Paola Minoprio

Paola Minoprio is head of the Trypanosomatids Infectious Processes lab.

She received her MSc in Parasitology from The University of Sao Paulo, Brazil and her Ph.D. in Immunology from The University of Paris 6, France. She was a postdoctoral fellow at The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA and at The DNAX Research Center for Molecular and Cellular imunology, Palo Alto, CA, USA. Since 1984, she is acting as a research scientist at Institut Pasteur, Paris, where she is now Senior Associate Professor.

Her scientific approaches are focused on mechanisms of parasite escape and persistance in the mammalian host and how genetic variation among trypanosoma isolates impacts on pathogenicity and consequently the spread of trypanosomiasis. She pursues multidisciplinary strategies to identify lead compounds for new therapies against Chagas disease and Animal Sleeping Sickness using mitogenic moieties as targets. Recently, using bioinformatics and genoma and transcriptome approaches, she has concentrated a particular attention to the identification of (bio)markers that can be useful for trypanosomatids diagnosis and/or disease prognosis.

Paola Marcella Camargo Minoprio, Brazilian and French

Senior Associate Professor, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

paola.minoprio@pasteur.fr, pmm@pasteur.fr ; Ph. : +33.1.4568.6815, Fax : +33.1.4061.3185, Mobile +33.6.3197.3889

Head of the Laboratory Trypanosomatids Infectious Processes[1], where she has been working since 1984.

Ph.D. Immunology, 1989, University Paris 6, Paris, France; ‘Dr. 3ème Cycle’/Mestrado, 1985, Parasitology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; M.Sc., 1979, Parasitology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil and Institut Pasteur, Lille, France; Graduated in Biomedicine [B. Sc. (Hons)], 1978, UMC, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Skilled in Business and Project Management (Institut pour le Développement économique et Technique, Paris, 2008), holds a University Diploma (MSc) in Innovation & Intellectual Property Strategies (Institut Européen Entreprise et Propriété Intellectuelle, Faculté d’Economie, University of Strasbourg, France, 2010).

Post-doctoral studies : 1992, DNAX Research Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Palo Alto, CA, U.S.A.; 1990, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.; Other studies trainings:1984, Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland; 1980-83, Laboratory of Immunology of Parasitic Infections, Department of Immunology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; 1979, Center of Immunology and Parasite Biology, Institut Pasteur Lille, France; 1978, Tropical Medicine Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Positions held: Institut Pasteur, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Paris, France: From 2007, Senior Associate Professor; Department of Immunology, 1997-2007, Senior Associate Professor, Infectious Immunophysiopathology Unit, CNRS 1961, 1992-1996 Associate Professor, Experimental Parasitology and Biology of Host Parasite Interaction Units; 1989-1991 Associate Professor, Immunoparasitology Unit. 1986-1988, Assistant Professor (Tenure track), Fondation Roux, Immunoparasitology Unit, CNRS 1960. Institut Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Maisons Alfort, France : 1985-1986, Associate Professor, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Maisons Alfort, Department of Immunogenetics, INSERM ; 1999-2012, Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris 6, France, Chiefly responsible for Master Courses, University Lecturer. From 2005, Annual teaching at the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris.

Inter alia :

From 2015 – holds a “Franco Brazilian Chair” (catedra) Institut Pasteur/USP.

From 2009 – member of the Committe UPMC, Paris 6, for integration of Full-Professors ; 2004-2008 member of the Committee Pathogenesis and Applied Genomics, TDR, WHO, From 2004- , Expert European Community, 2003-2005, Coordinator of AMSUD/Pasteur Network and Coordinator American Pole, Réseau International Institut Pasteur (RIIP), 1992-97, Associate Professor (Health Ministry), FIOCRUZ, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 1980-1983, Lecturer in Biology, Instituto Unificado Objetivo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

From 2001- 2005, She was commissioned to act as General Coordinator of the Pole Americas of the International Network of Pasteur Institutes (RIIP). Conducted and settled the affiliation of FIOCRUZ to RIIP. Negotiated and implemented several bilateral cooperation agreements (i.e. FIOCRUZ / Pasteur, FAPESP / Pasteur), more than 20 regional MERCOSUR courses, several projects in partnership for AMSUD / Pasteur network and organized bio-entrepreneurship forums in Brazil, Uruguay and Chile.

From 2014,  She was commissioned to promote, establish end consolidate a strategic scientific partnership with University of Sao Paulo and FIOCRUZ aiming at the future implementation of the Institut Pasteur and RIIP in Brazil.

Her scientific approaches, mainly focusing on parasite mechanisms of escape and persistence in the host, basically aim at the development of therapeutic and / or immunizing molecules using parasitic mitogens and superantigens as targets. She pursues a multidisciplinary strategy that includes immunology, molecular and cell biology, protein-ligand interactions, medicinal chemistry, molecular dynamics and in silico screening.

Supervised several masters and doctoral theses, organized a number of symposia and courses, including those of Immunology sponsored by Yakult in Brazil, contributing to the implementation of human resources in the area. Scientific expert for various national and international agencies and scientific journals.

            Author of numerous scientific publications, most as leading author, in the field of Immunopathology of infectious processes, mechanisms of parasite immune evasion, Immuno(chemo)therapy and approaches to vaccination. ). She holds a significant patent portfolio U.S., Europe, Brazil, China and India.

[1] Department of Infection and Epidemiology & Department of Parasitology, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue Du Dr Roux 75724, Paris, France