Olga Amaral studied at the University of London, and had short-term fellowships at the University of North Carolina and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She obtained her Doctorate Degree at the University of Porto in 2000/2001. Her professional beginning was as a junior grantee at CGM Jacinto Magalhaes. She has worked in the field of molecular and cell biology focusing on rare diseases, particularly those of Lysosomal involvement. She was responsible for setting up molecular genetic diagnosis for Lysosomal Storage Diseases in Porto at IBMC, and supervised that area from 1996-2006. Also collaborated and supervised various projects and students in this field. Currently, works at the National Health Institute Ricardo Jorge (INSA, IP) in the Research and Development Unit of the Department of Human Genetics. CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS Principal Investigator of the Project: Cellular Models for the study of Lysosomal Dysfunction, with financing from FCT Project PTDC/BIM-MEC/4762/2014, in collaboration with the José Bragança from University of Algarve, among others. Supervisor of two ongoing Doctorate students at ICBAS - University of Porto. OTHER RESEARCH INTERESTS New generation sequencing and rare diseases (Project “Desvendar”), Team member of the Research groups S.Alves (INSA) and CECA do ICBAS (UP). MAIN AREA OF EXPERTISE Lysosomal Storage disorders; Human Genetics; Science literacy; Molecular Biology.