Brasillinois–FAPESP Collaborative Research Grant Awardees
The Brasillinois–FAPESP Collaborative Research Grant supports projects that are being conducted between University of Illinois faculty and faculty at universities in the State of São Paulo. These projects advance new approaches to challenges in all areas, particularly sustainability, public health, technology, and social development.
Below are the current grant awardees and their funded projects.
Biofuel Policies and Sustainable Global Trade: Building a Framework for an Equitable Energy Transition
Principal Investigators
- Diego Soares Cardoso, Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Nicole Rennó Castro, Professor of Economics, Universidade de São Paulo
Project Overview
As global demand for biofuels increases, interconnected markets—particularly between the United States and Brazil—face complex economic and policy challenges. While biofuel policies aim to accelerate renewable energy adoption, unilateral policy implementation can generate unintended economic consequences and hinder energy transitions in lower-income regions.
This project analyzes the economic impacts of biofuel policies in Brazil and the United States, with a focus on biodiesel markets and the potential benefits of bilateral policy coordination. The research team will develop an open-source computational model to capture production linkages, substitution mechanisms, and trade dynamics. Outcomes include policy-relevant analyses, student training, dissemination through academic venues, and tools for stakeholders, forming the foundation for a broader research agenda on sustainability, land use, emissions, and global trade.
Bridging Clinical and Basic Research in Schistosomiasis-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Principal Investigators
- Suellen D’Arc dos Santos Oliveira, Assistant Professor of Physiology, University of Illinois Chicago
- Rudolf K. F. de Oliveira, Professor of Pulmonology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Project Overview
Schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (Sch-PAH) is the leading cause of PAH worldwide, yet remains a neglected disease with limited diagnostic and therapeutic options. Emerging evidence points to a key role of gut–lung microbiome dysbiosis in disease progression.
This bilateral collaboration between the University of Illinois System and the Federal University of São Paulo integrates clinical and basic science approaches to investigate microbial metabolites and extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers of inflammatory pulmonary vascular dysfunction. The project emphasizes capacity building through researcher exchange, training programs, pilot studies, and joint symposia, laying the groundwork for future large-scale funding and microbiome-targeted therapies.
Effects of Deforestation on the Hydroclimate of South America
Principal Investigators
- Francina Dominguez, Professor of Climate, Meteorology, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Marta Pereira Llopart, Professor of Physics and Meteorology, Universidade Estadual Paulista
Project Overview
Land-use change, including widespread deforestation, has significantly altered South America’s hydroclimate, complicating efforts to distinguish its effects from greenhouse gas-driven climate change. This project proposes the first high-resolution numerical simulation of South American hydroclimate that incorporates future land-use projections.
The research integrates observational data, flux tower measurements, and advanced Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations to assess evapotranspiration variability and climate impacts. The outcome will be an unprecedented continent-scale simulation supporting improved understanding of land-use impacts on regional climate systems.
Light–Matter Interaction in Quantum Materials
Principal Investigators
- Rafael Monteiro Fernandes, Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Thais Victa Trevisan, Professor of Physics, Universidade de São Paulo
Project Overview
Quantum materials exhibit exotic collective behaviors with significant implications for electronics, energy systems, and quantum computing. This project advances theoretical understanding of how quantum materials interact with light, leveraging recent developments in optics and discoveries of new magnetic quantum states.
The research focuses on modeling quantum material signatures using advanced optical techniques, including bicircular light excitation and multidimensional spectroscopy, contributing to fundamental science and future technological innovation.
Hydrogels and DMP1 Delivery: A Strategy to Improve Bone Reconstruction Procedures
Principal Investigators
- Anne George, Professor of Oral Biology, University of Illinois Chicago
- Roberta Okamoto, Professor of Anatomy, Universidade Estadual Paulista
Project Overview
This project investigates the use of hydrogels and dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP1) delivery to enhance bone reconstruction in osteoporotic models. Through coordinated in vivo studies and laboratory exchanges, the research aims to improve regenerative strategies for bone repair while supporting student training, joint publications, and future collaborative funding.
Advancing Sustainable Pavements through Biomaterial Innovations (BIO-PAVE)
Principal Investigators
- Ramez Hajj, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Kamilla Vasconcelos Savasini, Professor of Transportation Engineering, Universidade de São Paulo
Project Overview
Bio-based materials for paving applications offer promising alternatives to petroleum-derived asphalt, supporting more sustainable infrastructure development. This collaborative project between the University of São Paulo (USP) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) evaluates the characteristics of bio-based materials from renewable sources, including bio-binders and biochar.
The research examines how these materials transform over time, with a particular focus on aging-related degradation, durability, and performance in paving applications. By combining USP’s expertise in sustainable infrastructure materials with UIUC’s leadership in biomaterials and advanced pavement technologies, the project strengthens the connection between academic research and industry partners. The outcomes support innovation in sustainable infrastructure while contributing to broader environmental goals through Brazil–U.S. knowledge exchange.
