FRANCIELLY MORENA

314-456-5538 | | TWitter: @franmorena98 | Google Scholar: Francielly Morena

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Experienced Student Researcher in physiology, exercise, and cancer. Earned BS in Exercise Science and desiring to further develop more skills to perform in the scientific research field and as a college professor. Passionate about learning and mentoring. Currently working on my Doctorate degree at University of Arkansas.

EDUCATION

PhD in Health, Sports, and Exercise Science | University of Arkansas
JULY 2020 – CURRENT. GPA: 3.909

  • Graduate assistant and research duties at the cachexia research laboratory
  • Teaching assistant (2020-2022)
  • Graduate Student Organization Representative

BS in Exercise Science | Missouri Baptist University
AUGUST 2018 – MARCH 2020
Transferred student from University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. GPA: 3.7

  • Part of the women’s Tennis Team
  • Fellow Student – Mr. Michael J. Nolan
  • President of Honor Society KON
  • Communication and social media – Exercise is Medicine on Campus

BS in Exercise Science | University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
JANUARY 2016 – JULY 2018

  • Undergraduate researcher at the Physiology and Biochemistry of Exercise Laboratory

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Research Assistant | University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
JULY 2022 – CURRENT
Responsible for leading and collecting data of two projects funded by an R01 NIH grant. Currently working with maintenance of Bnip3 genetic deletion and Opa1 transgenic overexpression to mitigate cancer-induced muscle atrophy. Besides that, my responsibility expands to writing manuscripts, grants, and coordinate and mentor multiple undergraduate students.

Graduate Student Organization Representative
JULY 2022 – CURRENT
Responsible for representing the graduate student body (599 students) in Graduate-Professional Student Congress, with voting privileges. I am founder and responsible for the Minority Group and Women in Science (MGWS) Support group and coordinate recognition awards by faculty appointment. The MGWS is a support group to empower minorities and women in science and recognize outstanding efforts and contribution to science.

Graduate Assistant | University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
JULY 2020 – JULY 2022
Responsible for undergraduate level lecture planning, make slides, grading, teach technical procedures, assist student in and out on classroom setting. Research duties in focusing on cancer cachexia and mitochondrial health.

Collaboration in Research | Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis, Missouri
AUGUST 2019 – MAY 2020
Helping in data collection of a Sport Phycology research. The purpose of this research is seeing the effects of Self-Control training in physical performance.

Teaching Assistant | Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis, Missouri
AUGUST 2019 – MAY 2020
Student teaching assistant for undergraduate Testing and Prescription laboratory. Responsible for Lecture planning, make slides, grading, teach technical procedures, assist student in and out on classroom setting.

Student Researcher | University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
OCTOBER 2016 – JULY 2018
Worked on my own research project and helped others during experiments. Project: Characterization of The Effects of Physical Exercise In The Structural Alteration of Tumor In Murine Cancer Models. With participation in the SIICUSP, Symposium of scientific initiation of University of Sao Paulo.

MANUSCRIPT PUBLICATION

  1. Lim S, Lee D, Morena Da Silva F, Koopmans P, Vechetti IJ Jr, von Walden F, Greene NP, Murach KA. MicroRNA Control of the Myogenic Cell Transcriptome and Proteome: The Role of miR-16. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2023 Mar 27. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00071.2023. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36971422. PI. Nicholas Greene and Kevin Murach. Role: Middle Author

  2. Morena da Silva, F., Lim, S., Cabrera, A.R., Schrems, E.R., Jones III, R.G., Rosa-Caldwell, M., Washington, T.A., Murach, K.A. and Greene, N.P., 2022. The Time-Course of Cancer Cachexia Onset Reveals Biphasic Transcriptional Disruptions in Female Skeletal Muscle Distinct from Males. bioRxiv, pp.2022-11.
    PI: Nicholas Greene, Role: First Author

  3. Murach, K.A., Liu, Z., Jude, B., Figueiredo, V.C., Wen, Y., Khadgi, S., Lim, S., da Silva, F.M., Greene, N.P., Lanner, J.T. and McCarthy, J.J., 2022. Multi-transcriptome analysis following an acute skeletal muscle growth stimulus yields tools for discerning global and MYC regulatory networks. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 298(11).
    PI & First Author: Kevin A. Murach, Role: Middle Author.

