Passionate about bridging the gap between research and industry, I am a biotech professional with a decade of experience in malaria research and product development. My career began in 2011 as a PhD student at ISGlobal (Barcelona), where I focused on creating nanovectors for targeted drug delivery to the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium spp.. This work led me to an internship at Imperial College London in 2014, where I honed my skills in infecting Anopheles mosquitoes and assessing parasite development to test these nanovectors in the sexual stages of the parasite.

In 2016, I joined IHMT/NOVA (Lisbon) with a mission to develop an artificial blood-free diet for rearing Anopheles mosquitoes, a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This culminated in the successful creation of Bloodless, an innovative artificial diet (BLOODless) that mirrors the nutritional value of blood meals, promoting optimal mosquito fecundity, fertility, and fitness.

I have filed two patents for novel products, demonstrating my commitment to translating research into impactful, commercially viable solutions. 

My recent endeavors have focused on advancing Bloodless through its implementation in a blood-free insectary, now sustaining the 40th generation of mosquitoes without fitness loss. I’ve optimized its formulation and storage, and tested it on various mosquito species in collaboration with stakeholders from academia and industry in malaria-endemic regions. These efforts have been complemented by a postgraduate specialization in bioentrepreneurship, which has equipped me with the skills to navigate the interface between scientific research and commercial application.

My career goal is to develop practical, non-genetic, self-spreading, ecologically sustainable solutions for vector control. I am highly interested in collaborations on mosquito midgut-targeted strategies to alter physiology and vector competence, aiming for sustainable vector-borne disease control.

Let's connect if you're interested in discussing biotech innovation, malaria research, vector control, or bioentrepreneurship!