Professor Fabiana Kommling Seixas
Fabiana Seixas is a Biologist with a Master’s and Ph.D. in Biotechnology (UFPel) and completed her postdoctoral research as a Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois in the United States, focusing on cancer genomics.
Her interest in cancer research arose from her desire to make a societal contribution and tackle scientific challenges. The complexity of the disease and its potential impact on people’s lives drove Fabiana to deepen her academic knowledge in cancer biotechnology, seeking multidisciplinary collaborations in research projects. She believes that cancer research holds global relevance for people’s health and well-being, motivating her to dedicate her efforts to making significant advancements in this field.
Based on her interest in this research area, Fabiana leads the multidisciplinary research group in Cellular and Molecular Oncology (GPO), where she conducts research in genetic engineering, cancer therapeutics, and the development of new models for cancer studies. Additionally, she coordinates publicly funded projects such as the “Recombinant BCG as a Therapeutic Alternative for Melanoma” project (FAPERGS/MS/CNPq Call 08/2020 – PPSUS) and the “Recombinant Auxotrophic BCG Platform Applied to Human and Animal Health” project (CNPq/MCTI/FNDCT Call No. 18/2021 – Tier B).
Throughout her academic journey, Fabiana has published 161 articles in internationally circulated journals, authored 4 books, contributed to 11 national chapters, and written 3 international chapters. She holds 4 patents registered with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). As the primary advisor for academic research, she has guided 10 Ph.D. students and 12 Master’s students. She served as a co-advisor for the CAPES thesis awards from 2011 to 2012 in the field of Biotechnology and was the coordinator of the Graduate Program in Biotechnology (CAPES score 7) during 2012 and 2013. Recently, she was the President of the Internal Biosafety Committee (CIBio) at UFPel (2020-2021).
Currently, Fabiana coordinates the Cancer Biotechnology Laboratory at UFPel alongside the PPGBiotec and the multidisciplinary research group in Cellular and Molecular Oncology (GPO). She is also an affiliated member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences in the field of Biomedical Sciences (2020-2024).
Fabiana recognizes that despite the progress made in recent years regarding gender equality in science and technology, there are still challenges to overcome in achieving more equitable representation. According to her, “we need more women in science, especially in the fields of exact sciences, engineering, and computer science, to promote diversity of perspectives, ensure equal opportunities, stimulate social and economic development, combat gender stereotypes, drive innovation, and serve as role models for future generations.” Thus, the inclusion of women in these fields is essential for addressing scientific and technological challenges comprehensively and creating more inclusive and creative solutions, enabling the overcoming of obstacles related to stereotypes and access to education, which is essential for achieving a fairer and more innovative society. To achieve this, it is essential to continue promoting policies, programs, and initiatives that encourage the participation and retention of women in science.
