Marcelo Farina is the leader of the laboratory of experimental neuropathology of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, where he teaches biochemistry and develops basic research in the field of biochemistry, toxicology and neurosciences.He holds a BSc in pharmacy (1997) and a master degree (1999) in toxicological biochemistry, both from the Federal University of Santa Maria. He earned his PhD in biochemistry (2003) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.Farina's main research interests include the mechanisms mediating the toxic effects of environmental pollutants toward the central nervous system, with a particular emphasis on the potential occurrence of neurodegenerative disease as consequence of pollutant-induced neurotoxicity. The most important accomplishments derived from the research developed in his laboratory (Federal University of Santa Catarina) are related to: (i) the role of the selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase on the mechanisms of neurotoxicity elicited by the environmental contaminant methylmercury, (ii) beneficial effects of probucol and probucol-derivatives in mitigating neuronal injury in neurodegenerative processes.

John Fredy Barrera Ramírez received his BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees in physics from Antioquia University (Medellín, Colombia) in 2001, 2003, and 2007, respectively. His Doctoral Thesis received the academic distinction of “Summa Cum Laude”. Since 2006 he has been with Antioquia University, where he is Professor in the Physics Institute and coordinator of the Optics and Photonic’s Group. He received the international award “ICO/ICTP GALLIENO DENARDO AWARD” given by the International Commission for Optics (ICO) and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) (Trieste-Italia 2014), he has been selected as “Future Leader 2016” in the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, “Young TWAS Affiliate” of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), “Junior Associate” (2012-2017) and “Regular Associate” (2018-2023) of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), “one out of 30 scientists under 40 years old that are doing promising research” according the scientific platform “Latinamerica Science” and he was invited researcher in the frame of the program “Research Stays for Renowned Researchers”, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Valencia, Spain, 2011-2012).

Dr. Marques obtained his Ph.D. in 2002 from the Department of Microbiology at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais working on the characterization of wild poxviruses. After obtaining his Ph.D. he joined the laboratory of Bryan Williams at the Cleveland Clinic in the state of Ohio, USA in 2002 where he studied nucleic acid sensing mechanisms. In 2006, his interest in the area of RNA interference led him to move on to a new position in the laboratory of Richard Carthew where he developed Drosophila melanogaster models to study antiviral defense. Dr. Marques returned to Brazil in 2010 to join the Department of Biochemistry and Immunology at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. He has extensive experience in diverse areas of research such as virology, immunology, bioinformatics and genetics. Since his return, he has dedicated a lot of his time to research on the development of novel approaches to the fight transmission of arboviruses by mosquitoes such as Dengue virus. He has also pursued ways to contribute to the improvement of Brazilian science by getting involved with science policy and public outreach.