Overview
Background
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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Chronic pain - Pathophysiologcal mechanisms and Therapeutics development, Visceral Pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Neurodegeneration - Pathophysiologcal mechanisms and Therapeutics development
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Venomics and Pharmacology of Spiders, Cone snails and Snake venoms
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Structure-function properties of venom peptides and proteins
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Voltage-gated Ion Channels
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
2018
Conference Publication
Comparative analysis of transfection methods to establish high-throughput automated electrophysiology assays for key ion channels involved in pain
Hasan, M.D., Cardoso, F.C. and Lewis, R.J. (2018). Comparative analysis of transfection methods to establish high-throughput automated electrophysiology assays for key ion channels involved in pain. Brisbane Pain Research: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2018, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7 December 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Jararhagin, a metalloproteinase from Bothrops jararaca venom, induces mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia through TRPV1 channel activation
Ferraz, C. R., Cardos, F. C., Clissa, P. B., Vetter, I., Verri Jr, W. A. and Lewis, R. J. (2018). Jararhagin, a metalloproteinase from Bothrops jararaca venom, induces mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia through TRPV1 channel activation. Brisbane Pain Research: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2018, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7 December 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Counter screen of spider venoms reveals novel sodium and calcium channel inhibitors of chronic pain targets.
Cardoso, F. C., Herzig, V., King, G. F. and Lewis, R. J. (2018). Counter screen of spider venoms reveals novel sodium and calcium channel inhibitors of chronic pain targets.. Gordon Research Conference on Venom Evolution, Function and Biomedical Applications 2018, Mount Snow, VT, United States, 5-10 August 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Can Phlo3a – a newly discovered spider knottin – meets the challenges to strategically modulate noxious Nav-channels?
Dongol, Y., Cardoso, F. C. and Lewis, R. J. (2018). Can Phlo3a – a newly discovered spider knottin – meets the challenges to strategically modulate noxious Nav-channels?. Brisbane Pain Research: Multidisciplinary Perspectives & Therapeutics 2018, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7 December 2018.
2017
Journal Article
Sodium channels and pain: from toxins to therapies
Cardoso, Fernanda Caldas and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). Sodium channels and pain: from toxins to therapies. British Journal of Pharmacology, 175 (12), 2138-2157. doi: 10.1111/bph.13962
2017
Journal Article
Modulatory features of the novel spider toxin μ-TRTX-Df1a isolated from the venom of the spider Davus fasciatus
Cardoso, Fernanda Caldas, Dekan, Zoltan, Smith, Jennifer J., Deuis, Jennifer R., Vetter, Irina, Herzig, Volker, Alewood, Paul F., King, Glenn F and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). Modulatory features of the novel spider toxin μ-TRTX-Df1a isolated from the venom of the spider Davus fasciatus. British Journal of Pharmacology, 174 (15), 2528-2544. doi: 10.1111/bph.13865
2017
Journal Article
The structure, dynamics and selectivity profile of a NaV 1.7 potency-optimised huwentoxin-IV variant
Rahnama, Sassan, Deuis, Jennifer R., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Ramanujam, Venkatraman, Lewis, Richard J., Rash, Lachlan D., King, Glenn F., Vetter, Irina and Mobli, Mehdi (2017). The structure, dynamics and selectivity profile of a NaV 1.7 potency-optimised huwentoxin-IV variant. PLoS One, 12 (3) e0173551, e0173551. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173551
2017
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, Richard J. (2017). 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.
2017
Conference Publication
Defining ω-conotoxin binding site and delineating the role of the α2δ1 subunit in ω-conotoxin binding
Hassan, Mahadhi, Abraham, Nikita, Ragnarsson, Lotten K.N., Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). Defining ω-conotoxin binding site and delineating the role of the α2δ1 subunit in ω-conotoxin binding. Venom to Drugs Conference 2017, Noosa Heads, QLD Australia, 9-14 October 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Nav modulators in spider venoms and applications in the development of novel therapies for neurological disorders
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Bellingham, Mark C., King, Glenn F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). Nav modulators in spider venoms and applications in the development of novel therapies for neurological disorders. Venom to Drugs Conference 2017, Noosa Heads, QLD Australia, 9-14 October 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
High-throughput cell-based assays for screening Cav3.2 modulators from venoms
Wang, D., Herzig, V., Dekan, Z., Ragnarsson, Lotten K. N., Cardoso, Fernanda C. and Lewis, Richard J. (2017). High-throughput cell-based assays for screening Cav3.2 modulators from venoms. Venom to Drugs Conference 2017, Noosa Heads, QLD, Australia, 9-14 October 2017.
