Principal Investigators
Katlin B. Massirer, PhD
General CoordinatorKatlin´s investigates RNA regulation including chemical inhibitors for splicing kinases, RNA binding proteins related to stress granule formation, microRNAs and the development of computational tools. Pharmacist, PhD and post-doc in Genetics and Bioinformatics from UCSD, USA, researcher at CBMEG/UNICAMP.
Rafael Couñago, PhD
Principal InvestigatorTogether with academic and industry partners, Rafael's research group at CQMED develops chemical tools to facilitate the discovery of new therapeutic targets for human diseases. Rafael obtained a MSc in Genetics (UFRJ) and a PhD in Biochemsitry and Cell Biology (Rice University, USA), and worked as a research scientist in laboratories the US, New Zealand, and Australia before coming back home and joining CQMED in 2015.
Mário H Bengtson, PhD
Principal InvestigatorMários’s is dedicated to understand the translational regulation of gene expression through quality control of protein synthesis and physiological regulation of gene expression. PhD in Biochemistry from USP, (2002), postdoc in Genomics Institute of Novartis Foundation (2006) and Scripps Research Institute (2012).
Fabio Papes, PhD
Principal InvestigatorFabio is interested in understanding how neural systems work at the cellular and molecular levels. He is Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology and was a research fellow at Harvard University and Scripps Research. Since 2008 he is professor at the Department of Genetics from the Institute of Biology, University of Campinas.
Bruno Amaral, PhD
Visiting ScholarBruno has experience in affinity-based screening assays for ligand prospecting and liquid chromatography. He obtained his MSc in Chemistry from UNESP (2015) and PhD in Science (Chemistry) from UFSCar (2019).
Paulo Arruda, PhD
Scientific Board MemberPaulo Arruda is full Professor of the Department of Genetics at the Institute of Biology, University of Campinas. His research interests are directed towards understanding the regulation of gene expression and its impact on amino acid metabolism and stress response.
Research Team
Rafael Borges, PhD
Research ScientistRafael develops structural methods with bioinformatics, such as crystallography, mass spectrometry, phylogenetic analysis, and machine learning, to characterize proteins purified from natural sources, especially snake venom. He holds a bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences and a joint-PhD in Biology (Genetics) at the UNESP (Botucatu-Brazil) and Biotechnology at the University of Barcelona (Spain).
André Santiago, PhD
Research ScientistAndré is studying the structural biology of CAMKK group of kinases to develop chemical probe. He obtained his MSc from UESC (Brazil) in 2010, and his PhD from UNICAMP (2015). Currently, he is coordinating the large-scale protein production in heterologous system using E. Coli at CQMED.
Jessica Takarada, PhD
Research ScientistJessica’s research is focused on analog-sensitive kinases to tray kinase substrates and discover their pathways in cells. She obtained her degree in Biotechnology from Federal University of Alfenas (2014) and her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy (2017).
Lucas de Souza, PhD
Research ScientistLucas's research is biochemical and structural characterization of understudied human methyltransferases aiming to reveal their biological function. He obtained MSc in Science and Technology/Chemistry from UFABC (2013) and PhD in Biosystems from UFABC (2017).
Micael R. Cunha, PhD
Research ScientistMicael has experience in medicinal chemistry. His work comprises the design and optimization of small molecules and chemical probes for different targets. He obtained his Ph.D. at the University of São Paulo, in collaboration with the Universität Bern (2019).
Taniris Cafiero Braga, PhD
RESEARCH SCIENTISTTaniris’s research is focused on the synthesis of small molecules for drug discovery. She obtained her PhD. (2019) in organic chemistry from Federal University of Minas Gerais, and a postdoc (2021) in organic synthesis at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Her research interests are in the field of catalysis, enzyme inhibitors, and medicinal chemistry.
Priscila Zonzini, PhD
Research ScientistPriscila is interested in studying protein kinases to identify and validate therapeutic targets for neglected tropical diseases. She obtained her MSc (2012) and PhD (2016) in Genetics and Molecular Biology from UNICAMP and worked in collaboration with Hospital Ramón y Cajal in Madrid, Spain (2014).
