Eduardo Zimmer
Life Sciences
When scientist Eduardo Zimmer received the Serrapilheira grant in 2020, he and his wife celebrated by adopting a puppy they named Baleia, a reference to both the Brazilian classic Vidas Secas (Barren Lives) and his research on whale brains. Four years later, Baleia has become a faithful companion, especially during the long hours of working from home.
Originally from Santo Ângelo in Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo comes from a family known for its contributions to pharmaceutical research. He followed in their footsteps, earning a pharmacy degree, a master’s degree, and a doctorate in biochemistry from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. His academic journey took him to McGill University in Canada, where he fostered a lasting connection culminating in a visiting professorship at the Center for Studies in Aging in 2018.
Currently a professor of pharmacology at UFRGS, Eduardo is dedicated to solving the mysteries of age-related brain shrinkage. While he is fascinated by the aging process, he also finds joy in the wonders of child development, especially after the arrival of his son, Benjamin, who has brought new meaning to his life.
Projects
What causes age-related brain volume loss? As we age, our brains gradually shrink, a process that typically begins around the age of 40. This decline in brain volume has often been linked to the loss of neurons, the most studied type of brain cell. However, the areas of the brain that shrink the most have a higher concentration of glial cells than neurons. Importantly, glial cells can change their size in response to changes in their environment within the brain. Based on this observation, we propose a new idea: that the reduction in brain size observed with aging is mainly due to glial cell shrinkage. To test this idea, we will use advanced genetic techniques to control the precise size of glial cells in experimental models. If our hypothesis is confirmed, it suggests that the age-related decline in brain size may be reversible.
Amount invested
In mammals, the brain is conserved in terms of shape, cellular constitution, and function. However, the human brain is more vulnerable to neurodegeneration, the main characteristic of aging diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Other mammals, such as dogs and monkeys, seem more resistant to neurodegeneration.
This project aims to answer the fundamental question: what makes the human brain more susceptible to neurodegeneration?
Astrocytes are star-shaped cells abundant in the human brain’s regions most vulnerable to neurodegeneration. Astrocytes were once thought to be secondary players to neurons, but they are now known to be essential for complex cognitive tasks. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that astrocytes play a role in the human brain’s vulnerability to neurodegeneration.
In this project, we will characterize astrocytes in different mammals to identify the molecular and cellular differences between human astrocytes and other mammals. This knowledge will help us to understand the causes of neurodegeneration in the human brain and to develop new treatments for these diseases.
