Rita Machado de Oliveira is Co-Principal Investigator and Invited Assistant Professor at NOVA Medical School, where she co-leads the Metabolic Disease Research Lab (MEDIR). She conducted her PhD research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and pursued postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Her early work focused on the molecular mechanisms of aging and neurodegeneration, uncovering novel pathways involved in Parkinson’s disease. Currently, her research explores how extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate communication between the gut, liver, and retina in metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, using translational approaches that integrate preclinical and clinical studies. She is also interested in understanding how gut microbiota and diet shape metabolic health and contribute to obesity-related dysfunctions.