  4. Jones III, R.G., Dimet‐Wiley, A., Haghani, A., da Silva, F.M., Brightwell, C.R., Lim, S., Khadgi, S., Wen, Y., Dungan, C.M., Brooke, R.T. and Greene, N.P., 2023. A molecular signature defining exercise adaptation with ageing and in vivo partial reprogramming in skeletal muscle. The Journal of Physiology, 601(4), pp.763-782. PI: Kevin A. Murach. First Author: Ronal G. Jones III, Role: Middle Author

  5. Lim, S., Deaver, J.W., Rosa-Caldwell, M.E., Haynie, W.S., Morena da Silva, F., Cabrera, A.R., Schrems, E.R., Saling, L.W., Jansen, L.T., Dunlap, K.R. and Wiggs, M.P., Washington, T.A. and Greene, N.P. 2022. Development of metabolic and contractile alterations in development of cancer cachexia in female tumor-bearing mice. Journal of Applied Physiology, 132(1), pp.58-72.
    PI: Nicholas Greene, First Author: Seongkyun Lim, Role: Middle Author.

  6. Seongkyun Lim, J. William Deaver, Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell, David E. Lee, Francielly Morena da Silva, Ana Regina Cabrera, Eleanor R. Schrems, Landen W. Saling, Tyrone A. Washington, James D. Fluckey, and Nicholas P. Greene. Muscle miR-16 deletion results in impaired insulin sensitivity and contractile function in a sex-dependent manner. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism 2022 322:3, E278-E292
    PI: Nicholas Greene, First Author: Seongkyun Lim, Role: Middle Author.

  7. Morena da Silva, F., Rosa-Caldwell, M.E., Schrems, E.R., Martinez, L., Amos, M.G., Lim, S., Cabrera, A.R., Brown, J.L., Washington, T.A. and Greene, N.P., 2022. PGC-1α overexpression is not sufficient to mitigate cancer cachexia in either male or female mice. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 47(9), pp.933-948.
    PI: Nicholas Greene, Role: First Author.

  8. Rosa‐Caldwell, M.E., Lim, S., Haynie, W.A., Brown, J.L., Deaver, J.W., Morena Da Silva, F., Jansen, L.T., Lee, D.E., Wiggs, M.P., Washington, T.A. and Greene, N.P., 2021. Female mice may have exacerbated catabolic signalling response compared to male mice during development and progression of disuse atrophy. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 12(3), pp.717-730.
    PI: Nicholas Greene, First Author: Megan Rosa-Caldwell, Role: Middle Author.

MANUSCRIPTS IN REVIEW OR PROGRESSION

  1. Original Article. Title: Sex Differences in the Onset of Muscle Wasting in a C26 Carcinoma Mouse Model of Cancer Cachexia. Status: writing in co-authors review. PI: Nicholas Greene. Role: middle author Status: Under Review on Biology of Sex Differences Journal (BMC) PI: Nicholas Greene, Role: Middle Author.
  2. Original Article. Title: The Time-Course of Cancer Cachexia Onset Reveals Biphasic Transcriptional Disruptions in Female Skeletal Muscle Distinct from Males. Status: Under Review in Genomics BMC. PI: Nicholas Greene. Role: First Author.
  3. Review. Title: Inflammation O’Clock: Roles of Circadian Rhythms in Inflammation-Induced Muscle Atrophy. Status: Under Review at the Journal of Physiology. PI: Nicholas Greene, Kevin Murach, and Karyn Esser. Role: First Author.

In preparation

  1. Original Article. Biological Sex Dimorphism in Transcriptomic Profile of Mice Subjected to Hindlimb Unloading Status: Manuscript draft is being reviewed by PI and will be sent to co-author soon.
    Targeting submission within the next month at Physiological Genomics. PI: Nicholas Greene. First author: Stravroula Tsitkanou. Role: Middle author
  2. Original Article. Working title: Methylomics of Gene Expression in Skeletal Muscle During the Onset of Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia.
    Status: Analysis has been completed; manuscript started. Role: Middle Author

RESEARCH GRANT

Active Title: Development of Targeted Approaches in Prevention of Cancer-cachexia PI: Nicholas P. Greene Agency: NIH NIAMS Type: R01 AREA Award, $1.600,000.00 (R01AR075794-01A1) Period: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2025 Role: Graduate Research Assistant

