Ariana Soares Dias Portela: a journey of perseverance and discovery
Ariana Soares Dias Portela’s journey is a testament to resilience, scientific passion, and of dreaming big.
After graduating with an MSc in Applied Bioscience from ARU in 2021, Ariana faced a challenging year marked by over 100 unsuccessful job and PhD applications. But she never gave up.
Supported by her dedicated lecturers – especially Dr Hussein Al Ali, along with Dr Grisha Pirianov and Dr Havovi Chichger, who all provided multiple recommendation letters – Ariana’s determination paid off. In 2022, she secured a prestigious role as an Associate Researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, working under a leading expert in neurodegenerative diseases.
Breakthroughs in ALS research
During her two years at Mount Sinai (2022–2024), Ariana led groundbreaking research on a novel compound that showed promise in delaying the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) symptoms in mice. Her work not only contributed to the scientific community but also earned her recognition, including winning the 'Art of the Brain' competition by the Friedman Brain Institute in 2023.
Reaching for the stars
In 2024, Ariana began a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the University of Oxford, joining the UK’s first Space Innovation Lab (SIL), led by Dr Ghada Alsaleh, studying how microgravity affects ageing.
On November 5, 2024, Ariana’s 3D models of ageing were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with NASA. This pioneering research aims to accelerate our understanding of age-related diseases by observing how human tissue behaves in space. Ariana will travel to NASA’s Cape Canaveral headquarters to retrieve the organoid samples returning from the ISS – a historic moment for UK ageing research.
The samples have now successfully returned and are back in Oxford.
Inspiring the next generation
Ariana’s story has been featured in Portuguese media, podcasts, and most recently, a BBC News segment. She continues to inspire others with her message: Never give up on your dreams. Reach for the stars – both figuratively and literally!
The ARU impact
Ariana credits ARU as the foundation of her success. The support from her lecturers, the friendships she built, and the knowledge she gained were instrumental in shaping her career.
“ARU had a big impact on me, especially some of my teachers... I am truly grateful for my teachers, the amazing friends I made along the way in my MSc and the ARU institution for being so encouraging and making me have so many wonderful memories and knowledge to be successful in my career.”
Ariana won the Rising Star Award at our Vice Chancellor's Outstanding Alumni Awards 2025.