Dr João Passos, Research Fellow
When João Passos was looking for a university where he could study for his doctorate, he could have chosen anywhere in the world. He chose, however, to come to Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing and Health (IAH) where he had been impressed by the laboratories and the quality of the research work.
Another attraction of coming to Newcastle was the opportunity to study under Professor Tom Kirkwood, then director of the Institute, whose book ‘Time Of Our Lives’ he had read as an undergraduate. His interest in ageing began at Porto University, where he gained a degree in biochemistry in 2002.
Portugal operates a scheme in which a small group of postgraduates are funded for four years while they study for their doctorates. "It’s very competitive," explained Dr Passos. "Only 12 people get it each year. For the first year you are in Portugal and attend classes, and during that time you basically decide which area you want to do your Phd in. They then allow you to choose any lab in the world that you want to go to."
Choosing Newcastle for research
He visited labs around the UK and was in contact with others in Europe and the United States. "But when I came to Newcastle I was impressed by everything I saw. So I thought, this is the place I want to be."
Dr Passos went on to complete his Phd at Newcastle, with Professor Kirkwood and Professor of Cellular Gerontology, Thomas von Zglinicki, as his supervisors.
Then he decided to stay on and do his post-doctoral research at the University for the next three years. And after this he successfully applied for a prestigious David Phillips Fellowship awarded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
Dr Passos is currently carrying out biochemical research as part of the extensive efforts being made by teams at the IAH to uncover the complex causes of ageing.
His work investigates how factors such as malfunctioning mitochondria (the tiny organisms within cells that convert food and oxygen into energy) and telomeres (found at the end of chromosomes in the cell nucleus that play a part in cellular reproduction) can contribute to the ageing process.
The BBSRC Fellowship pays his salary and for materials to enable him to conduct independent research work. He also sourced additional money to recruit people to work with him, and now leads a team of five.
Dr Passos takes particular satisfaction from the fact that not only did the Portuguese Phd scheme enable him to come to Newcastle, but he has also been able to bring into his team another student from Portugal, Clara Melo.
"She was also attracted to the idea of working in ageing at Newcastle. So I am now supervising her in my Phd programme."
High quality science at a competitive level
Dr Passos has been in Newcastle for nine years and plans to remain at the University for the foreseeable future, because of the sheer extent of the systems biology research being carried out here into the causes of ageing and possible treatments for age related diseases.
"I want to be able to produce high quality science at a very competitive level. At the moment, perhaps the US in some aspects is doing more visible research. My purpose is that we can really show we can do better than they can, in terms of what ageing research should be about.
"This is something that I feel is absolutely necessary – that we have to be on top. And I think we are in the right place to do that."
Contact João Passos about his research.
Find out more about:
Read more about understanding the science of ageing.
