Embedded Files
Bárbara Porto, PI
Bárbara Porto, PI
Dr. Bárbara Porto is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba and a Scientist at the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM). Her research focuses on the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis associated with respiratory viral infections.
Dr. Porto studied Biological Sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. She then completed her graduate work at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), working on the molecular mechanisms of neutrophil activation triggered by sterile inflammation. Back to her hometown, Dr. Porto held a post-doctoral fellowship at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul working with innate immunity to respiratory syncytial virus infection.
In Toronto, Canada, Dr. Porto held a post-doctoral fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children, also working on innate immunity to respiratory syncytial virus infection.
Dr. Porto has been frequently contributing as a peer reviewer to high impact scientific journals and to international funding agencies.
Dr. Porto is a member of the Canadian Society for Virology, Canadian Society for Immunology and Canadian Respiratory Research Network (CRRN).
Júlia Cerato, PhD candidate
Júlia Cerato, PhD candidate
Júlia studied Biotechnology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Brazil. She holds a Master’s degree in Biosciences and Biotechnology, her thesis was developed in the laboratory of molecular virology at Carlos Chagas Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil. The main focus of her research was to evaluate the role of osteopontin during dengue virus infection in human cell lines. She also investigated the immune response of the Brazilian population with different immunizations against SARS-CoV-2.
In her free time, she likes listening to music, watching TV series, reading books and finding amazing places to eat.
Júlia is a PhD candidate in the lab, studying the antiviral and lung protective mechanisms of an FDA-approved drug against RSV infection.
Runqi Lin, PhD student
Runqi Lin, PhD student
Runqi graduated from McMaster University (Ontario) in the program of Biochemistry. He has always been interested in the field of Immunology, and was especially fascinated by and eager to learn about all types of viruses and how they interact with our bodies.
Outside of science, Runqi really enjoys playing with animals, trying out new recipes and riding bicycles.
Runqi is a PhD student studying lytic cell death induced by RSV infection.
Wilfred Gitau , PhD student
Wilfred Gitau , PhD student
Gitau attended Kenya Methodist University, Kenya, to pursue a BSc in MLS. He graduated with a MSc. in Medical Microbiology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. His thesis was based on evaluation of in vitro antimicrobial, antiviral and in vivo antimalarial activities of Avicennia marina. His areas of interest in research are understanding the molecular mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and development of alternative medicines (such as nanobodies, phages and herbs).
In his free time he likes to visit zoos, plant trees and listen to country music.
Gitau is a PhD student studying sex-associated mechanisms of virus-induced asthma.
Fernanda Fries, Associate Post-Doctoral Fellow
Fernanda Fries, Associate Post-Doctoral Fellow
Fernanda graduated in Pharmacy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil, in 2020. She earned her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology, with an emphasis on Medicinal Chemistry, from PUCRS in 2024. During her doctoral studies, she specialized in the design and synthesis of drug candidates for the treatment of tuberculosis. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology (PUCRS). Her current research focuses on immune responses to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, with a focus on the role of the microbiota in host immunity and cell death.
In her free time, she enjoys exploring different cuisines, discovering new places, and learning about the culture of the places she visits.
Past Members
Past Members
Ronaldo Silva Alves Jr. - Internship PhD student Oct/2025 - Jun/2026
Fatemeh Sedaghat - Research Technician
Paula Teixeira - Internship PhD student Nov/2024 - Aug/2025
Mauricio Munoz - URA Summer student in the summer/2024
Maria Serda - Science Co-Op student in the summer/2023
Quinn Moroz - Summer student in the summer/2023
Kohavit Kleitman - Science Co-Op student in the summer/2022
Leanne Kuo - USRA Summer student in the summer/2022
Roshan Parvarchian - Research Technician
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse