In the lab with Dr Carolina de Medeiros Rimkus

Dr Carolina de Medeiros Rimkus is a neuroradiologist from Brazil. She recently completed her MSIF-ECTRIMS McDonald Fellowship. Her fellowship took place at the Amsterdam UMC’s Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences in the Netherlands, under the supervision of Dr Menno M Schoonheim. Dr Rimkus spent two years advancing MRI research into how changes in brain networks affect thinking and memory in people with MS.

We caught up with Dr Rimkus to learn more about her research, and how international collaboration has helped to develop MS research in Brazil and beyond.

‘The fellowship gave me a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fully dedicate myself to research, free from my regular clinical responsibilities,’ Dr Rimkus explains. ‘It allowed me to learn techniques and build networks that simply wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.’

Learning new skills and methods

During her time at Amsterdam UMC, Dr Rimkus trained in cutting-edge MRI processing techniques and advanced brain connectivity analyses. ‘These methods help us see how different regions of the brain communicate with each other,’ she says. ‘I can now bring these skills back to Brazil, train students, and apply them to local patient data—something that will hugely benefit MS research in Latin America.’

She also developed her skills in designing and conducting multicentre studies, working within large European research networks, and managing international collaborations.

Personal and professional growth 

Dr Rimkus and Dr Schoonheim

Working at Amsterdam UMC not only advanced Dr Rimkus’s technical expertise but also shaped her career direction. 

‘This experience gave me confidence as an independent researcher,’ she says. ‘I saw how multidisciplinary teams in Europe work together, and I’ll bring that collaborative approach back home to improve MS care and research.’ 

Her supervisor, Dr Menno Schoonheim, highlighted this, saying: 

‘Prof. Carolina Rimkus is a remarkable scientist. From the first moment we met, it was without a doubt that she holds a limitless drive and passion for science and to use this energy to improve clinical practice and ultimately the lives of people with MS. She also is exceptionally knowledgeable on the different aspects of MS, neuro-scientifically, clinically and radiologically, which is exceptional even for an experienced neuroradiologist like her. Because of this combination of drive and knowledge, she has a lot to offer. Her creativity significantly peaked during the period of her fellowship, as the grant provided her with time to purely dedicate her time to research and expand her network.’

Building bridges across continents 

Beyond scientific discoveries, Dr Rimkus’s fellowship built lasting collaborations between Brazil and leading European MS research centres. 

‘This fellowship allowed me to build strong networks across Europe and the US,’ she says. ‘We’ve already published joint papers and set up future projects that will keep connecting researchers from Latin America to the global MS community.’ 

Dr Rimkus became part of initiatives like ECTRIMS and MAGNIMS. She contributed to multicentre studies, as well as joining projects focusing on related neurological conditions such as MOG-antibody disease (MOGAD). 

Bringing it all back to Brazil 

Back home in Brazil, Dr Rimkus is part of the Scientific Committee of BCTRIMS, where she is helping develop a nationwide MS database. This is an important step for stronger epidemiological research and international collaborations. 

She has returned to her role as a professor and radiologist at the University of São Paulo, Latin America’s largest medical centre. Dr Rimkus will continue supervising students, leading research projects, and strengthening global collaborations. 

‘Our goal is to better understand how MS affects thinking and daily life,’ she explains. ‘By combining data and expertise from Brazil, Europe, and beyond, we can develop new approaches to help people with MS maintain their cognitive health.’ 

About the McDonald Fellowships 

The MSIF McDonald Fellowship is a two-year fellowship that enables young researchers from low- and middle-income countries to work in a research institution outside their own country. Fellows gain new skills and techniques, with a view to returning to their own country to establish an MS research program and apply what they have learned.    

MSIF’s McDonald Fellowships are now open for application. Read more about the fellowships here.    

We are very grateful to our partner organisations ECTRIMS and FRANCESEP. Without their support, these awards would not be possible.