Ana Paula Schaan Silva

Dr. Ana Paula Schaan Silva is a researcher at the Institute of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, affiliated with the University of Kiel. Her work focuses on intestinal bacteria, particularly bacterial cholesterol metabolism in the human gut, and its implications for host health and cardiovascular disease risk. She is a KiTE (Kiel Translational Excellence) Fellow and part of the Cluster of Excellence 'Precision Medicine for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases' (PMI).

• Education: Doctorate from Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil (2023)
• International Experience: 10-month research stay at MIT's Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, funded by Fulbright PhD Fellowship

Her research integrates computational and experimental approaches to identify cholesterol-metabolizing bacterial species, analyze their genomic profiles, and test their metabolic capabilities using stool samples from diverse global populations. This work has potential to advance understanding of microbiome-driven adaptations to lifestyles and susceptibility to cholesterol-related diseases.

Scientific Awards:

• Fulbright PhD Fellowship

Dr. Schaan Silva emphasizes a collaborative, accessible scientific ethos, stating: 'Stay kind, curious, and remember science is for everyone.' Her research leverages the Global Microbiome Conservancy biobank to study microbial biodiversity and its physiological impacts.