A Collaborative Project to Untangle the Biology of Desiccation-Tolerant Plants
Principal Investigators
- Rose A. Marks, Assistant Professor of Plant Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Danilo da Cruz Centeno, Professor of Plant Biology, Universidade Federal do ABC
Project Overview
Desiccation tolerance has played a critical role in plant evolution, enabling survival in extreme environments and contributing to biodiversity in rocky outcrop ecosystems across tropical and subtropical regions. This project investigates how desiccation-tolerant plants in Brazilian rocky environments have evolved convergent functional traits at molecular, genomic, and ecophysiological scales.
Through ecological surveys and multi-omic analyses, the collaboration combines expertise from UIUC and UFABC to better understand ecosystem resilience and functional biodiversity. The project establishes a sustainable research partnership integrating ecological, physiological, and computational approaches to address climate-related challenges.
São Paulo and Illinois Living Accessibility and Mobility Laboratory (SPILAB)
Principal Investigators
- Fabio Miranda, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, University of Illinois Chicago
- Roberto Marcondes Cesar Jr., Professor of Computer Science, Universidade de São Paulo
- Michael Papka and Yochai Eisenberg, Co-Principal Investigators
Project Overview
SPILAB establishes a collaborative framework to advance data-driven, community-centered urban accessibility research in Illinois and São Paulo. Addressing challenges related to climate resilience, pedestrian safety, and equitable mobility, the project integrates computational methods, data acquisition, and stakeholder engagement.
Through researcher exchanges, workshops, and a living data lab, SPILAB supports scalable solutions to urban accessibility challenges while fostering long-term institutional collaboration.
Harnessing the Insect Microbiome to Discover the Next Generation of Antibiotics
Principal Investigators
- Brian Murphy, Professor of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago
- Mônica Tallarico Pupo, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo
Project Overview
Antibiotic resistance presents a major global health threat, demanding new discovery strategies. This project applies an evolution-guided approach to antibiotic discovery by mining insect-associated microbiomes for novel natural products.
Using mass spectrometry and bioinformatics tools developed at UIC alongside chemical ecology expertise at USP, the team will identify bacterial taxa with antibiotic-producing potential and screen them against pathogenic bacteria. Reciprocal workshops, technology transfer, and collaborative training will strengthen institutional capacity and support future large-scale funding applications.
Mapping the Evolution of Urban Spatial Structures in Brazilian and U.S. Metropolitan Areas
Principal Investigators
- Matthew D. Wilson, Professor of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, University of Illinois Chicago
- Murillo Bark Toda, Professor of Urban Planning, Fundação Getulio Vargas
- David López-García, Co-Principal Investigator
Project Overview
This collaborative project examines how urban spatial structures evolve over time in Brazilian and U.S. metropolitan regions. By combining theoretical innovation with longitudinal empirical analysis, the research compares polycentric development, employment subcenters, and equity outcomes across national contexts.
Seed funding from Brasillinois supports the establishment of a long-term collaboration between the Urban Structure Lab at UIC and FGV Cidades, producing open-access spatial datasets, academic publications, and policy-relevant insights.
Through comparative case studies, the project advances theoretical innovation while addressing urgent questions of migration, labor precarity, and urban justice.
The following projects are sponsored by the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Social Reproduction and Migrant Labor Across the Americas
Principal Investigators
- Nikolai Alvarado, Assistant Professor of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- José Gilberto de Souza, Professor of Rural Economics, Universidade Estadual Paulista
Project Overview
This project investigates how migrant labor exploitation operates through mechanisms of social reproduction across Brazil, the United States, and Costa Rica. Expanding Marxist Dependency Theory, the research examines how migrant-organized care networks and survival infrastructures function simultaneously as sites of value extraction and political resistance.
The Effects of Plastic Contamination on Reproductive Health
Principal Investigators
- Jodi Flaws, Professor of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Wellerson Rodrigo Scarano, Professor of Human Embryology, Universidade Estadual Paulista
Project Overview
This project examines the reproductive health effects of perinatal exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of plastic contaminants, including micro- and nanoplastics and phthalates. Building on a successful prior collaboration, the research investigates impacts on ovarian and testicular development using complementary experimental approaches across laboratories in Brazil and the United States.
The collaboration supports student training, joint publications, laboratory exchanges, and future grant development. The project aligns with both Public Health and Medicine and Climate and Sustainability themes by addressing toxicant exposure linked to plastic degradation in a changing climate.
Machine Learning Solutions to Identify and Correct Underdiagnosis of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases in Brazil
Principal Investigators
- Bruno Pereira Nunes, Assistant Professor of Health and Kinesiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Alexandre Dias Porto Chiavegatto Filho, Professor of Public Health, Universidade de São Paulo
Project Overview
Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent a major public health and socioeconomic burden in Brazil, with significant underdiagnosis linked to social inequities and healthcare access. This project applies machine learning methods to identify underdiagnosed NCD patterns and develop predictive tools for integration into Brazil’s Unified Health System.
The research supports national health strategies, aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and advances digital health solutions to improve early diagnosis, reduce inequalities, and strengthen health system resilience.