Chief, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research
Distinguished Investigator Head, Mosquito Immunity and Vector Competence Section
Education:
Ph.D., University of Arizona
M.D., Universidad Francisco Marroquin de Guatemala
B.S., Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
Biography
Dr. Barillas received her B.S. in biology from “Universidad del Valle de Guatemala”, her M.D. from “Universidad Francisco Marroquin de Guatemala” and her Ph.D from the University of Arizona. She did her post-doctoral training in Prof. Fotis Kafatos laboratory at Harvard University and at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Germany. She was an assistant professor at Colorado State University, and joined NIH in 2003. She became Senior Investigator in 2010 and NIH Distinguished Investigator in 2016. She heads the Mosquito Immunity and Vector Competence Section and is Chief of the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research. She investigates the interactions between the mosquito immune system and Plasmodium parasites critical for malaria transmission, with the ultimate goal of disrupting the parasite’s life cycle and prevent human disease. Dr. Barillas-Mury received the 2010 Bailey K. Ashford Medal, from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the 2013 Sanofi/Pasteur Award in Tropical and Neglected Diseases and was elected member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014 and of the of the National Academy of Medicine in 2021.