CV

Dimas Tadeu Covas


 

Dimas Tadeu Covas

Coordinator of the Center for Cell-based Therapy

Director of the Instituto Butantan
Full Professor of Clinical Medicine – Hematology and Transfusion Medicine
Director-President of Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto – FMRP-USP
Deputy Coordinator of the National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cells and Cell Therapy in Cancer
President of the Brazilian Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy
Full Member of the Brazilian Technical Commission on Bio-security (CTNBio – 2008/2011)
Associate Member: American Society of Hematology and European Hematology Association
Full Member of the Technical Board of Hematology for Federal Council of Medicine (CFM)
Coordinator of the Postgraduate Course – Professional Master’s in Hemotherapy and Biotechnology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto – USP, Department of Medical Clinic
Full Member of the Advisory Committee of the Strategic Committee for Transplantation and Organ Donation Affairs of the Ministry of Health
Member of the Technical Chamber of the Blood and Hemodynamic Coordination of the Ministry of Health

dimas@fmrp.usp.br
PubMed  Scopus  ORCID ResearchID  Scholar

Education   1976-1981 Graduated in Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1982 Rotating Resident in Clinical Medicine, University Hospital of Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1983-1984 Resident in Hematology/Hemotherapy, University Hospital of Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1984-1986 Master in Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1986 -1993 PhD in Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1999 Full Professor, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Research Interests  

Somatic and Pluripotent Stem Cells
Cell and Gene Therapy
Cell Culture
Functional Genomics
Recombinant Protein Expression
Sickle Cell Anemia
Blood Transfusion
Virology

BV-CDI FAPESP

Research Overview  

Our main lines of research are:
1. Mesenchymal Stem Cell – isolation, functional characterization, production on a large scale in bioreactors, biodistribution and clinical potential of isolated MSC of diverse tissues as feral adnexa, umbilical cord, vascular fraction of the adipose tissue and bone marrow. We are also developing clinical studies of phase I in diabetes type I, on GVHD and in aplastic anemia.
2. Embryonic Stem Cell – induction of the hematopoietic and endothelial differentiation with the objective to get therapeutically amounts of platelets, erythrocyte and endothelial cells.
3. Generation of lineages of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS) from fibroblasts of hemophilic and osteogenesis imperfect patients for the study of mechanisms and establishment of pluripotent cellular lineages with corrected genome aiming future therapeutic use.
4. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts or keratinocytes from normal individuals into hematopoietic stem cell aiming at studies of mechanisms and of ideal combination of genes for induction of the reprogramming.
5. Molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), endothelial-mesenchymal (EndMT) and their reverses MET and MEndT, mainly in the process of induction of the tumor metastasis and in the generation of cancer stem cells.
6. Production of recombinant proteins, mainly of the coagulation factors VIII, IX and VII.
7. Development of molecular tests for detection of viral illnesses transmitted by cellular products.

Lab Staff  

Molecular Biology and Gene Expression

Simone Kashima Haddad, PhD – Laboratory Coordinator
Maristela Delgado Orellana, MsC – Laboratory Coordinator
Gil Cunha De Santis, PhD Medical Doctor

Cytometry

Patricia Viana Bonini Palma – Laboratory Coordinator

Confocal Microscopy

Josiane Serrano Borges DTI3, CNPq fellow

Recombinant Protein Expression

Virginia Picanço Castro, PhD – Laboratory Coordinator

Collaborators  

Elisa Maria Russo Carbolante, PhD
Universidade de São Paulo
Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto

Kamilla Swiech, PhD
Universidade de São Paulo
Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto

Maria Angélica Miglino, PhD
Universidade de São Paulo
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia

Claudio Alberto Torres Suazo, PhD
Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia
Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Fabíola Attie de Castro, PhD
Universidade de São Paulo
Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto
Departamento de Análises Clínicas Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas

Ricardo Pasquini. MD, PhD
Universidade Federal do Paraná
Setor de Ciências da Saúde – Departamento de Clínica Médica

International Collaborators  

Robert A. Weinberg, Ph.D.,
Member Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Professor of Biology, MIT
Director, MIT Ludwig Center for Molecular Oncology

Graça D. Almeida-Porada, MD,PhD
Professor of Regenerative Medicine
Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Gregory J. Riggins, M.D. Ph.D.
Professor of Neurosurgery & Oncology

Irving J. Sherman Research Professor in Neurosurgery
Director, Division of Neurosurgery Research

Facilities Coordination   Cytometry
Confocal Microscopy
GMP Culture Laboratory
Large Scale Culture Laboratory
Selected Publications  

1. Ferreira, AF; Moura, LG. ; Tojal, I. ; Ambrósio, L; Pinto-Simões, B; Hamerschlak, N; Calin, GA; Ivan, C; Covas, DT; Kashima, S; Castro, FA. ApoptomiRs expression modulated by BCR-ABL is linked to CML progression and imatinib resistance. Blood Cells, Molecules & Diseases (Print), v. 53, p. 47-55, 2014.

