Our Research
Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Inflammatory Diseases
Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, especially Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), have been the focus of our research effort (Oliveira et al., 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024; Oliveira SD 2022, 2023; Erewele, Castellon, Loya et al., 2022; Marinho, Villarreal et al., 2023; Marinho, Villarreal, Loya, Oliveira, 2024; Villarreal et al., 2025, 2026; Loya et al., 2026 (preprint)). PAH is a disease highly prevalent in women, characterized by pulmonary vasoconstriction and progressive vascular remodeling that elevates mean pulmonary arterial pressure and leads to right ventricular hypertrophy. Although the primary cause of PAH appears multifactorial, studies indicate that it results from chronic pulmonary inflammation, such as that caused by the intravascular parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Therefore, Schistosoma infection provides a unique model in which molecular alterations driving PAH can be unraveled and, hopefully, leveraged to develop novel clinical solutions for this life-threatening disease.
Additional Scientific Interests
Interorgan & Systems biology
After infection, adult S. mansoni lays its eggs in the mesenteric circulation, which crosses the intestinal wall and reaches the gut lumen or other organs, such as the liver, increasing pressure. Liver bypass via collaterals reduces portal pressure, but it also allows the translocation of eggs, toxins, & antigens into the lungs, ultimately causing Schistosomiasis-associated PAH. Understanding how these systems communicate is essential to uncover the onset & prevent the progression of vascular diseases (Oliveira, 2022; 2023; Silva, Puthanveetil, Oliveira, 2025).
Anesthesia & Inflammation
In collaboration with our peers, we observed that sevoflurane, a volatile anesthetic, is protective during sepsis-induced inflammation & transiently impairs NK cell activity. Moreover, we identified that sevo promotes iNOS expression in macrophages, killing bacteria in the peritoneal cavity & helping improve sepsis survival. Sepsis affects millions of patients worldwide; understanding its molecular mechanisms is crucial for developing or repurposing therapeutic approaches (Gerber*, Fehr*, Oliveira** et al., 2019; Fehr*, Neff*, Oliveira** et al., 2026).
Science Communication & Women’s Leadership
Science communication through virtual platforms has become an important tool for disseminating research while addressing the growing challenge of misinformation. Translating complex discoveries into accessible language is essential for strengthening public trust and fostering engagement between scientists and society (Alfaidi*, Zhang*, Oliveira*, 2022; Oliveira et al., 2024). Additionally, as a member of the ATVB Women’s Leadership Committee, I also dedicate efforts to promote institutional support, resilience, mentorship, and the advancement of women in academic science and medicine (Chen et al., 2025; Nguyen et al., 2026). GD col.: Pedro Casanova
Latest News
New Award
Brasillinois Initiative & NIH
The Lab was awarded a grant from the Brasillinois Initiative & a collaborative NIH grant!
New Publication
PNAS 2026 & Preprint 2026
New publications discussing the global impact of microbes and parasites on lung health and EC survival!
New Member
New Postdoc
Nathalia Ferreira, UIC/UFRJ postdoc, has just joined the team. Welcome to the VI team, Nathalia!