Dr. Lima earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She further enriched her academic journey as a Fulbright alumna from the National Cancer Institute, US, and later as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Kyoto, Japan, as well as at RUG and UMCG. During these post-doctoral experiences, her research emphasized on unraveling the dynamics of tissue microenvironment and its impact on the onset of diseases. 

Marina actively collaborates with an international and diverse group, utilizing 3D culture models and gene editing technologies. Her primary objective is to narrow the divide between human-age preclinical models and clinical applications.