Who we are
Marcia Fournier, Founder, President, Board member
Marcia is an entrepreneur with 20 years of experience leading teams and developing innovative health care products applying genomics and machine learning. Marcia came to the U.S. many years ago with an international exchange scholarship to pursue her doctoral research in oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil she had the opportunity to work in leading Institutions in this country including Lawrence Berkeley National Labs as a postdoctoral fellow and GlaxoSmithKline as principal scientist. Most recently Marcia lead a biotechnology company, Bioarray Genetics, for the past 10 years. Her experience as an immigrant with a Ph.D. in science combined with being an entrepreneur and executive in health care gives her a unique perspective on subjects around education and minorities in science.
Bob Chapman, Founder, Board member
Bob comes to Dimension Sciences with more than 25 years of service in public policy and grassroots advocacy in the United States and Brazil. Bob’s service includes an appointment in the Administration of President Bill Clinton in the White House office of presidential advance as well as the Department of Defense. In addition, Bob served as the Brazil Country Director for the Clinton Foundation working closely with the Mayors of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to advance climate change mitigation and environmental policies. Most recently, Bob served as Managing Director of Global Alliances at the American Cancer Society, liaising with partners in more than 35 countries on six continents. He brings a wealth of experience in non-profit management, capacity building and fundraising. His extensive network includes multilateral institutions like the United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization and supports several non-profit initiatives around the world.
Bob is an alumnus of Northeastern University, the United Nations International School, and the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. Having lived abroad in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Brazil, Bob has a fluency in Spanish and Portuguese. He currently lives in Washington, DC.
Ambassador Sally G. Cowal, Board member
Ambassador Sally G. Cowal is a seasoned thought leader in global health and international educational exchange. As a retired US diplomat, Sally has served in a variety of foreign service positions in India, Colombia, Mexico, the United Nations and Washington, DC. She served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, appointed by former Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Most recently, Sally retired as Senior Vice President, Global Cancer Control, for the American Cancer Society.
Ambassador Cowal has been a key contributor to the public health and nonprofit arenas, having helped found the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Switzerland and serving as its director for external relations to raise awareness of AIDS as a public health and economic issue. Sally has also served two terms on the Board of Directors for the Union for International Cancer Control.
While stationed in Tel Aviv, Sally served on the Fulbright Commission evaluating applicants and promoting scholars in their work. She is a graduate of DePauw University and George Washington University, where she earned a master’s in public administration.
Marcio Alves Ferreira PhD, Board member
Prof. Alves-Ferreira is a Full Professor, at the Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Prof. Alves-Ferreira is member the Post-Graduation Course on Genetics at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and has been a member of the Federal Commission of the Biotechnology area at the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level -or Education-Personnel (CAPES) since 2010. Prof. Alves-Ferreira has received the “Scientist of Our State” Award from the Rio de Janeiro State Foundation to Support Research (FAPERJ) for the last 12 years and is Scientist of National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq - 1D). He has published 64 scientific articles in international journals and has mentored dozens of students during their master and doctoral degrees. Prof. Alves-Ferreira is a testimony of the impact of international exchange scholarship on his own career. He was beneficiary of two scholarships during his doctoral and post-doctoral respectively, which helped him to establish key research collaborations relevant to date with 10 years plus collaborative work. He also had the experience of mentoring international students and knows inside out the process and potential impact of programs supporting higher education and inclusion of minorities in science.
Pedro Massaguer, Ph.D. Entrepreneur and Innovation Strategist, co-Chair of Scientific Advisory Board
CEO of 3D Biotechnology Solutions. Pedro is an entrepreneur and consultant working with biotechnology initiatives and innovation project management for the past 10 years in the private sector and in academia. He likes to develop new businesses from scratch and work in innovative projects. Business Administrator, he completed the PhD program in Science and Technology Policy at State University of Campinas and MBA in Strategic and Economic Business Management at Fundação Getúlio Vargas.
Goncalo Apolinario Ph.D. Full Professor, co-Chair of Scientific Advisory Board
Gonçalo Apolinario de Souza Filho is a Full Professor at the Laboratory of Biotechnology, Center of Bioscience and Biotechnology at the State University of North Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Prof. Apolinario has received the “Scientist of Our State” Award from the Rio de Janeiro State Foundation to Support Research (FAPERJ) for the last five years and is a Scientist of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). He has published 52 scientific articles in international journals and has mentored dozens of students during their master and doctoral degrees. Originated from a minority class, Prof. Apolinario witnesses the transforming role of scholarships and opportunities for personal development. He was a beneficiary of fellowships for graduation, master's, PhD and Sabbatical stage throughout his training. Currently, he teaches disciplines in the areas of entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and technological innovation, and has mentored the emergence of several technology-based startups.