2016
Journal Article
Isolation and characterization of a structurally unique β-hairpin venom peptide from the predatory ant Anochetus emarginatus
Touchard, Axel, Brust, Andreas, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Chin, K.-Y., Herzig, Volker, Jin, Ai-Hua, Dejean, Alain, Alewood, Paul F., King, Glenn F., Orivel, Jérôme and Escoubas, Pierre (2016). Isolation and characterization of a structurally unique β-hairpin venom peptide from the predatory ant Anochetus emarginatus. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1860 (11 Part A), 2553-2562. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.07.027
2016
Conference Publication
The inhibition of neuronal calcium channels with aminobenzothiazole derivatives
Sairaman, Anjali, Cardoso, Fernanda Caldas , Lewis, Richard J., Kaliappana, Krishna P., Tuck, Kellie L. and Duggan, Peter J. (2016). The inhibition of neuronal calcium channels with aminobenzothiazole derivatives. RACI Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology Conference 2016, Coogee Beach, NSW, Australia, 7-9 November 2016.
2015
Journal Article
The role of defensive ecological interactions in the evolution of conotoxins
Prashanth, J. R., Dutertre, S., Jin, A. H., Lavergne, V., Hamilton, B., Cardoso, F. C., Griffin, J., Venter, D. J., Alewood, P. F. and Lewis, R. J. (2015). The role of defensive ecological interactions in the evolution of conotoxins. Molecular Ecology, 25 (2), 598-615. doi: 10.1111/mec.13504
2015
Journal Article
Identification and characterization of ProTx-III [μ-TRTX-Tp1a], a new voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitor from venom of the tarantula Thrixopelma pruriens
Cardoso, Fernanda C., Deka, Zoltan, Rosengren, K. Johan, Erickson, Andelain, Vetter, Irina, Deuis, Jennifer R., Herzig, Volker, Alewood, Paul F., King, Glenn F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2015). Identification and characterization of ProTx-III [μ-TRTX-Tp1a], a new voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitor from venom of the tarantula Thrixopelma pruriens. Molecular Pharmacology, 88 (2), 291-303. doi: 10.1124/mol.115.098178
2015
Conference Publication
Rational development of novel analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain: Structure-Function studies of an engineered Nav1.7 blocker
Rahnama, S., Lachlan, R., Cardoso, F. C., Smith, J., Deuis, J., Vetter, I., King, G. F. and Mobli, M. (2015). Rational development of novel analgesics for the treatment of chronic pain: Structure-Function studies of an engineered Nav1.7 blocker. The 40th Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function, Lorne VIC, Australia, 8-12 February 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Harnessing animal venoms in the discovery of potent Nav inhibitors through fluorescent and automated patch clamp assays
Cardoso, Fernanda Caldas , Herzig, Volker , King, Glenn F. and Lewis, Richard J. (2015). Harnessing animal venoms in the discovery of potent Nav inhibitors through fluorescent and automated patch clamp assays. 18th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, Oxford UK, 25-30 September 2015.
2015
Journal Article
Antibody signatures reflect different disease pathologies in schistosomiasis japonica
Driguez, Patrick, Li, Yuesheng, Gaze, Soraya, Pearson, Mark S., Nakajima, Rie, Trieu, Angela, Doolan, Denise L., Felgner, Philip L., Hou, Xunya, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Jasinskas, Algis, Gobert, Geoffrey, Loukas, Alexander C. and McManus, Donald P. (2015). Antibody signatures reflect different disease pathologies in schistosomiasis japonica. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 213 (1), 122-130. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiv356
2015
Journal Article
Specific humoral response of hosts with variable schistosomiasis susceptibility
Driguez, Patrick, McWilliam, Hamish E. G., Gaze, Soraya, Piedrafita, David, Pearson, Mark S., Nakajima, Rie, Duke, Mary, Trieu, Angela, Doolan, Denise L., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Jasinskas, Algis, Gobert, Geoffrey N., Felgner, Philip L., Loukas, Alex, Meeusen, Els and McManus, Donald P. (2015). Specific humoral response of hosts with variable schistosomiasis susceptibility. Immunology and Cell Biology, 94 (1), 52-65. doi: 10.1038/icb.2015.61
2015
Book Chapter
Does nature do ion channel drug discovery better than us?
Lewis, Richard J., Vetter, Irina, Cardoso, Fernanda C., Inserra, Marco and King, Glenn (2015). Does nature do ion channel drug discovery better than us?. Ion channel drug discovery. (pp. 297-313) edited by Brian Cox and Martin Gosling. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/9781849735087-00297
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Fernanda Cardoso is:
- Available for supervision
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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
Principal Advisor
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
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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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