Past Title: Mitochondrial Degeneration – The Root of Skeletal Muscle Atrophy PI: Nicholas P. Greene Agency: NIH NIAMS Type: R15 AREA Award, $412,668.00 (R15AR069913) Period: July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2021 Role: Graduate Research Assistant

Applied, not awarded: Central ACSM PD Student Research Grant Title: Effects of Circadian Rhythm Genes on Cancer Cachexia Role: PI

Applied, revision pending: NCI F99/K00 Pre-doctoral to post-doctoral transitional grant Title: Mitophagy, the Circadian Rhythm, and Cancer Cachexia Role: PI

GPSC STEM Research Grant, review pending: Title: Circadian rhythm manipulation effects on cancer cachexia Role: PI

HONORS AND AWARDS

Oustanding PhD Student Nominee | Univeristy of Arkansas 2023
Outstanding PhD Student of the Health Human Performande and Recreation Department

APS Award | American Physiological Society
2021 Outstanding Flash Talk Presentation

KON honor member | Missouri Baptist University 2019
Outstanding Student on Health and Sports Science Department

CNPq Research Scholarship| University of Sao Paulo
2017 – 2018
Undergraduate researcher scholarship

PRESENTATIONS

National ACSM Meeting – 5 minutes talk 2022, San Diego, California, USA. A Biological Sex Comparison of Muscle Contractile Function and Calcium regulation in The Onset of Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia Francielly Morena da Silva, J. William Deaver, Seongkyun Lim, Ana Regina Cabrera, Eleanor Schrems, Landen Saling, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene

International Biochemistry of Exercise Conference (IBEC) 2022, Toronto, Canada. A Transcriptional Signature of Cancer Cachexia Development in Female Mice Francielly Morena da Silva, Ana Regina Cabrera, Seongkyun Lim, Eleanor Schrems, Landen Saling, Tyrone A. Washington, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene

Sarcopenic Obesity Alters Global Gene Expression in the Gastrocnemius Muscle Eleanor R. Schrems, Francielly Morena da Silva, Landen W. Saling, Seongkyun Lim, Ana Regina Cabrera, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene, Tyrone A. Washington

A Transcriptomic Comparison of Biological Sex and Stimulus in Muscle Atrophy: Focus on Satellite-Cell Markers Seongkyun Lim, Francielly Morena da Silva, Ana Regina Cabrera, Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell, Jacob L. Brown, J. William Deaver, Tyrone A. Washington, Kevin A. Murach, and Nicholas P. Greene

Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders Meeting (SCWD) 2022, Lisbon, Portugal. Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia Reduces Dnmt3a and Differentially Alters the Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome by Biological Sex Ana Regina Cabrera, Francielly Morena da Silva, Seongkyun Lim, Tyrone A. Washington, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene

OPA1 overexpression may protect against cancer-induced muscle wasting Tsitkanou S, Lim S, Morena da Silva F, Cabrera AR, Schrems ER, Washington TA, Murach KA, Greene NP

ABI Fall Research Symposium 2022, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia Reduces Dnmt3a and Differentially Alters the Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome by Biological Sex Ana Regina Cabrera, Francielly Morena da Silva, Seongkyun Lim, Tyrone A. Washington, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene

AIMRC Symposium 2022, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia Reduces Dnmt3a and Differentially Alters the Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome by Biological Sex Ana Regina Cabrera, Francielly Morena da Silva, Seongkyun Lim, Tyrone A. Washington, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene

ACSM 2022, San Diego, California, USA. A Biological Sex Comparison of Muscle Contractile Function and Calcium regulation in The Onset of Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia Francielly Morena da Silva, J. William Deaver, Seongkyun Lim, Ana Regina Cabrera, Eleanor Schrems, Landen Saling, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene

Differential Induction of Regulators of Protein Turnover during C26-induced Cancer Cachexia between Biological Sex Seongkyun Lim, J. William Deaver, Francielly Morena da Silva, Ana Regina Cabrera, Eleanor R. Schrems, Landen W. Saling, Anthony Campitelli, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene, FACSM.