Mariana Sgarbi, Head of Public Relations and Social Media
Mariana Sgarbi is a former international law attorney who has moved countries and cities frequently with her family. As Dimensions Sciences's Head of Public Relations, she is responsible for promoting the organization and for building relationships, planning campaigns, and supporting the Board to develop programs for Dimensions Sciences. Her first degree was in International Relations at the University of Brasilia. A few years after graduating and having had experience at a political science consulting firm, she decided to pursue a law degree. In the last two years of law school, she joined Brazil's most prestigious law firm, Pinheiro Neto Advogados. In 1996 she was awarded a Chevening Scholarship from the British Council to study at the University of Warwick, England, where she earned an LL.M. in International Economic Law. Before returning to her firm in Brazil, she joined the Competition Law group of Simmons & Simmons, in the city of London and was also an intern at Pinheiro Neto's Lisbon partner office. In 2002, when she was living in Buenos Aires, she worked as a foreign attorney at Beccar Varela, Argentina's most traditional law firm. A few years later, in Indianapolis, she received her second masters degree, an LL.M. in American Law for Foreign Lawyers. Mariana is passionate about creating cultural communities and supporting diversity and inclusion.
Pamela Villars, Head of Human Resources
Pamela Villars comes to Dimensions Sciences with 25 years of non-profit experience. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Bard College with a major in Drama/Dance, and a M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Houston. After becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (TX), she started a private practice in psychotherapy. Pamela then became the Director of Client Services for a small HIV/AIDS hospice and housing program. She moved to the American Cancer Society (ACS) to manage a tobacco cessation program, transitioned to learning design, and was certified as a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP). Her final role at ACS was serving C suite clients as a Principal in Organization Development. Pamela specializes in conflict resolution, program design and implementation, change management, organizational design, executive coaching, training, and facilitation. Pamela lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and loves taking daily walks with her two dogs.
We are growing an International Multidisciplinary Expert Community and Ad-Hoc Advisors
Dimensions Sciences expert community brings academic, industry, health care policy, and entrepreneurial experience in areas of molecular biology, cellular biology, virology, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, epidemiology, public health, microbiology, genetics, medicine, and business. Our community often meets remotely bringing together North America, Latin America, and Europe
Our Scientific Advisory Board
Luiz Fernando Correia MD, MBA Medicine, Health Correspondent
Luiz Fernando Correia MD, MBA Medicine, Health Correspondent
Luiz Fernando Correia MD, MBA Medicine, Health Correspondent
Luís Fernando de Barros Correia is a Internal Medicine Doctor, Intensive Care Doctor and Health Correspondent at CBN Rádio Brasil, GloboTV International, GloboSports and GloboNews Cable TV Network. Experienced Health Correspondent with a demonstrated history of working in the broadcast media industry. Skilled in Crisis Communications, Event Management, Editing, Public Speaking, and Journalism. Physician with M.B.A in Healthcare Management from Ibmec Business School. Large experience with Sports Events Medical Preparedness worked at Pan-American Games (2007), Summer Olympics Games Beijing 2008, Chief Medical Officer FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.
Joan Chen, Ph.D. Bioinformatics
Luiz Fernando Correia MD, MBA Medicine, Health Correspondent
Luiz Fernando Correia MD, MBA Medicine, Health Correspondent
Dr. Chen is Director Of Bioinformatics at Certis Oncology Solutions, Inc. A motivated Senior Bioinformatics Scientist with more than ten years of experience in the biotechnology industry, with a focus on oncology for the past four years. Led initiatives in data mining and data analysis to provide versatile bioinformatics support to multiple therapeutic teams. Expertise in NGS data analysis in generating predictive molecular and disease hypotheses in patient selection. Highly dependable in delivering project reports under aggressive timelines. Extremely self-motivated, responsible, and works well in a multi-disciplinary environment with excellent communication skills.
Fabio Ynoe de Moraes, M.D. Medicine, Oncology
Luiz Fernando Correia MD, MBA Medicine, Health Correspondent
Carlos Menck, Ph.D. Full Professor in Biochemistry
Fabio Ynoe de Moraes is an Assistant Professor and clinical faculty in Radiation-Oncology at the Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Moraes is a Brazilian graduated and trained Radiation Oncologist who moved to Canada in 2016 for a 3 years fellowship at the University of Toronto (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre). During his career, he performed high level clinical and research activities at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (NY USA). Dr. Moraes has more than 58 published peer-reviewed articles, including high impact journals such as Lancet Oncology, Nature Biotechnology, New England Journal of Medicine among others. He has been awarded multiple distinctions including being a young leader of the National Academy of Medicine of Brazil and also a young leader of the Union of International Cancer Control. Dr. Moraes is an associate editor for the Journal of Oncology Practice (ASCO) and a clinical advisor for the Cochrane Collaboration (UK). Finally, he joins the Dimensions Science team as co-chair of the Scientific Committee with the meaningful mission of promoting high-level research, innovation and education to the future wave of Brazilian healthcare students.
Carlos Menck, Ph.D. Full Professor in Biochemistry
Ricardo Garcia MD, MBA Medicine and Regulatory Affairs in Latin America
Carlos Menck, Ph.D. Full Professor in Biochemistry
Dr. Menck earned his B.Sc. in Biological Sciences at the Institute of Biosciences of the University of Sao Paulo (IBUSP) in 1977 and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the Chemistry Institute of USP (1982). He worked as Assistant Professor at the Biology Institute of UERJ from 1982 to 1985, before proceeding to do postdoctoral work at the Laboratory of Genomic Instability, under Dr. Alain Sarasin, at the Institute for Cancer Research (CNRS, Villejuif, France). Upon returning to Brazil in 1986, he joined the Biology Department of IBUSP. In 1996 he became full Professor of the Department of Microbiology of Institute of Biomedical Sciences, USP, where he teaches and conducts research.
