7 (JUN) 218. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00218
2019
Journal Article
Structure–function and therapeutic potential of spider venom-derived cysteine knot peptides targeting sodium channels
Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). Structure–function and therapeutic potential of spider venom-derived cysteine knot peptides targeting sodium channels. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 10 (APR) 366, 366. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00366
2019
Journal Article
‘Messy’ Processing of χ-conotoxin MrIA Generates Homologues with Reduced hNET Potency
Ziegman, Rebekah , Brust, Andreas , Jha, Prerna , Cardoso, Fernanda C. , Lewis, Richard J. and Alewood, Paul F. (2019). ‘Messy’ Processing of χ-conotoxin MrIA Generates Homologues with Reduced hNET Potency. Marine Drugs, 17 (3) 165, 165. doi: 10.3390/md17030165
2019
Conference Publication
Structure-function relationships of spider venom neurotoxins: what are we learning from it?
Cardoso, Fernadna C. (2019). Structure-function relationships of spider venom neurotoxins: what are we learning from it?. Pain Retreat 2019, Stradbroke Island, QLD, Australia, 27-29 May 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Discovery of novel cav and nav modulators in spider venoms and applications in the development of drugs to treat chronic pain
Cardoso, Fernanda C., King, Glenn F. and Lewis, R. J. (2019). Discovery of novel cav and nav modulators in spider venoms and applications in the development of drugs to treat chronic pain. 19th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Haikou City, Hainan Province, China, 24-31 October 2017. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier.
2019
Conference Publication
New insights in ω-conotoxin analgesic efficacy in postsurgical pain and oxaliplatin/cisplatin induced peripheral neuropathy
Hasan, Mahadhi, Mueller, Alexander, Starobova, Hana, Vetter, Irina, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). New insights in ω-conotoxin analgesic efficacy in postsurgical pain and oxaliplatin/cisplatin induced peripheral neuropathy. Brisbane Pain Research Symposium: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2019, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 29 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Harnessing multifunctional spider peptides to modulate pain pathways
Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2019). Harnessing multifunctional spider peptides to modulate pain pathways. International Society for Toxinology World Conference 2019, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8-13 September 2019. OXFORD: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD.
2019
Conference Publication
Rational design of spider knottin Phlo3a to strategically modulate multiple noxious NaV channels
Dongol, Yashad, Choi, Phil, Wilson, David, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richards J. (2019). Rational design of spider knottin Phlo3a to strategically modulate multiple noxious NaV channels. Brisbane Pain Research Symposium: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Characterization of δ-conotoxin Tx-VIA as selective T-type modulator
Wang, Dan, Himaya, S. W. A., Giacomotto, Jean, Hasan, Mahadhi, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). Characterization of δ-conotoxin Tx-VIA as selective T-type modulator. Brisbane Pain Research Symposium: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2019, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 29 November 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Disclosing the bioactive surface of the potent NaV channel inhibitor ProTx-III [μ-TRTX-Tp1a]
Zhao, Tianjiao, Rosengren, K. Johan, Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2019). Disclosing the bioactive surface of the potent NaV channel inhibitor ProTx-III [μ-TRTX-Tp1a]. Brisbane Pain Research Symposium: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2019, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 29 November 2019.
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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