José Leite | Drug Discovery and Development | Innovator in Pharmaceutical Research Award

José Leite | Drug Discovery and Development | Innovator in Pharmaceutical Research Award

Dr. José Leite, Universidade de Brasília – UnB, Brazil

Dr. José Roberto Leite is a Brazilian biochemist and molecular biologist with a PhD from the University of Brasília 🇧🇷 and postdoctoral training at EMBRAPA and the University of Porto 🇵🇹. He is an Associate Professor at UnB’s Faculty of Medicine and Visiting Researcher at i3S. 🧪 As co-founder of People&Science, he works on biotechnology, nanobiotech, and bioactive peptides for health and environment 🌿. With 200+ international publications 📚, patents under development 💡, and global collaborations 🌍, he bridges biodiversity and innovation. Dr. Leite also serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Global Innovation.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. José Roberto Leite earned his PhD in Biological Sciences (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology) from the University of Brasília 🇧🇷 and completed postdoctoral training at EMBRAPA and the University of Porto (REQUIMTE) 🇵🇹. He serves as an Associate Professor at UnB’s Faculty of Medicine and is a Visiting Researcher at i3S 🧬. He coordinated graduate programs at UFPI and UnB and founded the Biotec/UFPI research group 🧑‍🔬. As co-founder of People&Science, he leads cutting-edge work in biotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and bioprospecting for health and the environment 🌱. He is also Associate Editor of the Journal of Global Innovation 📘 and promotes international collaboration.

Professional Memberships

Dr. José Roberto Leite is actively engaged in Brazil’s leading scientific communities and holds esteemed memberships in the Brazilian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 🧪 and the Brazilian Society of Biotechnology 🧬, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing life sciences and innovation. In addition, he plays a key editorial role 📖 in the Journal of Global Innovation (JGI), contributing to the dissemination of cutting-edge research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration 🌐. His involvement in these professional circles underscores his dedication to scientific excellence, knowledge sharing, and the promotion of impactful biotechnology and molecular biology initiatives across Brazil and beyond.

Research Focus

Dr. José Roberto Leite focuses on cutting-edge research in biotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and natural product-based drug discovery 🌱. His work spans the development of bioactive peptides 🧬, antimicrobial and anticancer compounds 💊, and innovative drug delivery systems 🚀. He explores biodiversity to identify novel molecules from amphibians 🐸, plants 🌿, and marine life 🌊 for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Dr. Leite also contributes to the advancement of biosensors, nutraceuticals, and functional biomaterials. His interdisciplinary research bridges biochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology, driving translational science for global health and environmental impact.

Publication Top Notes

Dermaseptins from Phyllomedusa oreades andPhyllomedusa distincta: ANTI-TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI ACTIVITY WITHOUT CYTOTOXICITY TO MAMMALIAN CELLS

Phylloseptins: a novel class of anti-bacterial and anti-protozoan peptides from the Phyllomedusa genus

Transtornos de ansiedade e exercício físico

Identification of a cowpea γ‐thionin with bactericidal activity

Antimicrobial activity of the bufadienolides marinobufagin and telocinobufagin isolated as major components from skin secretion of the toad Bufo rubescens

Medical students, spirituality and religiosity-results from the multicenter study SBRAME

Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activity of Epiisopiloturine, an Imidazole Alkaloid Isolated from Pilocarpus microphyllus

Novel dermaseptins from Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis (Amphibia)

Development and antibacterial activity of cashew gum-based silver nanoparticles

Antinociceptive activity of the monoterpene α-phellandrene in rodents: possible mechanisms of action

The NMR-derived solution structure of a new cationic antimicrobial peptide from the skin secretion of the anuran Hyla punctata

Antidiarrheal activity of cashew GUM, a complex heteropolysaccharide extracted from exudate of Anacardium occidentale L. in rodents

Natalia Marina CARDILLO | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

Natalia Marina CARDILLO | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Natalia Marina CARDILLO, USDA-ARS-WSU, United States

Dr. Natalia Marina Cardillo is a distinguished veterinary scientist from Argentina with a Ph.D. in Veterinary Sciences, specializing in parasitology and public health 🧫. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Washington State University 🇺🇸, she focuses on chemotherapeutic strategies for bovine babesiosis. With over two decades of academic and research excellence across UBA, CONICET, INTA, and USDA, she has led groundbreaking projects on zoonoses, antiparasitic drug resistance, and diagnostics. 🧬 Her contributions span teaching, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical clinical trials in veterinary medicine, earning her global recognition and prestigious fellowships.

Publication Profile

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Education

Dr. Natalia Marina Cardillo began her academic path with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (1997–2004) from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, specializing in Public Health 🐕‍🦺🩺. She furthered her expertise by completing a Ph.D. in Veterinary Sciences with a focus on Parasitology and Public Health (2006–2012), earning the prestigious “summa cum laude” distinction for her thesis on Toxocara cati in murine models 🧬🧫. To complement her academic and research proficiency, she pursued a University Teaching Major in Veterinary and Biological Sciences (2014–2016), strengthening her role as an educator and mentor 📚👩‍🏫.

Experience

Dr. Natalia Marina Cardillo has led a distinguished career in parasitology, veterinary microbiology, and public health. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Washington State University 🐄💊, she focuses on developing novel treatments for bovine babesiosis. Previously, she served as Senior and Principal Scientist at CONICET-INTA 🇦🇷, leading studies on zoonotic parasitic diseases. With over two decades of academic roles at the Universidad de Buenos Aires 👩‍🏫🧫, she also contributed significantly to diagnostics, laboratory accreditation, and veterinary clinical trials. As founder of ALIANZA InVet 🧬🐕, she has pioneered ethical animal research and advanced pharmaceutical testing across Argentina.

Awards

Dr. Natalia Marina Cardillo has received numerous prestigious honors throughout her career. From 2023 to 2025, she was awarded a competitive Postdoctoral Fellowship by the USDA at Washington State University 🇺🇸🔬. In 2018, she won the NAVES entrepreneurship competition by Universidad Austral’s IAE Business School for her CRO-VET project 🏅💼. Her academic excellence was recognized early with a Ph.D. fellowship (2005–2010) in Public Health Veterinary Medicine and a Scientific Research Scholarship (2000–2002) in Parasitology at Universidad de Buenos Aires 🇦🇷📘—highlighting her dedication to veterinary science and innovation.

Research Focus

Dr. Natalia Marina Cardillo’s research is rooted in veterinary parasitology, with a strong emphasis on zoonotic diseases, public health, and epidemiology 🐛🧫🌍. Her work investigates parasites like Toxocara cati, Trichinella spp., and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, exploring their life cycles, transmission, and pathology in animal hosts and their public health implications 💉📊. She also focuses on developing chemotherapeutic treatments for diseases such as bovine babesiosis, integrating pharmacology, immunology, and molecular diagnostics 🧬💊. Her interdisciplinary research contributes significantly to One Health, bridging human, animal, and environmental health.