Paulo Gavaia has been a researcher at the "Centre of Marine Sciences- CCMAR" since 2007, and a principal Researcher since 2023. Paulo is also an invited professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Algarve (UALG) and an associated member of the GreenCoLab. PG completed his BSc in Marine Biology in 1996 a UALG, and made his PhD in Biological Sciences – Molecular Biology between the UALG and the ICMAN-CSIC in Cadiz, focused on the Functional analysis of Bone related Gla proteins from bony fish during skeletal development. Paulo was a pioneer in the study of zebrafish in Portugal and installed the first small scale facility.
His research has been focused on developmental biology and molecular determinants of mineralization using model species like the zebrafish and aquaculture produced fishes. The work developed using the zebrafish as a model system, aims mostly at uncovering the relevant genes and molecular pathways involved in osteoblastic and osteoclastic functions in bone formation and regeneration, with identification of a new cell type involved in fin ray morphogenesis. This was accomplished using molecular biology, histology, imaging and genetic tools. One of the main focuses of his current research is the bioprospection of bioactive marine derived compounds with osteogenic activity and the study of environmental pollutants affecting the skeleton using zebrafish based screening systems for the identification of extracts that promote bone growth and mineralization, or affect osteoclast activity, for applications in aquaculture and in human diseases.
Other current research areas include the study of the effects of nutritional factors like vitamins, minerals and antioxidant compounds in the skeletal development of aquaculture produced fishes and on mitigation of skeletal deformities by studying expression and regulation of skeleton related genes and osteoclastic resorption through molecular and metabolic effects of vitamin K in skeletogenesis.
