Henrique Borges da Silva

Henrique Borges da Silva, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Immunology at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds dual appointments in the Department of Research and the Department of Cancer Biology, where he leads a research laboratory focused on understanding how extracellular nucleotides regulate CD8-positive T cell immunity in infections and cancer.

• University: Mayo Clinic
• School: Department of Research
• Department: Department of Cancer Biology
• Academic Rank: Assistant Professor

Dr. Borges da Silva earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Minnesota and the University of Sao Paulo. His research centers on purinergic signaling, particularly the role of the P2RX7 receptor in shaping T cell memory, metabolism, and function. He investigates how extracellular ATP influences transcriptional and metabolic pathways in CD8+ T cells during immune responses, aiming to improve vaccines and immunotherapies.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in understanding the metabolic fitness of memory T cells, the sources and sensing of extracellular ATP in vivo, and the broader roles of purinergic signaling in adaptive immunity. His work spans fundamental immunology, cancer immunotherapy, and infectious disease, with high-impact studies in journals such as Nature, Immunity, and Science Immunology.

• K99/R00 Career Development Grant, NIH/NIAID (AI139381), 2019–present
• Associate Membership, Sigma Xi, 2019
• Honorable Mention, Best Ph.D. Thesis, University of Sao Paulo, 2015

Dr. Borges da Silva actively mentors students and collaborates on projects involving T cell biology, immunometabolism, and purinergic signaling. His lab employs cutting-edge tools including CRISPR-Cas9, shRNA screening, and in vivo ATP sensing systems. He has contributed to understanding T cell responses in malaria, viral infections, and solid tumors, and his work has implications for developing novel immunotherapeutic strategies.

His laboratory is actively involved in studying tissue-resident memory T cells, metabolic reprogramming, and the role of ion channels and purinergic receptors in immune regulation. Collaborations span immunology, oncology, and infectious disease research, contributing to Mayo Clinic's comprehensive cancer and immunology programs.