Assistant Professor, Microbial Infection and Immunity
720 Biomedical Research Tower (BRT)
460 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210
Fernanda.Novais@osumc.edu
614-366-9272
Membership: Infectious Diseases Institute
Research Interests
Dr. Fernanda Novais is an immunologist whose research focuses on how the immune system responds to Leishmania parasites, the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Her lab investigates how microenvironmental signals within infected skin influence the development of protective versus pathogenic T cell responses, helping to explain why some individuals experience severe tissue damage while others heal. In parallel, her group studies how Leishmania parasites manage to persist in the body long after clinical lesions have resolved, with the goal of uncovering mechanisms of immune evasion and long-term survival. By tackling both the causes of disease pathology and parasite persistence, Dr. Novais aims to inform the development of targeted, host-directed therapies.
Laboratory
740 Biomedical Research Tower (BRT)
460 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210
614-366-9344
Personnel
Bridget Bowman, Graduate Student, bridget.bowman@osumc.edu
Amy Dong, Undergraduate Student, dong.948@osu.edu
Erin Fowler, Graduate Student, erin.fowler@osumc.edu
Klaus Mostacada, Researcher, klauss@osumc.edu
Rae Stanco, Research Technician, rachel.stanco@osumc.edu