2. De Santis, GC; Prata, KL; Rodrigues, RB; Sankarankutty, AK; De Castro e Silva, O; Covas, DT. Blood group O patients require more blood transfusion in orthotopic liver transplantation. Transfusion and Apheresis Science, v. 14, p. 9, 2014.

3. Picanço-Castro, V; Moreira, LF; Kashima, S; Covas, DT. Can Pluripotent Stem Cells Be Used in Cell-Based Therapy?. Cellular Reprogramming, v. 1, p. 140307082255007, 2014.

4. Slavov, SN; Kashima, S; Rocha-Junior, MC; Oliveira, LC; Silva-Pinto, AC; Yamamoto, AY; Covas, DT. Frequent human parvovirus B19 DNA occurrence and high seroprevalence in haemophilic patients from a non-metropolitan blood centre, Brazil. Transfusion Medicine (Print), v. 24, p. 130-132, 2014.

5. Rodrigues, ES; De Macedo, MD; Pinto, MT; Orellana, MD; Rocha Junior, MC; De Magalhães, DAR; Tanaka, Y; Takayanagui, OM; Covas, DT; Kashima, S. HTLV-1 infects human mesenchymal stromal cell in vitro and modifies their phenotypic characteristics. Virology (New York, N.Y. Print), v. 449, p. 190-199, 2014.

6. Perlingeiro Beltrame, M; Malvezzi, M; Bonfim, C; Covas, DT; Orfao, A; Pasquini, R. Immune reconstitution in patients with Fanconi anemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Cytotherapy (Oxford), v. 1, p. 1, 2014.

7. Malta, TM; Silva, IT; Pinheiro, DG; Santos, ARD; Pinto, MT; Panepucci, RA; Takayanagui, OM; Tanaka, Y; Covas, DT; Kashima, S. Altered Expression of Degranulation-Related Genes in CD8 + T Cells in Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type I Infection. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, v. 29, p. 826-836, 2013.

8. Santis, GCD; Ubiali, EMA; Covas, DT. Compassionate use of cell products. Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (Impresso), v. 35, p. 144, 2013.

9. Oliveira, FM; Araujo, ARL; Favarin, MDC; Palma, PVB; Rego, EM; Falcão, RP; Covas, DT; Fontes, AM. Differential expression of AURKA and AURKB genes in bone marrow stromal mesenchymal cells of myelodisplastic syndrome: Correlation with G-banding analysis and FISH. Experimental Hematology, v. 41, p. 198-208, 2013.

10. Mizukami, A; Orellana, MD; Caruso, SR; De Lima Prata, K; Covas, DT; Swiech, K. Efficient expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells in a disposable fixed bed culture system. Biotechnology Progress (Print), v. 29, p. 568-572, 2013.

11. Palma, C; Tannous, M; Malta, T; Carbolante, ES; Covas, DT; Picanço-Castro, V. Forced expression of OCT4 influences the expression of pluripotent genes in human mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts.. Genetics and Molecular Research, v. 2, p. 1054-1060, 2013.

12. Pinto, MT; Malta, TM; Rodrigues, ES; Pinheiro, DG; Panepucci, RA; Panepucci, RA; Farias, KCRMD; De Paula Alves Sousa, A; Takayanagui, OM; Tanaka, Y; Covas, DT; Kashima, S. Genes related to antiviral activity, cell migration, and lysis are differentially expressed in CD4+ T cells in HAM/TSP patients.. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, v. 29, p. 130917035218000, 2013.

13. Brunetta, DM; De Santis, GC; Vilar, FC; Vilar, FC; Brandão, RA; Muniz, RZDA; De Lima, GMN; Amorelli-Chacel, ME; Covas, DT; Machado, AA. Hematological particularities and co-infections in injected drug users with AIDS. The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases (Impresso), v. 13, p. S1413-8670(13)0, 2013.

14. Slavov, SN; Kashima, S; Silva-Pinto, AC; Amarilla, AA; Aquino, VH; Covas, DT. Molecular and clinical evaluation of the acute human parvovirus B19 infection: comparison of two cases in children with sickle cell disease and discussion of the literature. The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases (Impresso), v. 17, p. 97-101, 2013.

