Faculty: Viviana Ferreira, DVM, PhD

Summary: Dr. Ferreira's research interests are focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of how factor H and other regulatory proteins contribute to the protection of different cell surfaces from complement-mediated damage and identifying how mutations in factor H affect its ability to protect cell surfaces. This research may help elucidate the role of complement regulatory proteins in the prevention or pathogenesis of diseases where complement-mediated tissue damage plays an important role.

Research Interests: The complement system uses a complex set of complement regulatory proteins that are either membrane-bound (DAF, CR1, CD59, and MCP) or in the fluid phase of plasma (factor H, factor I, and C4bp). Factor H is a soluble complement regulatory molecule with an essential role in the control of complement activation in plasma and on cell surfaces. Factor H polymorphisms and mutations have been linked to human diseases that often lead to severe complement-mediated tissue damage such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). We have recently shown that factor H is essential for the protection of cell surfaces using normal and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuric (PNH) human red blood cells as models. My research interests are focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of how factor H and other regulatory proteins contribute to the protection of different cell surfaces from complement-mediated damage and identifying how mutations in factor H affect its ability to protect cell surfaces. This research may help elucidate the role of complement regulatory proteins in the prevention or pathogenesis of diseases where complement-mediated tissue damage plays an important role.
Dr. Ferreira received her D.V.M. degree from The University of Chile. After research training at New York University under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Nardin, Dr. Ferreira returned to Chile and obtained her Ph.D. in 2004 from the University of Chile, under the supervision of Dr. Arturo Ferreira (U. Chile) and Dr. Wilhelm Schwaeble (University of Leicester). She completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Texas in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Pangburn. Dr. Ferreira joined the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology in July, 2009.
Current Grant Funding:

•	American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant: Role of complement regulatory proteins in disease
•	NIH: American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding supporting New Faculty Recruitment (Dr. Akira Takashima, PI and Chair)