Rita A. Avelar, PhD
Rita A. Avelar is a translational cancer researcher and drug discovery scientist specializing in RNA therapeutics, protein biology, and targeted oncology treatments. Originally trained in Biological and Biomedical Sciences in Portugal, she came to the United States early in her career and quickly developed a strong commitment to biomedical research, particularly in understanding the molecular drivers of cancer progression. Her academic path led her to the University of Michigan Medical School, where she completed her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Pathology, focusing on cancer biology and mechanisms of therapeutic resistance.
During her graduate and postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan, Rita A. Avelar contributed to cutting-edge research in ovarian cancer and tumor biology, with a focus on identifying genetic vulnerabilities and therapeutic targets. Her work often bridged basic science and translational medicine, including CRISPR-based screening, microRNA-driven mechanisms of metastasis, and signaling pathways involved in cancer cell survival and drug resistance. After completing her PhD and postdoctoral fellowship, she transitioned into industry, joining CircNova, Inc., where she now serves as Lead Scientist of Research and Translational Discovery, driving early-stage RNA therapeutic development.
Throughout her career, Rita has been recognized for both scientific excellence and leadership in oncology research, including awards from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and recognition for high-impact publications. She is deeply engaged in advancing protein and RNA-based therapeutic strategies aimed at improving treatment options for aggressive and hard-to-treat cancers. Alongside her research contributions, she is committed to mentoring young scientists and fostering collaboration between academia and biotech, with a long-term goal of leading innovative drug discovery programs that translate laboratory discoveries into real-world patient therapies.
• Bilingual Certificate
• University of Michigan Medical School- Ph.D.
• Universidade da Beira Interior- Bachelor's
• AACR Scholar-in-Training Award
• Barbara Ann Robson Fellowship
• Eleanor Lewis Award
• Scholarship to study High School in Hong Kong
• AACR (American Association for Cancer Research)
• University of Michigan
• Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say definitely my parents have been one of my biggest reasons of success, because even despite us being so far all the time, they're always very supportive and extremely dependable. But also the people that I meet. I've had very incredible mentors to guide me throughout very hard times, and that have never given up on me, even in situations, especially being an international, where there's always funding issues or specific requirements, especially with the NIH, that you have to be an American citizen to apply. So I've definitely been fortunate to meet the right people and to have them believe in me, to get me to where I deserve to be. I also work well under pressure, which has helped me tremendously throughout my career.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Go after what you want , follow your dreams ,
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say no question is a stupid question, and any interaction might be valuable. Sometimes people get really caught on, like, oh, you know, it's just about the people you know in your network. Everyone says the same things, but it's so true. Even your neighbor can just help connect you to someone else that you didn't expect. So, I would say to never give up, and any opportunity that comes about, to just embrace it and take it on. Because when you least expect, you might be able to find something that you never thought possible, and meet new people through different routes and others that you never really considered. Yeah, just never give up, and keep fighting for what you believe and you want to do. That's my biggest advice.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think, unfortunately, the field is still very biased towards men being successful. Competition preference has been a big challenge that I think I have faced, especially being a mentor and watching other candidates going through these hardships, and when I clearly see that they're better candidates, but they just haven't had either the same type of opportunity or exposure, just because they're females versus males. So that's been a difficult thing to go through. And right now, I think funding is also another big difficulty. On paper, you have to sometimes declare what your sex and your background are, and disparities are very obvious right now. It's a hard one, for sure.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say dedication, perseverance, and just being truthful with yourself. Those are my top values. Definitely also working well under pressure and thinking clearly in those situations. Ethics are really important to me, and that's one of the reasons why sometimes it's hard to do the job that I do, just because academia sometimes has ways to do things that I don't always agree with, and so that transitioning into a different career was definitely an important decision for me. Kindness and empathy are also very important to me, and integrity as well.