15. De Santis, GC; Brunetta, DM; Nardo, M; Oliveira, LC; Souza, FF; Cagnolati, D; Mente, ÊD; Sankarankutty, AK; Covas, DT; De Castro E Silva, O. Preoperative variables associated with transfusion requirements in orthotopic liver transplantation. Transfusion and Apheresis Science, v. 1, p. 1, 2013.

16. Del Lama, LS; De Góes, EG; Petchevist, PCD; Moretto, EL; Borges, JC; Covas, DT; De Almeida, A. Prevention of Transfusion-Associated Graft-versus-Host Disease by Irradiation: Technical Aspect of a New Ferrous Sulphate Dosimetric System. Plos One, v. 8, p. e65334, 2013.

17. Rodrigues, ES; Kashima, S; Picanço-Castro, V; Espanhol, MR; De Andrade, LA; Palma, PV; Kashima, S; Fontes, AM; Covas, DT. Quantitative correlation between transcriptional levels of ER chaperone, peroximal protein and FVIII productivity in human Hek-293 cell line. SpringerPlus, v. 2, p. 328, 2013.

     
     

Júlio César Voltarelli

   

Júlio César Voltarelli

Full Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
In memorian

jcvoltar@fmrp.usp.br

PubMed Scopus Scielo ResearchID 

Education  

1967-1972 Graduated in Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1973-1974 Residence in Clinical Medicine and Hematology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1975-1978 Masters in Clinical Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1978-1981 PhD in Clinical Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1985-1986 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of California, San Francisco, USA
1987-1988 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, USA
1989 Full Professor, University of São Paulo, Brazil
1999-2000 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, California, USA

Research Interests  

Bone Marrow Transplantation
Autoimmune Diseases
Cell therapy
Immunogenetics
Applied Immunology

Research Overview  

The major goal of our group is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of stem cell transplantation in patients with autoimmune diseases and to understand the immune mechanisms involved in those therapies. The group has experience with basic and applied immunology, experimental animal models of autoimmune diseases, transplantation and cell therapy. The research lines include: a, Treatment of autoimmune diseases with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: evaluation of therapeutic response and mechanisms of action; Treatment of experimental models of autoimmune diseases with mesenchymal stem cell infusions: evaluation of therapeutic response and mechanisms of action; Treatment of extensive burn wounds with mesenchymal stem cells:  evaluation of therapeutic response and mechanisms of action; Analysis of functional characteristics and genetic profiling of stem cells isolated from patients with autoimmune diseases.

Lab Staff  

Bone Marrow Transplantation Group
Belinda P. Simoes Medical Doctor, PhD
Maria C. B. Oliveira Medical Doctor, PhD
Ana B. P. L. Stracieri Medical Doctor, PhD
Daniela A. Moraes Medical Doctor, PhD
Fabiano Pieroni Medical Doctor, PhD
George M. N. Barros Medical Doctor, PhD
Carlos E. B. Couri Medical Doctor, PhD

Basic and Applied Immunology Group
Kelen Cristina Ribeiro Malmegrim Researcher, PhD
Carolina Caliári Oliveira, PhD Student
Mariana Rodrigues Davanso, Master Student
Júlia Teixeira Cottas de Azevedo, Master Student
Kalil Alves de Lima, Master Student
Lucas Coelho Marliére Arruda, PhD Student
Rosane Falasco Bolzoni, Technician
Ana Júlia Bandeira Machry, Technician

Collaborators  

Eduardo Donadi, MD, PhD
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, USP
Departamento de Clínica Médica
Laboratório de Imunogenética
eadonadi@fmrp.usp.br

João Santana da Silva, PhD
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, USP
Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia
Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia
jsdsilva@fmrp.usp.br

Milton César Foss, PhD
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, USP
Departamento de Clínica Médica
Laboratório de Endocrinologia
mcfoss@fmrp.usp.br

Ângela Leal, MD, PhD
Universidade Federal de São Carlos
Departamento de Medicina
Laboratório de Endocrinologia
angelaleal@ufscar.br

International Collaborators  

Richard K. Burt, MD, PhD
Associate Professor in Medicine-Immunotherapy for Autoimmune Diseases
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Division of Immunotherapy
Chicago, IL 60611, USA
rburt@northwestern.edu

