Members

About Us

We are a group of researchers under the leadership of Dr. Oliveira looking for answers on life processes and human diseases. We take our work seriously but also with joy. Here, respect, diversity & inclusion are rules – we collaborate in prol of the LAB TEAM’s success & towards the scientific progress at UIC & around the world! Thus, enjoy the ride & let the pipetting begin!

Dr. Oliveira

Dr. Oliveira is an Assistant Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Vascular Immunobiology at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). She earned a Ph.D. (Immunobiology/Biophysics) and an M.S. (Cardiovascular Pharmacology) from one of the best Latin American universities – the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil. Her research interests focus on uncovering the pathophysiology of the vascular endothelium in inflammatory cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, such as Schistosomiasis, Sepsis, Acute Lung Injury/Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). Moreover, as an educator, she also devotes her efforts to effectively communicating the scientific findings of this field of research to its community and society as a whole.

CURRENT MEMBERS:

Maricela Castellon

Maricela is an experienced Research Scientist with more than 10 years working as Lab Manager and Lab technician. She started her research and medical training at UIC in 1997, and six years later of active research and management training, she got her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. By 2011, Maricela earned a MS degree in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences in the same institution, and since then, her professional trajectory has been evolving incredibly, as indicated by her current appointment as the Assistant Director of the UIC Cardiovascular Research Core. Maricela is helping the Vascular Immunobiology Lab to get started by handling the animal colony, the Lab Biosafety, and providing essential support for in vivo animal experiments.

Elizabeth Villarreal

Lizzy is an undergraduate student on the pre-medical track at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC; Honors College). Her major is biochemistry, and she has already taken multiple biology and chemistry courses during her time at UIC. This is Lizzy’s first laboratory experience, and she is really motivated in learning about pulmonary arterial hypertension as well as helping to make a difference when it comes to vascular diseases. She thinks the experience in the laboratory of vascular immunobiology will provide her with an amazing opportunity to use the technical skills and scientific background she has been learning to gain crucial research experience for her future in medical school.

Omar Loya

Omar is an undergraduate student in Biological Sciences with a concentration in General Biology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He is also a recipient of the L@s GANAS Research Fellowship. What is L@s GANAS? L@s GANAS is a program, here at UIC, that strives to provide opportunities and support Latinx students in STEM. Although this is his first year in science, Omar has already gotten awards for Outstanding Achievement in Science and Biology at UIC. Moreover, this is Omar’s first laboratory experience, and his interested in being a part of our research group is because he thinks the experience in the VI Lab aligns with his future career goals.

Brenda Obana

Brenda Obana is an MD/MPH candidate (Class of 2028) at University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine and School of Public Health. She serves as Vice President of the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). She also holds a Certificate in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences from Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology (Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience) and Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Nathalia Oliveira

Dr. Oliveira is a Postdoctoral Researcher conducting part of her research as a research scholar (J1 exchange visitor program) at UIC. She held her Ph.D. in biological sciences (Pharmacology and Medical Chemistry) from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). During her journey, she investigates the role of purinergic signaling in endothelial dysfunction in the chronic inflammation model of schistosomiasis, earning prestigious award in her field. She is the author and co-author of scientific articles, book chapters, and papers presented at national and international congresses. She also has experience teaching as a professor of Pharmacology in the undergraduate and Postgraduate Program at Biomedical Sciences Institute at UFRJ.

Daniel Richard

Dan Richard is a second-year medical student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at UIC. He earned his bachelor’ s of science in Biochemistry at North Carolina State University, with minors in microbiology and biotechnology. He is interested in researching how inflammation affects vascular growth and remodeling, and hopes to leverage these insights to identify novel therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease treatment.

FORMER MEMBERS: