Meet Our Team

Principal Investigator

Rita Castro is the principal investigator of the Castro Lab and assistant research and teaching professor of nutritional sciences. She holds a professional degree in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Lisbon, and a master’s and doctorate in Biochemistry from the University of Lisbon. Rita Castro joined Penn State in 2018, focusing on vascular biology and the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular toxicity associated with elevated homocysteine levels. 

Previously at the University of Lisbon, Castro identified S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) as a critical marker of hypomethylation stress and epigenetic modifier in endothelial dysfunction and human atherosclerosis. At Penn State, Castro explores the cardiometabolic effects of dietary micronutrients, using several animal models. Collaborations have strengthened research efforts, leading to innovative projects such as developing non-toxic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents and validating new bio-glass formulations for vascular healing.