RNA Society Spotlight: Dr. Luiz Henrique Maniero

“I think it’s important to highlight the idea of doing science as part of a community,” says Luiz Henrique Maniero. “For me, going to other labs, studying abroad when possible, and sharing knowledge across institutions and countries are key parts of how I see my scientific journey. Science grows stronger through collaboration and exchange.”

That philosophy has guided Luiz through every step of his path - as a scientist, teacher, and community builder. Importantly, congratulations are in order, as Luiz just defended his Ph.D. at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, this June. His research uses single-cell approaches to study how the RNA exosome complex regulates gene expression during stem cell differentiation. What excites Luiz most is the exosome’s ability to control different types of RNA with spatial and temporal specificity, especially during the critical transition from stem cells to specialized cells. To him, the RNA exosome is another piece in the complex puzzle of regulatory mechanisms governing cell fate transitions.

Luiz first encountered the world of exosomes and RNA biology in 2016, when he was an undergraduate student studying epilepsy in mice. Since he was already doing an internship in São Paulo, he reached out to Dr. Carla Oliveria since he was curious about her research and wanted to visit her lab. She responded warmly and invited him to stay for a week—a visit that would unexpectedly shape the next chapter of his career. “Carla asked me why I wanted to do research, and I said, ‘I want to be a neuroscientist!’ I didn’t realize that would be my first step into RNA-based research,” he recalls.

After returning home, Luiz began diving into the literature and, with Carla’s guidance, developed a deep understanding of RNA exosome biology and its broader significance. He became especially intrigued by a study published in RNA linking mutations in exosome subunits to neurological disease (which still is one of his favorite papers). That paper helped him envision how the RNA exosome could be connected to brain development and ultimately laid the foundation for the Ph.D. project he’s pursuing today.

"I thought science would bring me answers, but it brought me better questions."

While Luiz began his training in Brazil, he actively sought out international experiences that would challenge and broaden his scientific perspective. One of the most formative chapters of his journey was the year he spent in Dr. Kristopher Brannan’s lab at the Houston Methodist Research Institute in the USA. There, he found himself immersed in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where science truly felt like a team effort. “Kris gave me invaluable advice and helped me think more deeply about how to improve my project,” Luiz says. “It was a place full of discussions and daily learning.” He worked closely with researchers across the department, including neighboring labs like Dr. Daniel Kiss’s group and colleagues from the Center for RNA Therapeutics, Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration and other researchers in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. He was especially inspired by the leadership of Dr. John P. Cooke, who fostered a strong culture of collaboration among PIs and encouraged cross-lab partnerships.

Outside of research, Luiz is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. Most recently, he served as a teaching assistant at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in the UAE for the Single Cell Biology and Bioinformatics course. Teaching this course came with unique challenges, as most of the students came from computational backgrounds. Luiz had to find creative and accessible ways to explain core concepts of molecular biology, an experience that pushed him to grow as a communicator and deepened his understanding of the science. He has also helped with organizing many workshops, including the Genomics Data Carpentry Workshop and the MBZUAI 2025 Single Cells Summer Workshop, which provided him with valuable experiences to expand his network and open doors to future collaborations and job opportunities.

He’s a big believer in tailoring your personal career. “Everyone has a different path. Some publish early, some later. Some go into industry, others switch fields entirely. What matters is knowing your goals and enjoying the journey.” He also emphasizes the value of professional skills (often called soft skills) like communication and emotional intelligence, which have helped him navigate challenges, including a nerve-wracking talk at the Therapeutic Innovation Center at Baylor College of Medicine (THINC@BMC), where he presented in front of a room full of established PIs. “I wouldn’t have made it through without my labmates,” he said. “Their feedback and support made all the difference.”

Luiz’s favourite RNA is MALAT1: not for its functional properties, but for its practical utility in the lab. “Honestly, it’s because it’s a quick and reliable way to check STAMP edits in our experiments,” he says, almost tongue-in-cheek. “We use it like a negative control since we don’t expect a bunch of edits on this RNA.” He especially values two papers from the RNA journal, both of which have been foundational to his work. The first (linked above) is from the Chanfreau Lab, and was pivotal in linking exosome subunit mutations to neuronal development—an insight that helped shape his Ph.D. project. The second, a comprehensive review from Dr. Anita Corbett’s group, offered a clear framework for understanding RNA exosome-related diseases and remains a key reference in the RNA exosome field.

Looking back, Luiz is most grateful to the many mentors, colleagues, and friends who supported him: from Brazil to the U.S. and now the UAE. As he prepares to begin a postdoc at MBZUAI in the UAE with Dr. Eduardo Beltrame, he’s excited to continue building on this foundation, further developing his skills in computational biology. “I hope to keep contributing to the RNA field by connecting experimental and computational approaches, and by building bridges across borders, disciplines, and communities.”

You can follow Luiz on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/lhmaniero. He is also eager to build new collaborations, especially in single-cell RNA-seq analysis, confocal microscopy, bulk RNA-seq, stem cell and neuronal development, and pipeline creation and automation. Feel free to connect with him!