Professor
Department of Biochemistry
Institute of Chemistry
University of São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
http://www2.iq.usp.br/docente/bszodnas/
Bianca Zingales is Professor of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo. Since 1985, Zingales has focused her research on the Molecular Epidemiology of Trypanosoma cruzi. Her laboratory contributed to the definition that T. cruzi is partitioned into six genetic lineages (TcI-TcVI), which have distinct eco-epidemiological characteristics. A major focus of her current research, funded by the FAPESP and CNPq, is the characterization of one ABCG transporter potentially involved in therapeutic failures to benznidazole and the screening of candidates for Chagas disease treatment. Zingales has been a consultant of TDR since 1992. She was appointed by WHO as a Member of the Expert Advisory Panel of Trypanosomiasis (2000-2009) and as Co-chair of the Disease Reference Group on Chagas disease, Leishmaniasis and Human African Trypanosomiasis (2009-2012). Since 2011, Zingales integrates the Chagas Research Platform of DNDi. She has published more than 110 peer-reviewed papers. Recently, recommendations have been issued on which strains representing T. cruzi diversity should be selected for drug discovery for Chagas disease.
