Ricardo Gazzinelli

Ricardo Gazzinelli is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, affiliated with the T.H. Chan School of Medicine and the Department of Medicine. He holds dual roles at UMass Chan and Fiocruz-Minas in Brazil. His research focuses on immunological mechanisms against parasitic diseases, including malaria, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease. Key projects involve innate immunity, vaccine development, and host-pathogen interactions.

Education: DSc in Biochemistry & Immunology and DVM from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, followed by postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Research Interests: Investigates the role of innate immunity, TLRs, inflammasomes, and cytokines in host resistance to parasites. Develops recombinant vaccines (e.g., A2 and ASP2/TS for visceral leishmaniasis) and studies circadian rhythms' impact on Plasmodium infections. Collaborates on projects like the role of IRAKs in Toxoplasma gondii resistance.

Publications highlight advancements in vaccine design, immunodiagnostic tools, and understanding parasite-host interactions. His work is supported by CNPq, FAPEMIG, and NIH grants. Supervises a team of researchers across Fiocruz-Minas and UMass Chan labs.