Patrícia Maciel obtained a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences in 1998 at the University of Porto and a degree in biochemistry in 1992. Currently, Dr. Maciel is an associate professor at the School of Medicine and a senior researcher at the ICVS, University of Minho. The goal of her research is to understand the genetic basis of nervous system function and dysfunction, with a strong focus on human neurological diseases. The disease models that her team develops in cells, C. elegans, and mice, once validated, will be used to search for therapeutic targets and test the efficacy of therapeutic strategies. Her specific scientific areas of interest include genetics of neurodegenerative disorders, proteostasis in aging and neurodegeneration, drug discovery, and ubiquitin proteasome system. Dr. Maciel has received six awards, published more than 130 scientific articles and nine book chapters, and has one patent granted, with an h-index of 34.