Skip to main content

College of Pharmacy

  1. UH Home
  2. College of Pharmacy
  3. Directory
  4. PPS Faculty Directory
  5. Profile: Meiricris Tomaz da Silva

College of Pharmacy

Meiricris Tomaz Da Silva

Meiricris Tomaz Da SilvaMeiricris Tomaz Da Silva

Research Scientist
Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Office: 
University of Houston College of Pharmacy
Health 2, Room 5009
4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Houston, TX 77204-5037

Contact: mtomazdasilva@uh.edu - phone N/A

Research:

  • Molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle mass and regeneration
  • Satellite cell biology: self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation
  • Mechanisms of muscle mass loss in cancer cachexia, denervation, and aging
  • Inflammatory and catabolic signaling driving muscle atrophy and fibrosis
  • Aging-associated impairments in muscle regeneration and stem cell function
  • Gene- and cell-based strategies to enhance muscle repair
  • Use of genetic models and molecular tools in muscle disease research
  • Integration of cellular, molecular, and functional approaches in muscle biology
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Houston, Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Feb 2021 to May 2025
    Research focus: Molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle homeostasis, including cancer-induced cachexia, regenerative myogenesis, and neurogenic muscle atrophy.
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Anatomy – Jan 2015 to Jun 2019
    Research focus: Skeletal muscle regenerative potential in murine models of Marfan syndrome.
  • Research Internship Abroad (Postdoctoral Fellow), University of Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics and Lillehei Heart Institute – Sep 2017 to Sep 2018
    Research focus: Regenerative capacity of satellite cells in mouse models of Marfan syndrome and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy; advanced training in cell transplantation and flow cytometry.
  • Research Training, Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences – May 2012 to Jul 2012
    Research focus: Contribution of muscle stem cells to fibrosis and regenerative responses in dystrophic skeletal muscle.
  • Ph.D. in Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil – Aug 2014
    Doctoral Thesis: "Role of β2-adrenoceptor in skeletal muscle regeneration."
  • M.S. in Physical Therapy, Methodist University of Piracicaba, Brazil – Feb 2009
    Master’s Dissertation: "Effect of high-voltage electrical stimulation on electromyographic characteristics of women with temporomandibular disorders."
  • B.S. in Physical Therapy, Methodist University of Piracicaba, Brazil – Dec 2005

