Renato Mancini Astray
A pharmacist with a degree from São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), holding a Ph.D. in biotechnology from the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Université Louis Pasteur Strasbourg in France, Renato Astray's professional career path is intertwined with that of Instituto Butantan itself. With over 25 years of work, he helped bring messenger RNA vaccines to Brazil and develop them at the institute—a technology that simulates how cells read DNA information to teach them to produce non-disease-causing parts of pathogens that prepare the immune system for the real pathogen.
Since 2018, Astray has dedicated himself to research on the influenza virus. A member of the Center for Research and Development of Immunobiologicals (CeRDI), he currently works using animal cells to culture influenza viruses, which are then inactivated to produce vaccine doses. This technology makes it possible to phase out the use of chicken eggs for culturing viruses. “In addition to lowering manufacturing costs, it reduces the environmental impact involved in egg production,” he highlights.
A native of the Butantã neighborhood, Astray grew up next door to the Institute where he would go on to develop his entire professional career. Joining as an intern in the year 2000 and later passing a competitive civil service exam in 2003, the scientist confesses that his initial research interest was venoms—one of Instituto Butantan's most famous areas of work—but his work with immunizing agents made him stand out. In his work with CeRDI, Astray helps address what he considers an important challenge: ensuring Brazil's scientific and technological sovereignty.
