Ana Moro
Holding a bachelor's degree and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP), with education also from the University of Brasília, University College London, and the University of Turin. She has been a researcher at Instituto Butantan for nearly 40 years and is one of the leading references in monoclonal antibody research. Ana Maria Moro was one of those responsible for the creation of the Center for Research and Development of Immunobiologicals (CeRDI), accepting the invitation to serve as its coordinator, performing this role since its implementation, including during the delicate period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After years dedicated to her scientific education, with an initial passion for genetics, Ana Moro chose to pursue a Scientific Researcher career at Instituto Butantan to work alongside the late Dr. Isaias Raw, an important physician and researcher who passed away in 2022. This career choice led to major contributions to health in Brazil.
“I often ended up doing something for the first time in Brazil. That motivates me a lot: the challenge,” states Moro. Among this list of pioneering achievements are the launch of monoclonal antibody projects at Butantan, the first cell line producing recombinant antibodies, and the first discovery of neutralizing human antibody sequences. She worked on the development of antibodies used as reagents to validate the dengue vaccine launched by Instituto Butantan in 2025. The development of antitetanus antibodies carries the promise of replacing equine sera.
Dr. Ana Moro emphasizes that various students agreed to share the risks of these research projects in their doctoral dissertations, working under her supervision. She, along with her team, played a key role in training many professionals. This dedication to seeing the continuity of the work, and seeing innovative treatments reach the population, is what motivates her to keep working even though she could already be retired. Leading CeRDI, she continues to maintain the legacy in the field she initiated at the Institute with the support of Prof. Isaías Raw.
