Area of Research

• HIV/SIV, innate immune system, macrophages

Education

• D.V.M., UNIFENAS - University José do Rosário Vellano, Brazil
• M.P.V.M., University of California, Davis

Jeff received his DVM from Universidade José do Rosário Vellano in Alfenas, MG, Brazil. During vet school, he was involved in several projects, including a three-year internship at the municipal zoo, where he focused on the importance of preserving wildlife and its habitat through an ecology education project. He also researched the effects of exercise on hyperlipidemic mouse models and participated in the “Bichos Senhores Doutores” project, which brought domestic animals to nursing homes and orphanages as a therapeutic method to improve people's quality of life and mental health through interactions with animals.

Jeff's eagerness to learn led him to secure a scholarship to study abroad at the University of California, Davis (UCD) through the Science Without Borders and Fulbright programs. At UCD, he interned at the feedlot, helping master's students in animal science with their projects, rekindling his research curiosity that began in vet school. This experience inspired him to apply for the Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) program, an interdisciplinary program at UCD aimed at improving the health of humans, animals, and the environment sustainably. His MPVM project focused on identifying and characterizing geographic and environmental factors that influence the transmission of zoonotic diseases, specifically Bartonella, in dogs in the United States.

While in the MPVM program, Jeff was accepted into the PhD program in Integrative Pathobiology at UCD. During his doctoral research in Dr. Marcelo Kuroda's lab, he analyzed immunologic responses in rhesus macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). His research provided valuable insights into macrophage functions and their role as viral reservoirs, contributing to the understanding of disease progression in HIV infection.

Jeff's long-term research goal is to study the mechanisms by which monocytes and macrophages regulate inflammation, serve as HIV reservoirs, and become dysregulated during aging. He aims to modulate or target macrophages to better regulate chronic inflammation, eliminate viral reservoirs, and help achieve an HIV cure.

While completing his PhD, Jeff worked at the UCD Fire Department as a Senior Student Firefighter. He assisted in vaccine clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic and responded to multiple calls during his two years at the firehouse. Additionally, he volunteered with the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT). As one of the Lead Veterinarians with VERT, Jeff responded to the 2020 North Complex Bear Fire in Plumas and Butte County, providing free veterinary care to those affected by the disaster and rescuing 102 koi fish as well as lost dogs and cats.

Jeff is dedicated to advancing the understanding of immune responses and disease mechanisms to contribute to innovative treatments and health solutions. He has a strong commitment to community service and education. His hobbies include hiking and paragliding. Jeff looks forward to working in a multidisciplinary team of professionals to address public health challenges using One Health concepts over the next year.