Carla Gomes da Silva

Carla Gomes da Silva serves as Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator at the Department of Translational Neuroscience within the UMC Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht (Utrecht University). Her laboratory investigates fundamental mechanisms of brain development, specializing in interneuron migration, cortical morphogenesis, and cellular dynamics during neural circuit formation. Her work bridges molecular neuroscience and developmental biology with implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.

Her research program explores how neural cells migrate and interact during cerebral cortex development using advanced methodologies including live-cell imaging of brain organotypic slices, data analysis, and molecular techniques. Key investigations focus on oligodendrocyte precursor-guided neuronal migration, adenosine-GABA signaling convergence in synapse stabilization, and cell-intrinsic control mechanisms of cortical organization. This research provides critical insights into developmental processes underlying neurological conditions.

Analysis of her recent publications (2018-2022) reveals consistent emphasis on cellular dynamics in brain development, particularly interneuron migration mechanisms and molecular pathways governing cortical morphogenesis. Her work demonstrates technical innovation in imaging and experimental models, with significant contributions to understanding neural circuit formation through high-impact publications in Science, Cell, and Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Dr. Gomes da Silva actively mentors the next generation of neuroscientists with current supervision of PhD student Carlos Flores Clara and research assistant Danny van Nuijs. Her alumni include PhD graduates Fanny Lepiemme and Romain LeBail, alongside multiple Master's and Bachelor students. The laboratory environment emphasizes technical excellence in brain organotypic slice preparation, live imaging, and data analysis, welcoming motivated students and postdocs for Master, PhD, or Postdoc positions in developmental neuroscience.