Biography
Claudia is primarily responsible for immunology-related research topics on Malaria and Schistosomiasis with a focus on Women health, for the Institute.
Before joining Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Claudia worked with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) on the translational team on screening the next generation of antimalarial combinations and assessing compound safety from discovery through the first human phase (Phase I). Also, Claudia applied the 3R’s principles by developing and implementing new in vitro pre-screening assays to evaluate drug-drug interactions and teratogenic potential of compounds, thus allowing for earlier prioritisation, de-prioritisation or discontinuation of candidate compounds.
Claudia started her studies at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland) on Molecular and Biological Chemistry. Following voluntary service in Kenya, where she took care of HIV-positive children, she decided to focus on the study and understanding of chemical-biological mechanisms that are involved in infectious diseases. She deepens her knowledge in the field of immunology initially working on Ebola and cancer monoclonal antibodies and then working on the characterization of the immune response to malaria in pregnant women and newborns in Cameroon.
Claudia holds a PhD in immunology and parasitology from Université Pierre & Marie Curie and Institut Pasteur (France) where she contributed to the development of a Genetically Attenuated Parasite (GAP) blood stage malaria vaccine and assessment of immunological signatures in the context of disease evolution. She authored and co-authored over 10-peer-reviewed articles and is a co-inventor on a GAP malaria vaccine patent.