Dr. Giovana Casteluci Moreira

Biography

Giovana is a Brazilian scientist with a PhD in Molecular Biophysics. Her research focuses on understanding protein oligomerization and aggregation under the physiological conditions of cancer cells. During her doctorate, she developed a Grb2 mutant that facilitates the study of its signaling-promoting oligomeric state and spent six months at the MD Anderson Cancer Center validating its functionality in cells and its interaction with molecular glue inhibitors. She joined the Wittung-Stafshede research group in October 2025 and her research focuses on exploring amyloid formation of the tumor suppressor p53 and potential roles of metal ions in such reactions. Outside the lab, she enjoys golfing, baking, and playing video games.

Thesis title: Biophysical characterization of the Grb2 Y160F protein: effects of the mutation on the monomer-dimer equilibrium and interaction with RAS/MAPK pathway inhibitors.