Gilson G. dos Santos
Thousand Oaks,USA
Summary
Experienced in vivo pharmacologist with over 13 years of expertise in leading preclinical studies across neurological, inflammation, and metabolic disease programs. Proficient in study design, multi-route dosing, tissue processing, and behavioral assessments, ensuring compliant and efficient study execution. Experienced in training teams and coordinating cross-functional efforts to drive therapeutic advancements.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Scientist - In Vivo Pharmacology
Beren Therapeutics
Thousand Oaks, California
05.2026 - Current
- Design and execute in vivo pharmacology studies supporting programs in Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) and Alzheimer's disease.
- Support preclinical development programs focused on therapies for rare neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Perform stereotaxic surgeries for CNS drug delivery.
- Conduct intracerebroventricular (ICV) dosing.
- Conduct behavioral assessments and neurological monitoring to evaluate therapeutic efficacy.
- Collect blood, CSF, and tissues for biomarker analyses to support preclinical development.
- Process brain and peripheral tissues for molecular and histological analyses.
- Analyze experimental data and communicate findings to multidisciplinary project teams to inform decision-making.
Senior Scientist, In Vivo Pharmacology
Entos Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, CA
06.2022 - 05.2026
- Senior In Vivo Pharmacology Scientist leading preclinical efficacy, biodistribution, and safety studies across CNS and metabolic disease programs.
- Designed and executed in vivo studies assessing therapeutic efficacy, biodistribution, and safety, contributing to advancement of CNS and metabolic disease programs.
- Led and managed preclinical pharmacology and toxicology studies in mice and rats across multiple therapeutic areas, including neuroinflammation, metabolic disorders, MASH, and obesity.
- Established four metabolic disease models (diet-induced obesity, diet-induced fatty liver disease) to facilitate preclinical research.
- Performed multi-route dosing (IV, SC, IM, IT, IC), behavioral assessments, necropsy, and comprehensive tissue collection for histology and molecular analyses.
- Collected blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and tissue samples for biomarker analysis in research studies.
- Processed brain and peripheral tissue samples to prepare for molecular and histological analysis.
- Conducted histological examinations of dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord, brain, liver, trachea, and lung tissues.
- Mentored junior researchers and technical staff, enhancing team capability and research output.
Postdoctoral and Project Scientist
University of California, San Diego
San Diego, CA
06.2018 - 06.2022
- Led mechanistic studies to elucidate pathways involved in pain, arthritis, and neuroinflammation.
- Developed and reviewed research protocols and study designs to ensure scientific rigor and compliance.
- Generated, analyzed, and interpreted datasets for peer-reviewed publications.
- Served on PhD and Master's thesis examination committees.
- Supervised trainees, fostering their development through structured scientific feedback and mentorship.
Education
PhD - Physiology & Molecular Biology
State University of Campinas
Brazil01-2018
MSc - Physiology & Molecular Biology
State University of Campinas
Brazil01-2014
BSc - Biomedical Science
Faculty Tecsoma
Brazil01-2012
Skills
- In Vivo Pharmacology
- CNS drug delivery
- Intra-articular dosing
- Intracerebroventricular dosing
- Surgical Techniques
- Blood sampling
- Cerebrospinal fluid sampling
- Necropsy
- Clinical assessment
- Disease scoring
- Obesity models
- MASH preclinical model
- Tumor cells inoculation
- IVIS in vivo imaging
- In vivo techniques
- DRG cell culture
- histological examination
- stereotaxic surgery
- preclinical development
- study design
- Animal handling
- Microglia culture
- Satellite culture
- Calcium assay
- Cytometry
- Bright-field microscopy
- Confocal microscopy
- Welfare monitoring
Scientific Review And Service
- Reviewer for peer-reviewed journals, including Cell/Science-family, The Journal of Pain, Dove Press, and pharmacology/immunology journals.
- Member of PhD and Master thesis examination committees.
- Mentor to undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees.
Selected Publications
- Dos Santos GG et al., Arthritis & Therapy, 2024
- Delay L, Dos Santos GG., Rheum Dis Clin N Am, 2021
- Dos Santos GG et al., Front Immunol, 2020
- Dos Santos GG et al., Br J Pharmacol, 2020
- Dos Santos GG et al., Sci Reports, 2020
- Dos Santos GG et al., Eur J Pharmacol, 2014
Researchgate Profile
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gilson-Dos-Santos
Ex Vivo
- Dorsal root ganglion (DRG), microglia, and satellite primary cell cultures.
- Neuronal Calcium Assay
- Flow cytometry
- Bright-field and confocal microscopy
Disease Models
- CIA (Collagen-Induced Arthritis), CAIA (Collagen Antibody-Induced Arthritis), K/BxN Serum Transfer Arthritis and CFA-induced Inflammation & Chronic Pain
- Alzheimer's Disease, Niemann-Pick Disease Type C, Depression
- Tumor cells inoculation (CDX models)
- Diet-induced obesity (DIO) models
- MASH (Metabolically Dysregulated Hepatic Steatosis) preclinical model
Timeline
Scientist - In Vivo Pharmacology
Beren Therapeutics
05.2026 - Current
Senior Scientist, In Vivo Pharmacology
Entos Pharmaceuticals
06.2022 - 05.2026
Postdoctoral and Project Scientist
University of California, San Diego
06.2018 - 06.2022
PhD - Physiology & Molecular Biology
State University of Campinas
MSc - Physiology & Molecular Biology
State University of Campinas
BSc - Biomedical Science
Faculty Tecsoma