Maria de Lourdes Aguiar Oliveira

Lourdes Oliveira is Vice-President of Research and Biological Collections from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), MoH, Brazil and former vice-deputy of Reference Laboratories, Outpatient Clinics and Biological Collections (IOC, Fiocruz). She is virologist in the Laboratory of Respiratory and Exanthematic viruses, Enteroviruses and Viral Emergencies - Reference Laboratory for the Brazilian MoH and WHO in SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, RSV, Measles and Rubella, Poliovirus and Mpox. Senior Public Health scientist from Fiocruz since 1987, she has extensive experience in research and health surveillance (sanitary, epidemiological, and environmental), epidemics and health emergencies, with emphasis on viruses of public health relevance. Presently, one of her main interests focuses on setting up the wastewater-based epidemiology network as an early warning system to strengthen preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics - a joint-initiative between Fiocruz, MoH, PAHO Brazil and other international partners. Scientific and public health interests are reflected in scientifical articles, book chapters, post-graduation guidance, MoH guidelines and documents, organization and coordination of scientific meetings and presentations in national and international conferences. Such production mainly approaches viral biology, epidemiological and environmental aspects, including those related to vulnerable territories and populations, such as injecting drug users, persons deprived of liberty and socioenvironmental vulnerable communities. Lourdes Oliveira is bachelor in Biological Sciences (1987), master's degree (bench work developed at the Robert Koch Institute, Berlin) (1997) and doctorate in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Fiocruz (2008).