Pedro Augusto Dantas de Moraes:
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Diagnostic and interventional Radiology
and Nuclear Medicine 

1)What is your field of research?

I conduct studies in experimental radiology, with a focus on elastography, to understand the biomechanical properties of organic subjects before, during diseases, and amid new therapies. Similar to how we study physics, examining forces and vectors in various directions for systems with wheels, blocks, etc., cells have their dynamic and intricate system—a skeleton. My research contributes to propelling the field of minimally invasive medicine forward, providing valuable insights into pathophysiological processes and laying the groundwork for innovative treatments, especially in diseases like cancer.

2)Why are you participating in "Berlin is looking for the Sciencefluencer 2024"?

As a physician, I've always aspired to contribute knowledge on a larger scale and bring free, useful, and important information to people. Social media provides an excellent platform for this, and participating in the "Sciencefluencer" program offers a chance to engage with skilled professionals and enhance my communication skills. It's an opportunity to share valuable insights from the medical field with society. We should make our work more visible.

3)What challenges do you face when you become a science influencer?

Entering the world of science influencing presents the challenge of balancing technical detail with accessibility. Also, crafting content that simplifies complex concepts without oversimplifying is an art. Furthermore, I think getting to interact with different publics and dynamics on different digital platforms is another aspect I want to learn.

4)What are your most important findings in your particular field of research?

By enhancing our view of biomechanics through Radiology, I aim to contribute to more effective and targeted therapies in a non or minimally invasive way as well. Have you ever heard about mechanomedicine? Do you think that, in the future, more than understanding what is happening during injuries, we will also be able to modulate these mechanical pathways? It would be amazing, no?

5)What are your goals for the future?

In the future, I plan to complete my Ph.D., enhance my skills, and become more engaged in social media to disseminate scientific knowledge. Perhaps a way to pay it forward, everything I learned. I aspire to stay in academia, following the path of influential mentors like Professor Ingolf Sack. Financial stability is crucial, and I aim to organize my life in Germany. Moving to another country was not easy at all. Traveling is also on my future plans, as it offers a firsthand experience of how research is conducted in different countries and allows me to absorb the richness of various health systems. One thing that I always thought about, for example, was joining Doctors Without borders. It is a way to contribute and learn.

6) Do you have a funny anecdote from the life of a researcher you can share? (optional)

Oncology, a fascinating world! Many questions, many investments, scientific projects. Picture this: me diving into cancer research, a young innocent Ph.D. student, thinking, "I am going to find the best solution!" Little did I know, I was about to stumble upon thousands of inconsistencies in several scientific papers, precisely those with a high number of citations. "That doesn't make any sense. I feel myself in a broken telephone game: badly reported methods, texts rather persuasive than informative." Funny because the most experienced see this as really naive, but tragic because it's a sign of how science can go really bad. Of course, not everything is like this, but that was the point when I discovered that there are other really important things than just designing a good project. I learned in practice how responsible and transparent research has to be discussed to improve the way we see and do our work. And I am happy that I can share this now with more people.

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