Juliana Cassataro is an Argentine researcher who earned her degree in biological sciences from the National University of Mar del Plata, located in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
She holds a PhD in immunology from the University of Buenos Aires, and her specialty is vaccine development, particularly oral vaccine formulations.
The Argentine scientist is affiliated with various institutions focused on biotechnology, and her research areas are related to health technology and medical sciences.
Cassataro’s work has been recognized nationally, with awards from several organizations for the impact her research has had on the field of medicine, especially in vaccine development.
Cassataro and her scientific path
With her academic background, Cassataro specializes in immunology, endemic diseases, infectious diseases, and vaccine development. Throughout her professional career, she has collaborated with various scientific and academic institutions.
She works both as a professor and researcher at the National University of San Martín (UNSAM), located in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
There, she is a member of the Institute for Biotechnology Research (IIB-UNSAM), which aims to generate research and knowledge related to health, among other areas.
Cassataro belongs to the research group focused on immunology, infectious diseases, and vaccine development.
Immunology is a branch of biomedical sciences that studies the immune system and its related diseases. It is responsible for analyzing how the body responds to foreign agents such as bacteria and viruses.
Infectious diseases are pathologies caused by these agents. The Institute for Biotechnology Research is affiliated not only with UNSAM but also with the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Conicet).
Conicet is the main institution responsible for conducting scientific and technological research in Argentina.
Cassataro works within Conicet, focusing primarily on medical sciences and health technology.
An award-winning career
Throughout her scientific career, Cassataro and her team have received multiple research grants and have published a range of scientific articles.
These works address topics such as vaccine studies, oral vaccines, and the immune response to them. Her research, particularly regarding the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, has earned her several awards, including the Bunge y Born Prize and the Houssay Award.
In 2023, she was also awarded the L’Oréal–Unesco For Women in Science Prize and the Konex Award.
The L’Oréal–Unesco prize highlights the role of women in science and the contributions they make to scientific research and knowledge production.
The Konex Award, granted by the Konex Foundation, aims to recognize outstanding Argentine contributions in the field of science.
Vaccine development and scientific impact
In addition to publishing scientific articles and conducting research, Cassataro has contributed to book chapters.
These address topics related to vaccines, biomedical and veterinary microbiology, and biomedical research in relation to clinical practices.
She has also participated in numerous scientific conferences and meetings across various disciplines such as microbiology, immunology, biosciences, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
Regarding COVID-19, Cassataro was one of the researchers involved in the Argentine scientific and technological teams that worked to design and develop vaccines in response to the pandemic.
She led a team focused on developing Argentina’s first COVID-19 vaccine.
This project was supported by the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development and Innovation, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Conicet.
The agency promotes scientific research and the generation of scientific knowledge aimed at improving the quality of life.
Thanks to her work, Cassataro is recognized as one of Argentina’s leading researchers in vaccine development, especially in response to COVID-19.
Alongside her scientific contributions, she continues producing knowledge in the field of immunology, particularly in relation to infectious diseases.
Awarded multiple national and international distinctions, Juliana Cassataro plays a key role in advancing the biological sciences in Argentina.