He was elected titular member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences in 2005 and in 2007 became “Member of the National Order of Scientific Merit”. His main research interests are molecular DNA repair mechanisms and mutagenesis. He has published 137 research papers, 24 book chapters and also essays. At the Human Genome Center he collaborates in research projects involving DNA repair and ageing diseases, besides contributing his knowledge of virus-derived genetic vectors.
Ana Millas Massaguer, Ph.D. Entrepreneur and Lead Researcher
Ricardo Garcia MD, MBA Medicine and Regulatory Affairs in Latin America
Ricardo Garcia MD, MBA Medicine and Regulatory Affairs in Latin America
Biologist with a master's degree from the Department of Polymer Technology (2010-12) at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering at UNICAMP and a PhD from the Department of Materials and Bioprocess Engineering / DEMBio at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering at UNICAMP (2012-16). With research in the field of tissue engineering and biofabrication, he works in the field of regenerative medicine. He performed sandwich periods at The Electrospinning Company at Nottingham Trent University in England and at Cornell University in the United States. With experience in the industry, she is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at USP / São Paulo in collaboration with the company Natura Cosméticos. She is co-founder of the startup 3DBS - 3D Biotechnology Solutions, specialized in the development and customization of 3D bioprinters, electrospinning equipment and solutions in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Ricardo Garcia MD, MBA Medicine and Regulatory Affairs in Latin America
Ricardo Garcia MD, MBA Medicine and Regulatory Affairs in Latin America
Ricardo Garcia MD, MBA Medicine and Regulatory Affairs in Latin America
Graduated from Educational Foundation of Serra dos Orgaos Medical School, Brazil (1994). Medical residency in General Surgery, State University of Rio de Janeiro (1997). Postgraduate studies in Hospital Administration (1999). MBA in Management Health Systems at IBMEC Business School, RJ, with extension at
Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, USA (2000). MBA Marketing at Pontifical Catholic University, RJ (2002). He is currently a researcher at the Health Technology Assessment Institute (IATS) CNPq / Brasil, researcher and Director at the Latin American Center Research Institute (CLAPBio), direct consultant to the Ministries of Health in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia for the incorporation of new technologies in Cheers. Member of the Scientific Council of Biored Brasil, member Expert Commitee in Latin America, from IAPO (International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations).
Dr Maria Caleffi MD, Ph.D. Breast Cancer Surgeon and Advocate
Dr Maria Caleffi MD, Ph.D. Breast Cancer Surgeon and Advocate
Dr Maria Caleffi MD, Ph.D. Breast Cancer Surgeon and Advocate
After graduating with degrees in pharmacy and medicine, Dr. Caleffi completed her residency in gynecology and obstetrics in 1983. Afterwards, she specialized in breast care at the Imperial Cancer Research, Guy’s Hospital of London. At the University of London, she earned her doctorate in cancer biochemistry. She then undertook postdoctoral studies in molecular biology in the field of genetics and breast cancer at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. She served as a Board member of the Union of International Cancer Control (UICC) from 2012 to 2018. Dr. Caleffi is the Chief of the Breast Center at Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Brazil and was the Chair of the Executive Committee of the City Cancer Challenge in Porto Alegre. She is the founder and President of the Federação Brasileira de Instituições Filantrópicas de Apoio à Saúde da Mama (Brazilian Federation of Philanthropic Institutions for the Breast Health Support, or FEMAMA). Presently, she develops academic, research, teaching and patient-care activities with a highly multi-professional team.
Marisa Nicolas Ph.D. Biology, Genomics and Bioinformatics
Dr Maria Caleffi MD, Ph.D. Breast Cancer Surgeon and Advocate
Dr Maria Caleffi MD, Ph.D. Breast Cancer Surgeon and Advocate
Graduated in Biological Sciences at Centro de Altos Estudios En Ciencias Exáctas, Buenos Aires Argentina (1991), Master in Agronomy (Genetics and Plant Breeding) from Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (1996), PhD in Genetics from Universidade Federal do Paraná (2001) and post-doctorate (CNPq) developed at Embrapa soybean (2005). She worked as a protein annotator in the UniProt / Swiss-Prot database from 2005 to 2007. Since May 2009 she has been an Associate Researcher at the Bioinformatics Laboratory (Labinfo) at LNCC / MCTIC and Permanent Professor of the Postgraduate Course in Computational Modeling at this institution. Since March 2019, she has been a Permanent Professor at the new Postgraduate course in Nanobiosystems at URFJ. CNPq Level 2 Research Productivity Scholar in the Genetics Area. Has experience in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Genomics and Bioinformatics. She mainly works in Bioinformatics applied to the analysis of genomes and transcriptomes and metabolic and regulatory networks in bacteria, in particular clinical pathogens.