Samuel Goldenberg

Samuel Goldenberg studied at the University of Brasilia (Universidade de Brasilia) where he got the degree (BSc) and Master (MSc.) in Molecular Biology on 1973 and 1975, respectively. He finished his PhD at the University of Paris VII (Université de Paris VII) under the supervision of Klaus Scherrer in 1981. In 1982 he joined the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC, FIOCRUZ), heading the Department from 1985 to 1989. Upon arrival at Fiocruz he started to study the mechanisms involved in gene expression regulation in Trypanosoma cruzi. These studies led to the development of a chemically defined medium (TAU medium) that allows the study in vitro of the differentiation process (metacyclogenesis) that occurs inside the invertebrate host of Chagas' disease. Another important contribution was the study of some T. cruzi genes displaying repetitive epitopes and their use for the immunological diagnosis of Chagas' disease. This resulted in the development of a diagnostic kit for Chagas' disease. This kit was patented by Fiocruz and received a Prize (Governor of São Paulo Award) from the State Government of São Paulo in 1994. In early 2001 he created with his co-workers the Paraná Molecular Biology Institute (Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, IBMP, www.ibmp.org.br) and directed this Institute from 2001 until 2010. The IBMP gave rise to the Carlos Chagas Institute (www.icc.fiocruz.br), the branch of Fiocruz in the South of Brazil, and Samuel Goldenberg was its Director from 2010 to 2017). Samuel Goldenberg was member of the editorial board of Trends in Parasitology (formerly Parasitology Today, 1986-1989) and Gene (2007-2009). He also participated from several committees including the Genetics Advisory Committee of CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico or Brazilian National Research Council). He was also member of the CNPq Deliberative Board. He participated from the GLOPID-R (Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedenes) as representative of Oswaldo Cruz Foundation from 2013 to 2022. He is Member of the International Scientific Board of Pasteur Institute Montevideo. He received several Grants, including International Grants from WHO, INSERM, NIH, DAAD and National Grants from Brazilian Agencies (CNPq, CAPES, FINEP). He is member of several international and national scientific societies, including the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, and was in the Direction Board of the Brazilian Society of Genetics (SBG, 2005-2006), President of the Brazilian Society of Protozoology (SBPz, 2006-2007) and president of the Brazilian Society of Genetics (2013-2014). He was awarded with the Brazilian National Order of Scientific Merit (2006), National Order of Medical Merit (2010), Samuel Pessoa Award from the Brazilian Society of Protozoology (2011) and Admiral Alvaro Alberto Award from Brazilian National Research Council (2017). Samuel Goldenberg was nominated Emeritus Researcher from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) in 2020.