Cassia Terrassani Silveira
A biomedical scientist with a degree from São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP, Botucatu campus), holding a master's and Ph.D. in genetics also from UNESP, with postdoctoral work at the Universität zu Lübeck in Germany and the USP School of Medicine. Having been at the USP School of Medicine for over 12 years, Cássia Terrassani Silveira is a researcher dedicated to studying the immune response to infectious diseases as well as prevention and treatment approaches. At the Center for Research and Development of Immunobiologicals (CeRDI), the scientist is dedicated to researching efficient monoclonal antibodies to fight the influenza virus, the cause of the flu.
Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to studying genetics in the treatment of human proliferative diseases, such as leukemia, breast and prostate tumors, and endometriosis. Upon returning from her postdoctoral research in Germany, she became involved in immunology studies of infectious diseases and vaccines, having worked on studies of the immune response induced by the dengue vaccine developed by Instituto Butantan. In CeRDI's work, the scientist coordinates a team with researchers at the master's (Thaís Rezende), doctoral (Leonardo Ormundo), and postdoctoral levels (Victória Lunardelli and Anne Ventura) dedicated to investigating and identifying neutralizing antibodies against influenza based on the molecular characterization of memory B cells (a type of defense cell capable of “remembering” an antigen and activating a new immune response even if the foreign organism returns years later) derived from individuals vaccinated against influenza.
The team coordinated by Terrassani Silveira was even responsible for the technology transfer from George Washington University, in the United States, focused on large-scale, state-of-the-art research into monoclonal antibodies from memory B cells. The advancement of Brazilian science has always been one of the researcher's main motivations. “I've always had this purpose of working in my country and making science in Brazil evolve. Developing here, and showing that we are capable,” she states.
She also explains that the high mutation rate associated with influenza viruses (small changes that occur repeatedly in the virus's genetic material) makes it challenging to produce antibodies capable of neutralizing them. She also shares how current scientific literature lacks data that accounts for the genetic diversity of the Brazilian population in this area of research. Due to this and other challenges, Terrassani Silveira reaffirms that health research demands more than curiosity. “Purpose, resilience, and dedication, to improve people's quality of life,” she highlights.
