Dr Elisabete Silva
Senior Lecturer In Human Toxicology

Summary

After graduating as a pharmacist in Portugal, I first became aware of endocrine disruption when I joined Prof. Kortenkamp’s group at the School of Pharmacy in London, as an Erasmus student in 1998. Since then, I have developed an interest in the effects of estrogens (both natural and man-made) and how exposure to such chemicals could have an impact on human health.

Currently, my research focuses on evaluating the effects of multi-component mixtures of estrogenic chemicals and their potential relationship with hormonal related diseases, in particular, breast cancer. I am interested in dissecting the mechanisms of action of steroidal estrogens and estrogen-like chemicals in breast development, carcinogenesis and tumour progression, in order to study the potential link between estrogenicity and cancer both at cellular and tissue level.

Qualifications

2009-2011: Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching. School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London

1999–2003: PhD in Environmental Toxicology Thesis title: Understanding the mechanisms underlying the joint action of xenoestrogens. School of Pharmacy, University of London

1992–1998: Licenciatura in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Masters equivalent). First class degree. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal

Career

2011-present: Lecturer in Human Toxicology. Institute for the Environment, Brunel University

2007–2011: Lecturer in Toxicology. School of Pharmacy, University of London

2003–2007: Postdoctoral Research Fellow. School of Pharmacy, University of London

1999–2004: Teaching Assistant. School of Pharmacy, University of London