alex costa

* Work with the Ministry of Health to improve access to quality laboratory services using the latest international evidence-based recommendations. * Play lead role in developing a network of public health laboratories for surveillance by supporting the design, pilot and implementation of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). * Develop an External Quality Assurance scheme for microbiology at provincial and national reference laboratories to improve quality of laboratory surveillance. * Improve Laboratory Quality Standards (LQS) by supporting the drafting, approval, and implementation of National LQS for medical laboratories. * Liaise with government programs and international partners to strengthen laboratory surveillance and response to emerging diseases.

* Developed an in vivo system to identify host factors required for replication of insect-borne viruses. * Coordinated remodeling of laboratory infrastructure, conceived the scientific project, planed and executed experiments, analyzed data, and reported results in scientific meetings. * Advised postdocs and graduate students on technical and scientific issues, and managed two laboratory staff.

* Researched the innate immune response against microbial pathogens, including protozoans, bacteria and viruses. * Developed, characterized, and validated an in vivo host-virus model system using the fruit fly Drosophila as a surrogate host. Genetic and molecular analyses showed that a conserved signaling pathway (TNF-α) was involved in antiviral immunity. * A genetic screen identified that an uncharacterized Toll receptor is also involved in innate antiviral immune responses. * Contributed to the characterization of Eiger, the Drosophila tumor necrosis factor homologue, in the immune responses against extracellular bacteria. * Awarded a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Career Development Grant and a Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship. * Coordinated a events for the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (attendance: 300) and the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (attendance: 150). * Advised undergraduates and graduate students on technical and scientific issues.

Bioinformatics and experimental analyses of regulatory genomic sequences from Agrobacterium rhizogenes. - Identified and cloned several putative DNA regulatory sequences to be used for future engineering of transgenic crops aimed at increased agricultural productivity.