Harvard Catalyst Profiles

I am a medical microbiologist dedicated to developing better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent infections. With training in innovation in clinical and molecular microbiology, my work is focused at the translational interface between laboratory research and clinical practice. During graduate study at the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, I researched the epidemiology and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance of eye bacteria, biofilm-formation on ocular devices, and developed novel molecular diagnostic assays for rapid and sensitive detection of ocular pathogens. In December 2013, I joined the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear (MEE) as a Postdoctoral Fellow, for additional training in genomics and genetic analysis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. After completing my training, I joined the faculty at MEE and Harvard Medical School (HMS), where I supervise trainees and conduct independent research aiming to develop the next generation of diagnostics and treatments for sight-threatening and difficult-to-treat ocular infections, an area that is poorly investigated and resourced, and that is lagging behind in the adoption of novel cutting-edge technologies and therapies to improve patient care.

At MEE, I also act as the main translational liaison between physicians, scientists, and industry leaders in a new environment designed to foster multidisciplinary collaborations, the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI). Serving as an Assistant Scientist and Managing Assistant Director of IDI, I actively engage colleagues at the hospital and in industry, in putting together translational studies to develop improved diagnostics and treatments for ocular and otolaryngology infections. These collaborations have resulted in clinical and technological innovations (including one patent application) through the development of advanced diagnostic systems for sight-threatening infections, which used next generation real time PCR and NanoString technologies for rapid pathogen detection.

Parts or the entirety of the work performed in my laboratory have been funded by contracts with biotechnology companies, philanthropic donations (e.g., Tej Kohli Foundation) and research grants received from the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, Harvard Catalyst, ARVO Foundation, Research to Prevent Blindness, and the National Eye Institute (e.g., R21EY032231, R01EY036137 and R01EY036444). Most of these grants aim to explore the advantages of novel technologies for detection and characterization of pathogen DNA (and genomes) to enhance our understating on the etiologies of difficult-to-diagnose ocular infections and improve their laboratory diagnosis process, and also to study the genomic epidemiology of ocular bacterial infections. In addition, I am also applying genomic and molecular genetics approaches combined with phenotypic methods (currently unfunded projects) to analyze epidemiologic trends in species distribution, emergence of new pathogens and of antibiotic resistance phenotypes, and to study the molecular epidemiology of organisms isolated form ocular and otolaryngology infections. Some of these projects are being conducted in multicenter collaborations with international institutes, which resulted on the selection of one of my projects by the Harvard Ophthalmology Department for submission of an International Collaborators Award to Research to Prevent Blindness (selected for funding on June 7, 2023). This award will support the development of topical phage therapies for eye infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria with global circulation.

In parallel with my research activities, I have been actively involved in teaching and supervision of research fellows, graduate students and research assistants since I joined the MEE/HMS faculty. I am also involved in efforts to increase Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in our department as a member/mentor of the Harvard Ophthalmology Research Scholars Program Committee, which offers first-year medical students from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups an immersive eight-week experience in ophthalmology. I have also served as a mentor in the Underrepresented Minority in Ophthalmology Mentorship Program, designed to offer mentorship for undergraduate students. Additionally, I regularly lecture at regional, national and international meetings and academic seminars.

Since my appointment as an Assistant Professor at HMS I have devoted my efforts to conduct innovative translational research in infectious diseases, educate and train my peers and provide administrative oversight, and actively engage in DEI programs. Through my written works (e.g., original research papers, reviews, and book chapters), my presentations at local, regional, national, and international level, my clinical and technological innovations, and my involvement with professional societies I have sought to help improve the clinical care of patients suffering from serious and potentially blinding infections.