Bianca Burini

Assistant professor, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, IFAS

Email: bianca.kojin@ufl.edu

BIOGRAPHY

I am deeply passionate about my work in mosquito genetic engineering, dedicating the past 2 decades of my professional life to this field. Remarkably, this journey began as my very first job, and it is a path I hope to continue pursuing until the end of my career. Being a professor isn’t just a job; it is a passion I enjoy sharing with everyone. I firmly believe that genetic control of mosquitoes holds the key to mitigating the high impact of vector-borne diseases, which afflict millions worldwide each year. This conviction shapes my commitment to advancing scientific innovation and safeguarding global health.

Burini Lab is dedicated to conducting basic research aimed at developing cutting-edge technologies to combat vector-borne diseases. Utilizing genetic engineering as our primary tool, we seek to understand the dynamics of host-pathogen interactions and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying disease transmission. Through this understanding, we want to engineer novel transgenes and refine existing tools, with the goal of designing more effective strategies for mosquito population suppression and population replacement. Our research encompasses a diverse array of pathogens, including those responsible for diseases such as malaria, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, along with their vectors, the mosquitoes from the genus AnophelesAedes, and Culex. We want to push the boundaries of scientific research to find solutions to control diseases and ultimately offer hope and resilience to affected communities.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Mosquito transgenesis and gene editing

ABOUT

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education

  • Ph.D.  Sciences.  University of São Paulo (USP) – SP – Brazil.  2009
  • B.S.  Sciences.  Mackenzie University – SP – Brazil.  2004
  • Licensed in Sciences.  Mackenzie University – SP – Brazil.  2003