Dr. Filipa Simões

Biography

Filipa Simões is a Group Leader at the Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine in the University of Oxford, where she also holds the position of British Heart Foundation Intermediate Basic Science Fellow. Her research primarily focuses on understanding immune cells, particularly macrophages, and their role in tissue repair following heart attacks. Her team employs various methodologies, including genomics and functional assays, to investigate the dynamics of cellular microenvironments and intercellular signaling networks, aiming to define macrophage identity, plasticity, and function in both healthy and diseased hearts. Prior to this, Filipa completed her Bachelor's degree in Microbiology Genetics at the University of Lisbon and obtained her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Coimbra, where she conducted research at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. During her postdoctoral work at the University of Oxford, she identified key functional cell subpopulations that are critical for heart development and regeneration. Her groundbreaking work has provided new insights into collagen deposition in cardiac scar formation, with implications for understanding fibrotic diseases across various organ systems.

Research Interests