Helvécio Cardoso Corrêa Póvoa has a degree in Biological Sciences from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (1997), specialization in microbiology and clinical analysis, a master's degree in Microbiology from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (2000), a doctorate in Pathology from the Fluminense Federal University (2008), and a postdoctoral degree from the University of California, San Francisco, SF, USA. (2017-2018). He is an Associate Professor II of the Microbiology disciplines at the Health Institute of Nova Friburgo / Universidade Federal Fluminense. He has experience in the area of Clinical Microbiology, working in the area of epidemiology and the pathogenesis of bacteria of medical interest, the development of biomodels to study bacterial virulence, and research into new compounds with antimicrobial potential. He is the leader of the Group/Center for Studies and Research on Mechanisms of Virulence and Pathogenicity of Bacteria of Medical Interest.