Research Associate at Florida Research & Innovation, United States
Professional Profile
Summary
Dr. Vanessa Silva-Moraes is an accomplished immunologist and interdisciplinary biomedical researcher with over a decade of experience in infectious diseases, vaccine development, and immune response analysis. Currently a Research Associate at Cleveland Clinic Florida, she has previously held prestigious postdoctoral roles at the University of Georgia. Her research bridges immunology, parasitology, and vaccinology, with a focus on human and animal model studies in schistosomiasis, malaria, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. Passionate about public health impact and mentoring future scientists, Dr. Silva-Moraes is a recognized emerging leader in translational immunology.
Educational Details
Dr. Silva-Moraes earned her Ph.D. in Health Sciences (Infectious Diseases) from Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil, in 2018, focusing on the development of recombinant antigens for schistosomiasis diagnosis. She completed a Master of Science in Medical Biotechnology from Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Brazil (2013), and holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Universidade de Itauna (2009). Her academic work has laid a strong foundation for her translational research in immunodiagnostics and vaccine efficacy.
Professional Experience
Dr. Silva-Moraes is currently a Research Associate at Cleveland Clinic Florida, where she leads research on T and B cell responses to COVID-19 and influenza vaccination. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Georgia, specializing in malaria and influenza vaccine development. She began her career as a Research Technician at the Brazilian National Center of Schistosomiasis, focusing on monoclonal antibody production and diagnostic innovation. Her hands-on research spans molecular biology, immunoassays, spectral flow cytometry, vaccine adjuvants, and field-based diagnostics, with leadership in grant writing, lab management, and cross-disciplinary mentoring.
Research Interests
Her research interests lie at the intersection of immunology, infectious diseases, parasitology, virology, molecular biology, and vaccine development. She has a deep commitment to investigating T and B cell immune profiling, protein and antibody engineering, and host-pathogen interactions. Her recent focus has been on adaptive immune responses to COVID-19 and influenza, including vaccine-induced memory, T-cell functionality, and breakthrough infection immunity. Vanessa's long-term goal is to leverage immunological insights to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for global public health.
Author Metrics
Dr. Silva-Moraes has authored or co-authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in Frontiers in Immunology, Cell Reports Medicine, Vaccines (Basel), and PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. She is frequently cited for her work in immune diagnostics, vaccine immunogenicity, and antibody engineering, and her profiles are accessible on ORCID, Google Scholar, and MyNCBI.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Silva-Moraes has received numerous national and international awards, including the 2023 ESWI Early Career Award, 2022 AAI and ASV Postdoc Travel Awards, and the 2020 Keystone Symposia Global Health Travel Award. She has also been recognized with the Outstanding Mentor Award (University of Georgia, 2022) and the Zigman Brener Women in Science Medal (Fiocruz, 2021). Her Ph.D. and Master's theses were both awarded as best dissertations in their respective fields. In addition, she has secured competitive research grants focused on SARS-CoV-2 immunity and novel immunodiagnostics.
Publication Top Notes
1. Ethnic Comparisons of Spike-Specific CD4+ T Cells, Serological Responses, and Neutralizing Antibody Titers Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants
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Authors: F. Pantouli, V. Silva-Moraes, T. M. Ross
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Journal: Vaccines, Vol. 13(6), Article 607, 2025
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Summary: This study evaluates ethnic differences in CD4+ T cell immunity, serological responses, and neutralizing antibody titers following SARS-CoV-2 exposure or vaccination. Dr. Silva-Moraes contributed to immune profiling and data interpretation, highlighting how ethnicity may impact immunological outcomes against viral variants.
2. B-cell Dynamics Underlying Poor Response Upon Split-Inactivated Influenza Virus Vaccination
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Authors: L. R. Reis, V. Silva-Moraes, A. Teixeira-Carvalho, T. M. Ross
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Journal: Frontiers in Immunology, Vol. 15, Article 1481910, 2024
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Summary: This paper explores B-cell activation and differentiation patterns that explain suboptimal antibody responses to traditional inactivated influenza vaccines. Dr. Silva-Moraes helped characterize B-cell subsets and their memory development post-vaccination.
3. SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infections Enhance T Cell Response Magnitude, Breadth, and Epitope Repertoire
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Authors: A. Tarke, P. Ramezani-Rad, T. A. P. Neto, Y. Lee, V. Silva-Moraes, B. Goodwin, et al.
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Journal: Cell Reports Medicine, Vol. 5(6), 2024
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Citations: 8
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Summary: This high-impact study demonstrates that breakthrough infections post-COVID-19 vaccination significantly expand T cell functionality and epitope diversity. Dr. Silva-Moraes played a role in T-cell immunophenotyping and data validation.
4. Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection Enhances Initial mRNA Vaccine Response With a Lower Impact on Long-Term Immunity
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Authors: V. Silva-Moraes, A. Souquette, G. A. Sautto, I. Paciello, G. Antonelli, et al.
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Journal: ImmunoHorizons, Vol. 7(10), pp. 635–651, 2023
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Citations: 5
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Summary: As first author, Dr. Silva-Moraes led this study that analyzed differences in immune memory between previously infected and naïve individuals following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The findings suggest faster short-term response in convalescents but comparable long-term immunity.
5. The Effect of Waning on Antibody Levels and Memory B Cell Recall Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Vaccination
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Authors: D. Forgacs, V. Silva-Moraes, G. A. Sautto, H. B. Hanley, J. L. Gattiker, et al.
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Journal: Vaccines, Vol. 10(5), Article 696, 2022
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Citations: 23
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Summary: This widely cited study analyzes antibody decay and B-cell recall function over time in vaccinated and infected individuals. Dr. Silva-Moraes contributed to immunoassays and B-cell memory characterization, aiding in understanding vaccine durability.
Conclusion
Dr. Vanessa Silva-Moraes is exceptionally well-qualified for the Young Scientist Award in Immunology. Her record of research excellence, innovation in vaccine and diagnostic science, and demonstrated impact on global infectious disease understanding sets her apart as a rising leader. With continued expansion of first-author publications and grant leadership, she is poised to become a globally influential figure in immunological science.