Staff Scientist
Education:
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2022, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Ph.D., Microbiology, 2017, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
M.Sc., Biology and Biotecnology of Microorganisms, 2012, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
Bachelor, Biomedicine, 2010, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
Biography
Lucas did his postdoctoral research fellowship with Bruce Klein, where he focused on the development of fungal vaccines and mechanisms of T-cell-mediated antifungal immunity. He has accumulated more than 10 years of research experience in fungal immunology, as evidenced by 20 manuscripts and more than 300 citations. At NIAID, he is focused on various projects related to AIRE-dependent mechanisms of antifungal immunity and protection from autoimmunity in mouse models of AIRE deficiency and in APECED patients. His goal is to develop novel mechanism-based strategies to treat fungal disease and autoimmunity in APECED and STAT1 gain-of-function patients. His continued work as a scientist in the field of mycology will provide targets, tools, and mechanisms that will be useful for the development of vaccines, treatment, and diagnosis in the United States and abroad. As a result, the advancement in medical treatment of fungal diseases can lead not only to the overall health of patients but can also reduce, directly and indirectly, medical costs associated with fungal infections in the U.S., which, according to the CDC, was estimated at $7.2 billion in direct medical costs in 2017 based on administrative coding data, which was likely underestimated because of underdiagnosis and under coding.