I am an experienced veterinarian and microbiologist with significant expertise in molecular biology and infectious diseases of zoonotic interest. I have more than 15 years of experience in Brazil and the US working on the pathogenesis of Leptospira and in diagnostic reference laboratories for leptospirosis, both in veterinary and public health settings. This experience has given me an in-depth understanding of the practical clinical laboratory issues and the challenges in leptospiral disease diagnosis and pre-clinical vaccine studies in experimental animal models. My research is focused on understanding the pathogenesis of leptospirosis, and, more specifically, identifying virulence factors in the spirochetal pathogen, which may serve as the basis for novel approaches for diagnostics and vaccines, aligning with the concept of One Health.