Vitor Medeiros, PhD
Research ScientistVitor is researching the protein LMTK3 as a possible target for cancer treatment. He is a pharmacist, obtained his MSc and PhD in Biochemistry at USP with an internship at Yale University. He has experience with enzymology and structural biology
Fulvia Di Pillo, PhD
Innovation ScientistFulvia is a postdoc with molecular and cellular biology background. She is interested in understanding neuronal diseases. Her research area includes studies on RNA regulation by kinases. She obtained her MSc in Virology from UNESP and got her PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics from UNICAMP (2019).
Angélica Hollunder Klippel, MSc
PHD. StudentAngélica is studying the protein deoxyhypusine synthase as a possible target for neglected tropical diseases treatment. She has experience in microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry. She is a pharmacist and obtained her MSc in Biosciences and Biotechnology applied to Pharmacy at UNESP.
Ítalo Esposti, MSc
PhD. StudentÍtalo activities include solution preparation and transfections, maintenance of eukaryotic cell culture, high-throughput cloning, large-scale protein expression and purification, target engagement assays and immunocytochemistry to analyze the effects of inhibitors. He is graduated in Biological Sciences from UENF, Brazil and MSc. in Structural and Cell Biology from UFV, Brazil.
Israel Vasconcelos
PHD. StudentIsrael has a Bachelor's Degree in Biomedicine and MSc. in Biochemistry from USP. He started as a technician at CQMED in February 2021 and currently is a PhD student involved on research about co-translational quality control of proteins.
Gabriel Vieira Valderrama
PHD. StudentGabriel started as a technician in CQMED in June 2017. He got his bachelor degree in Pharmacy from the UNIP, Brazil. His activities include experiments in qPCR and PCR, cell culture maintenance, cell culture room organization, preparation of solutions and more.
Renan Vinicius de Araujo
PHD. STUDENTRenan is searching for novel chemical probes for kinases employing fragment screening. He obtained his BSc. degree from University of São Paulo (2020) with internships at University of Groningen (2016) and University of Copenhagen (2019). He is also interested in science communication, having published the book "Super-heróis da ciência" (2021).
Heloisa Prado
Masters StudentHeloisa has a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from UNICAMP. She has experience in mental health research and is currently conducting research in the area of RNA and drug discovery as a masters student at CQMED.
Carolina Nunes Santo
MASTERS STUDENTCarolina has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences from UFRGS. She has experience on epigenetic modulation of glioblastomas and now her focus in on identification of new targets for Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome therapy.
Gabriele Celis Silva
Masters StudentGabriele is currently working with RNA-binding proteins involved in Leukemia cell lines resistance to chemotherapy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences (UNIRP) and has previous experience with animal models of ASD and temporal lobe epilepsy.
Administrative Team
Nathalia Zocal, MSc
Project ManagerNathalia works on project management of public and private sources and financial implementation. She obtained her degree in Biotechnology from UNISO, Brazil (2011), MSc. in Medical Sciences from UNICAMP (2014), and MBA in Project Management from FGV (2022).
Paula Malloy, MSc
Project ManagerPaula works on strategic innovation management and project management at CQMED. She obtained her degree in Biology, from PUC-MG (2005), MSc in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from UNIFESP (2009), and MBA in Project and innovation management from IETEC (2012), 10 years of experience in R&D management.
Marcella Braga, PhD
Lab ManagerMarcella Braga is the laboratory manager at CQMED. She has a PhD. in Molecular Biology from UNIFESP, and a MSc in Biophysics from UFRJ. Marcella is in charge of biosafety, equipment maintenance/training, besides coordinating the team technician.
Paula Drummond, PhD
Communication ManagerPaula is motivated by making science attractive to different audiences. She’s been writing about science since 2013. Biologist, specialist in science communication, PhD in Science and Technology Policy and post doc in Science Dissemination at Labjor (Unicamp).
Bruno Ciro do Nascimento
Information TechnologyBruno is graduated in Informatics for Business Management at Paula Souza State Center for Technological Education (2010). He has experience in Computer Science, with an emphasis on Methodology and Computer Techniques.