The Centre for Medical Mycology in Latin America (CMM LATAM) Unit
The CMM LATAM Unit is based in São Paulo, Brazil, a Latin American region that has a strong record of medical mycology research.
The CMM LATAM Unit started in 2023 with the founding of the Management Board consisting of Arnaldo Colombo, Elaine Bignell, Gordon Brown, Carlos Tarborda, Sandro Almeida, and Fausto Almeida, and officially launched on 16th September 2024 at the University of São Paulo (USP). Underpinned by a £1 million investment from the University of Exeter, the Unit will establish a sustainable, skilled and integrated taskforce to support research, training and public health against endemic mycoses in Latin America.
The aims of the CMM LATAM Unit are: To increase training in medical mycology, to disseminate knowledge of fungal diagnostics and therapeutics amongst health care workers, and to increase public awareness of the impact of human fungal infections in Latin America.
Members
Sandro Almeida
Fausto Almeida
Juan Luis Tuleda
Tom Chiller
Beatriz Gomez
Thematic areas
The CMM LATAM is developing a knowledge ecosystem for research and training by focusing on the following five themes:
- Host-pathogen Interactions: with a view to developing vaccines and alternative therapies to control fungal infections and combat antifungal drug resistance.
- New biomarkers of fungal infections: to develop new improved diagnostic tools.
- Natural history and clinical management of fungal infections: including epidemiological data on emergence of Paracoccidioides and Sporothrix infections and antifungal resistance.
- Strong interdisciplinary clinical and research networks: to accelerate improvements in management of fungal infections in Latin America.
- Capacity building and public engagement: through training workshops and courses and recruitment/mobilisation of locally funded students and fellows.