Publications


Google Scholar Profile
Research Publications
  • Tomaz da Silva M, Roy A, Joshi AS, ...Kumar A. The TWEAK/Fn14 signaling mediates skeletal muscle wasting during cancer cachexia. iScience, 28, 112714, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.112714.
  • Tomaz da Silva M, Joshi AS, Kumar A. Fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 regulates satellite cell self-renewal and expansion during skeletal muscle repair. JCI Insight, 10(5):e187825, 2025. PMID: 39874107. PMCID: PMC11949035.
  • Joshi AS*, Tomaz da Silva* M, Roy A*, Koike TE, Wu M, Castillo M, Gunaratne PH, Liu Y, Iwawaki T, Kumar A. The IRE1α/XBP1 signaling axis drives myoblast fusion in adult skeletal muscle. EMBO Reports, 25: 3627 – 3650, 2024. PMID: 38982191; PMCID: PMC11316051. *Equal contribution – co-first authors
  • Tomaz da Silva M, Joshi AS, Castillo MB, Koike TE, Roy A, Gunaratne P, Kumar A. Fn14 promotes myoblast fusion during regenerative myogenesis. Life Science Alliance, 9; 6(12): e202302312, 2023. PMID: 37813488; PMCID: PMC10561765.
  • Roy A, Koike TE, Joshi AS, Tomaz da Silva M, Mathukumalli K, Wu M, Kumar A. Targeted regulation of TAK1 counteracts dystrophinopathy in a DMD mouse model. JCI Insight, 8(10):e164768, 2023. PMID: 37071470; PMCID: PMC10322678.
  • Tomaz da Silva M#, Santos AR, Koike TE, Nascimento TL, Rozanski A, Bosnakovski D, Pereira LV, Kumar A, Kyba M, Miyabara EH#. The fibrotic niche impairs satellite cell function and muscle regeneration in mouse models of Marfan syndrome. Acta Physiol (Oxf), 27:e13889, 2022. PMID: 36164969. # Co-correspondent authors
  • Tomaz da Silva M, Joshi AS, Koike TE, Roy A, Mathukumalli K, Sopariwala D, Narkar V, Kumar A. Target ablation of Fn14 receptor improves exercise capacity and inhibits neurogenic muscle atrophy. The FASEB Journal, 36(12): e22666, 2022. PMID: 36412933; PMCID: PMC10587854.
  • Roy A, Tomaz da Silva M, Bhat R, Bohnert KR, Iwawaki T, Kumar A. The IRE1/XBP1 signaling axis promotes skeletal muscle regeneration through a cell non-autonomous mechanism. eLife, 10:e73215, 2021. PMID: 34812145; PMCID: PMC8635982.
  • Bosnakovski D, Shams AS, Yuan CE, Tomaz da Silva M, Ener ET, Baumann CW, Lindsay AJ, Verma M, Asakura A, Lowe DA, Kyba M. Transcriptional and cytopathological hallmarks of FSHD in chronic DUX4-expressing mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 130: 2465-2477, 2020. PMID: 32250341; PMCID: PMC7190912.
  • Bosnakovski D, Tomaz da Silva M, Sunny ST, Ener ET, Toso EA, Yuan A, Cui Z, Walters MA, Jadhav A, Kyba M. A novel P300 inhibitor reverses DUX4-mediated global histone hyperacetylation, target gene expression and cell death. Science Advances, 5(9):eaaw7781, 2019. PMID: 31535023; PMCID: PMC6739093.
  • Tomaz da Silva M, Nascimento TL, Pereira MG, Siqueira AS, Brum PC, Jaeger RG, Miyabara EH. β2-Adrenoceptor is involved in connective tissue remodeling in regenerating muscles by decreasing the activity of MMP-9. Cell and Tissue Research, 365: 173-186, 2016. PMID: 26896238.
  • Pereira MG, Tomaz da Silva M, Da Cunha FM, Moriscot AS, Aoki MS, Miyabara EH. Leucine supplementation improves regeneration of skeletal muscles from old rats. Experimental Gerontology, 72: 269-277, 2015. PMID: 26481769.
  • Tomaz da Silva M, Wensing LA, Brum PC, Câmara NO, Miyabara EH. Impaired structural and functional regeneration of skeletal muscles from β2-adrenoceptor knockout mice. Acta Physiologica (Print), 211: 617-633, 2014. PMID: 24938737; PMCID: PMC4660878.
  • Conte TC, Silva LH, Tomaz da Silva M, Hirabara SM, Oliveira AC, Curi R, Moriscot AS, Aoki MS, Miyabara EH. The β2-Adrenoceptor agonist formoterol improves structural and functional regenerative capacity of skeletal muscles from aged rat at the early stages of postinjury. The Journals of Gerontology Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 67(5): 443-455, 2012. PMID: 22113942.
  • Silva LH*, Tomaz da Silva M*, Gutierrez RM, Conte TC, Toledo CA, Aoki MS, Liebano RE, Miyabara EH. GaAs 904 - nm laser irradiation improves myofiber mass recovery during regeneration of skeletal muscle previously damaged by crotoxin. Lasers in Medical Science, 27: 993-1000, 2012. PMID: 22143119.*Equal contribution – co-first authors
  • Miyabara EH, Conte TC, Tomaz da Silva M, Baptista IL, Bueno Junior CR, Fiamoncini J, Lambertucci RH, Serra CS, Brum PC, Pithon-Curi TC, Curi R, Aoki MS, Oliveira AC, Moriscot AS. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 is involved in differentiation of regenerating myofibers in vivo. Muscle & Nerve, 42(5): 778-787, 2010.

Awards & Honors

  • Oral Presentation Award 2nd Place – Issued by Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutic Sciences Research Symposium. University of Houston - 2013
  • Postdoctoral Fellow from NIH AR059810 and AR068313 - 2021-Present
  • Postdoctoral Fellow from FAPESP (Foundation for the Support of Research in the State of Sao Paulo) #2014/13874-1 - 2015-2019
  • Postdoctoral Fellow from FAPESP – Research Internships Abroad (BEPE) #2017/14115-5 - 2017-2018
  • Best Doctoral Thesis - Indication to the CAPES Thesis Award, Post-Graduation Program in Morphofunctional Sciences. Brazil - 2015
  • Ph.D. fellow from FAPESP #2009/54240-7 - 2010-2014
  • Honor Mention to: Role of Beta-2 adrenergic receptor in skeletal muscle regeneration. In: Morphofunctional Science Symposium. University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil - 2010
  • Honor Mention to: Effect of gallium arsenide laser irradiation (GaAs, 940 nm) on skeletal muscle regeneration of mice. In: XXV Annual Meeting of the Federation of Societies of Experimental Biology - FeSBE. Águas de Lindóia, SP, Brazil - 2010
  • Honor Mention to: Effect of gallium arsenide laser irradiation (GaAs, 940 nm) on skeletal muscle regeneration of mice. In: Morphofunctional Science Symposium. University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil - 2010
  • Graduate student research (Master) fellow from PROSUP/CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - Methodist University of Piracicaba) - 2007-2009
  • Scientific initiation fellow from FAPIC (Scientific training program - Methodist University of Piracicaba, # 21405) - 2005-2016