Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

1st look at PINK1 structure reveals Parkinson’s clues

Researchers for the first time visualized how PINK1, a protein linked to early-onset Parkinson’s disease, binds to mitochondria and how it’s switched on to protect these energy-producing structures when they’re damaged. Using a high-resolution microscope to map the structure of the human version of PINK1 bound to damaged mitochondria,…

Genetic disease offers insights for Parkinson’s treatment 

A rare nerve disorder may offer clues to potential Parkinson’s disease treatment targets, a mouse study showed. In giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), buildup of neurofilament proteins trap several cellular organelles and proteins, preventing nerve cells from clearing and recycling waste, the study found. Because neurofilament proteins have also been…