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Excellence in Gene Editing Research

During the week of September 3rd, we commemorated Biologist Day — a date that honors professionals committed to advancing knowledge about life in all its forms. In this context, we take great pride in congratulating Dr. Leonardo Lima de Faria, a former student of our laboratory, who recently completed his doctoral studies with pioneering research focused on gene editing in kissing bugs utilizing the CRISPR-Cas9 technology.

His work significantly advances the understanding of vectors responsible for Chagas disease, opening new avenues for the control of these insect populations through highly precise genetic approaches.

In addition to recognizing this noteworthy achievement, we extend our congratulations to all biologists, researchers, and enthusiasts of biology who follow and contribute directly or indirectly to our work. We also express our sincere gratitude to all members of the Araujo Lab team for making this space of scientific inquiry and innovation possible.

Scientific Entrepreneurship in Focus

It is with great pride that we highlight the career of Dr. Alison Henrique Ferreira Julio, who recently concluded his time at the Araujo Lab and currently serves as a FAPERJ Doctoral Entrepreneur.

As the founder of Fly2Human, a biotechnology startup focused on functional genetic tracking, Dr. Alison has established himself as one of the promising figures at the intersection of science and innovation.

Fly2Human has gained national recognition through its participation in prominent events such as Casa Firjan and this year’s edition of the Rio Innovation Week, reaffirming the transformative potential of biotechnology in Brazil. His trajectory reflects the entrepreneurial and visionary spirit we strive to foster at the Araujo Lab, connecting outstanding research with solutions that benefit society.

At the Genetics Congresses

From August 13 to 16, 2025, the 70th Brazilian Congress of Genetics will be held in Belém do Pará. Helena Marcolla Araujo, coordinator of the Developmental Molecular Biology Laboratory, will be attending on Thursday, August 14, 2025, from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM, presenting the symposium entitled “The Mother Takes the Blame: First Steps in Insect Embryogenesis.”

Our team participated in the 69th Brazilian Congress of Genetics that took place from August 20th to 23rd, 2024 in Campos do Jordão, São Paulo. During the event, Master Mariana Areal presented the work entitled “Molecular basis of pigmentation pattern in male wings of Drosophila suzukii,” and received the Paulo Sodero Martins award for the best work in the area of Evolutionary Genetics at the end of the event!