Maria Fernanda Laranjeira da Silva

Dr. Maria Fernanda Laranjeira da Silva is a Visiting Professor of the Biotechnology Program at the Federal University of ABC, and a Researcher in the Department of Physiology at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She received her undergraduate degree in Molecular Sciences (2005) and a Ph.D. (2010) from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Throughout her research career, Dr. Laranjeira da Silva developed a keen focus on host-parasite interactions and the Leishmania´s mechanisms of subverting host defense responses. During her postdoctoral training and a subsequent Research Associate position at the University of Maryland-College Park, U.S.A., she began to investigate iron and heme metabolism pathways in both the parasite and mammalian host. She identified and characterized the first iron exporter (LIR1) in a trypanosomatid parasite answering an important question about how Leishmania prevents accumulation of free iron to avoid cytotoxicity. Moving back to Brazil, Dr. Laranjeira da Silva was given the highly prestigious Young Investigator Award from The State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and began her independent career as an Early-Career Investigator at the University of Sao Paulo. Her ultimate research goal is to further understand Leishmania pathogenesis to define better therapeutic targets for leishmaniasis treatment. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)