Mitochondrial Quality Control Markers During the Onset of Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia: A Biological Sex Comparison Ana Regina Cabrera, J. William Deaver, Seongkyun Lim, Francielly Morena da Silva, Eleanor Schrems, Landen Saling, Anthony Campitelli, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene

Analysis of the Transcriptome of Soleus Muscle in Sarcopenic Obese Mice Eleanor R. Schrems, Landen W. Saling, Breanna M. Williams, Francielly Morena Da Silva, Regina Cabrera, Seongkyun Lim, Nicholas P. Greene, FACSM, Tyrone A. Washington

Growth Differentiation Factor 5 Is A Paracrine Regulator in Sarcopenic Obesity Landen W. Saling, Eleanor R. Schrems, Seongkyun Lim, Francielly Morena Da Silva, Regina Cabrera1, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene, FACSM, Tyrone A. Washington

Males, but Not Females, Demonstrate Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the C26 Model of Cancer Cachexia Ricky D. Solis, J. William Deaver, Eleanor R. Schrems, Ana Regina Cabrera, Seongkyun Lim, Francielly Morena Da Silva, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene, and Michael P. Wiggs

APS – Flash talk Virtual Presentation 2021 Comparison of the Phenotypic Development of C26 Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia Between Biological Sexes Francielly Morena da Silva, J. William Deaver, Seongkyun Lim, Ana Regina Cabrera, Eleanor Schrems, Landen Saling, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene

UARK-UAMS Meeting – Poster presentation 2021, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. Comparison of the Phenotypic Development of C26 Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia Between Biological Sexes Francielly Morena da Silva, J. William Deaver, Seongkyun Lim, Ana Regina Cabrera, Eleanor Schrems, Landen Saling, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene

AIMSRC – Poster’s Coauthor 2021, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. A Biological Sex Comparison of Muscle Contractile Function in The Onset of Colorectal Cancer-Induced Cachexia Ana Regina Cabrera, J. William Deaver, Seongkyun Lim, Francielly Morena da Silva, Eleanor Schrems, Landen Saling, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene

Poster Presentation |13th International Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders Conference Virtual 2020 Francielly Morena da Silva, Seongkyun Lim, Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell1, Wesley S. Haynie, Lisa T. Jansen, Kristen R. Dunlap, J. William Deaver, Michael Wiggs, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene. Alterations in Extracellular Matrix Remodeling During Early Stages of Cancer Cachexia in Tumor-bearing Female Mice.

Poster Presentation | 13th International Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders Conference Virtual 2020 Seongkyun Lim, Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell, Wesley S. Haynie, Lisa T. Jansen, Kirsten R. Dunlap, Francielly Morena da Silva, J. William Deaver1, Michael Wiggs, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene1. Alterations in Mitochondrial Turnover during the Development of Cancer Cachexia in Tumor-Bearing Female Mice.

Poster Presentation | 13th International Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders Conference Virtual 2020 J. William Deaver, Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell, Wesley A. Haynie, Seongkyun Lim, Jacob L. Brown, **Francielly Morena Da Silva*, Kirsten R. Dunlap1, Lisa T. Jansen, David E. Lee, Michael P. Wiggs, Tyrone A. Washington, Nicholas P. Greene. Early Differential Responses by Sex to Hindlimb-Unloading Induced Muscle Atrophy.

Poster Presentation | SIICUSP University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2018 Francielly Morena da Silva, Joao Gomes, Edilamar Menezes de Oliveira. Characterization of The Effects of Physical Exercise in the Structural Alteration of Tumor in Murine Cancer Models.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Society on Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders | 2020-2022
  • American College of Sports Medicine | 2022

LABORATORY SKILLS

  • Animal Handling, including grip strength test, treadmill training, in vivo electrical force production & fatigability test, plasmid transfection in vivo, drug injection (BGP-15), tissue harvest
  • Animal breeding and colony maintenance
  • Genotyping
  • Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry: initial set-up, muscle tissue preparation for fractional rate of incorporated protein
  • RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, and quantitative real-time PCR
  • RNA Sequencing preparation and analysis
  • Protein preparation and immunoblotting analysis
  • Cell culture with C2C12
  • Plasmid transfection
  • In vitro myotube diameter analysis
  • Controlled drugs cell experiments (BGP-15, Olomoucine)
  • Tissue freezing in OCT
  • Cryosections preparation (fixing, mounting)
  • Histology: H&E staining, SDH staining, immune fluorescent fiber typing
  • Fluorescent microscopy technique for pMitoTimer using mitochondrial reporter gene (mitochondrial quality)