Dr Antonio Galvao

Senior Lecturer

Department: Comparative Biomedical Sciences - Main

Campus: Camden

Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Biology exploring how maternal obesity affects ovarian and uterine function, and outcomes for offspring health. At the RVC, leads research integrating molecular, cellular, and bioinformatic approaches to reproductive endocrinology and developmental programming.

António Miguel Gonçalves Travassos Galvão earned his veterinary degree from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, and completed a PhD in Veterinary Sciences (summa cum laude) at the same institution. His doctoral and early postdoctoral work focused on immune-endocrine mechanisms regulating ovarian and endometrial function in mares.

Following a Fellowship for Excellence in Science from the Polish Ministry of Higher Education, he became Assistant Professor at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research in Olsztyn, Poland, where he established a pioneering research line on maternal obesity and ovarian failure. This work led to the award of a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship to investigate the effects of obesity on the oocyte epigenome at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge.

In 2023, he joined the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, as Senior Lecturer in Reproduction. António has received several distinctions, including the New Investigator Award from the Society for Reproduction and Fertility and a Polish Academy of Sciences Scientific Award.

He serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Endocrinology and Frontiers in Physiology (Reproduction section), has guest-edited special issues on immune-endocrine cross-talk, and regularly reviews for journals such as Reproduction, Scientific Reports, and Biology of Reproduction. He is an active member of the Endocrine Society (USA), Society for Reproduction and Fertility (UK), and the Society for the Study of Reproduction (USA).

Research focuses on the interplay between metabolism, oocyte and uterine biology, and early embryonic development. Current studies use mouse models and molecular multiomics strategies to elucidate how maternal obesity and altered leptin signalling disrupt ovarian and uterine function, compromising fertility and developmental programming. His work integrates single-cell transcriptomics, methylomics, and in vitro modelling to disentangle oocyte versus uterine contributions to reproductive failure and intergenerational health risk.

Publications and Conference Papers

Recent highlights (full list available upon request):

  • Walewska E., Pérez-García V., Galvão A. (2025). Altered uterine leptin signalling underpins impaired decidualisation in obese mothers. Reproduction, 169:e240319.

  • Giaccari C., Cecere F., Argenziano L., Pagano A., Galvão A., et al. (2024). A maternal-effect Padi6 variant causes nuclear and cytoplasmic abnormalities in oocytes and failure of epigenetic reprogramming and zygotic genome activation in embryos. Genes & Development.

  • Adamowski M., Molcan T., Sharma Y., Woodko K., Kelsey G., Galvão A. (2024). Genetically Obese ob/ob and Diabetic db/db Mice Reveal the Effects of Leptin Signalling on NOD-Like Receptor Protein 3 Inflammasome Activation and Macrophage Polarization in the Ovary of Obese Mice. Scientific Reports.

  • Latorraca L.B., Galvão A., Rabaglino M.B., D’Augero J.M., Kelsey G., Fair T. (2024). Single-cell profiling reveals transcriptome dynamics during bovine oocyte growth. BMC Genomics.

  • Woodko K., Jura M., Galvão A. (2024). Increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity in female mice impairs ovarian steroidogenesis through inhibition of nodal activity. Molecular Metabolism, 129:1102062.

  • Van de Pette M., Dimond A., Galvão A., et al. (2022). Epigenetic change induced by in utero dietary challenge provokes phenotypic variability across multiple generations of mice. Nature Communications, 13:464.

  • Rivera del Alamo M., Reilas T., Lukasik K., Galvão A., Yeste M., Katila T. (2021). Inflammatory Markers in Uterine Lavage Fluids of Pregnant, Non-Pregnant, and Intrauterine Device Implanted Mares. Animals, 11(12):3493.

  • Adamowski M., Woodko K., Oliveira J., Castillo-Fernandez J., Murta D., Kelsey G., Galvão A. (2021). Leptin Signalling in the Ovary of Diet-Induced Obese Mice Regulates Activation of Nod-Like Receptor Protein 3 Inflammasome. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology.

  • Woodko K., Castillo-Fernandez J., Kelsey G., Galvão A. (2021). Revisiting the Impact of Local Leptin Signaling in Folliculogenesis and Oocyte Maturation in Obese Mothers. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22:84270.

  • Pinto-Bravo P., Rebordo M.R., Amaral A., Fernandes C., Galvão A., et al. (2021). Microvascularization and Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Their Receptors in the Mare Oviduct. Animals, 11(4):1099.

  • Galvão A., Kelsey G. (2021). Profiling DNA-Methylation Genome Wide in Single Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2214:221-240.

  • Woodko K., Adamowski M., Walewska E., Castillo-Fernandez J., Kelsey G., Galvão A. (2020). Leptin Resistance in the Ovary of Obese Mice Is Associated with Profound Changes in the Transcriptome of Cumulus Cells. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 54:417-437.

Experienced educator in physiology and endocrinology across multiple species, including humans, mice, horses, cows, and sheep. His teaching covers molecular, cellular, and endocrine regulation of reproductive and metabolic systems. Courses delivered include Fetal and Placental Physiology at the University of Cambridge and Epigenetic Mechanisms in Mammals at the Doctoral School, Wroclaw University. At the RVC, he teaches animal reproduction within the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVetMed), Graduate Accelerated BVetMed, and Biological Sciences programmes. His teaching philosophy emphasises stimulating critical thinking and independent learning through discussion-driven sessions.

Engaged in public science communication and mentorship initiatives, including participation in the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition (2018), Cambridge Science Festival (2019), and multiple editions of the European Researchers’ Night in Poland. These activities focused on bridging reproductive science, obesity research, and public health awareness.

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