Dominique Farge, MD, PhD
Professor of Internal Medicine
Unité de Médecine Interne et Pathologie Vasculaire
Inserm U976, Hopital Saint-Louis, AP-HP, Paris-7 Université Denis Diderot
1 avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris
Dominique.farge-bancel@sls.aphp.fr

Bart Otto Roep, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine (Diabetology & Immunopathology)
Leiden University Medical Center
Department Immunohematology & Blood Transfusion, E3-Q
Albinusdreef 2
2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
B.O.Roep@lumc.nl

Facilities Coordination  

HLA Genotyping Laboratory (Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil)

Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit (University Hospital, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil)

Selected Publications  

1. Couri CE, Voltarelli JC.Stem cell-based therapies and immunomodulatory approaches in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther. 2011 Mar 1; 6(1):10-5.
2. Godoi DF, Cardoso CR, Ferraz DB, Provinciatto PR, Cunha FQ, Silva JS, Voltarelli JC. Hematopoietic SCT modulates gut inflammation in experimental inflammatory bowel disease. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2010 Oct; 45(10):1562-71.
3. Couri CE, Oliveira MC, Stracieri AB, Moraes DA, Pieroni F, Barros GM, Madeira MI, Malmegrim KC, Foss-Freitas MC, Simões BP, Martinez EZ, Foss MC, Burt RK, Voltarelli JC. C-peptide levels and insulin independence following autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus. JAMA. 2009, 301(15):1573-9.
4. Autologous non-myeloablative haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a phase I/II study. Burt RK, Loh Y, Cohen B, Stefoski D, Balabanov R, Katsamakis G, Oyama Y, Russell EJ, Stern J, Muraro P, Rose J, Testori A, Bucha J, Jovanovic B, Milanetti F, Storek J, Voltarelli JC, Burns WH. Lancet Neurol. 2009 Mar; 8(3):244-53.
5. Voltarelli JC, Couri CE, Stracieri AB, Oliveira MC, Moraes DA, Pieroni F, Barros GM, Madeira MI, Malmegrim KC, Foss-Freitas MC, Simões BP, Foss MC, Squiers E, Burt RK. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for type 1 diabetes. Ann. N. Y. Acad Sci. 2008 Dec; 1150:220-9.
6. Voltarelli JC, Couri CEB, Oliveira MCB, Stracieri ABPL, Moraes DA, Godoi DF, Coutinho MA, Malmegrim KCR, Foss-Freitas MC, Foss MC, Simões BP, Squiers EC, Burt RK.Autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus. JAMA. 2007; 297:1568-1576.
7. Pieroni F, Stracieri AB, Moraes DA, Paton EJ, Saggioro FP, Barros GM, Barros JC, Oliveira MC, Coutinho MA, Castro NS, Vigoritto AC, Trabasso P, Souza CA, de Souza MP, Mauad MA, Colturato VA, Simões BP, Foss NP, Voltarelli JC. Six cases of leprosy associated with allogeneic hematopoietic SCT. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2007; 40(9):859-63.
8. Burt RK, Marmont A, Oyama Y, Slavin S, Arnold R, Hiepe F, Fassas A, Snowden J, Schuening F, Myint H, Patel DD, Collier D, Heslop H, Krance R, Statkute L, Verda L, Traynor A, Kozak T, Hintzen RQ, Rose JW, Voltarelli J, Loh Y, Territo M, Cohen BA, Craig RM, Varga J, Barr WG. Randomized controlled trials of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases: the evolution from myeloablative to lymphoablative transplant regimens. Arthritis Rheum. 2006; 54(12):3750-60.
9. Couri CEB, Foss MC, Voltarelli JC. Secondary prevention of type I diabetes mellitus: stopping immune destruction and promoting B-cell regeneration. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2006; 39:1271-1280.
10. Burt RK, Cohen B, Rose J, Petersen F, Oyama Y, Stefoski D, Katsamakis G, Carrier E, Kozak T, Muraro PM, Martin R, Hintzen R, Slavin S, Karussis D, Haggiag S, Voltarelli JC, Ellison GW, Jovanovic B, Popat U, McGuirk J, Statkute L, Verda L, Haas J, Arnold R. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol 2005; 62: 860-864.
11. Voltarelli JC, Oliveira MCB, Stracieri ABPL, Godoi DF, Moraes DA, Coutinho MA, Malmegrim KCR, Santos AC. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for refractory Takayasu’s arteritis. Rheumatology 2004; 43:1308-1309.
12. Voltarelli JC, Ouyang J. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases in developing countries: current status and future prospectives. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2003; 32: S69-S71.