Janira Prichula

Dr. Janira Prichula

Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Biography

I have been a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School since 2022, working with Prof. Dr. Michael S. Gilmore. Since 2023, I have also been affiliated with the Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where I collaborate with the Bacterial Genomics Group, led by Dr. Ashlee M. Earl and Dr. Abigail L. Manson. My work integrates comparative genomics, molecular microbiology, and microbial ecology to investigate the evolutionary dynamics, adaptation, and dissemination of bacterial pathogens across clinical, environmental, animal, and human-associated ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, especially enterococci. Currently, I lead studies focused on the discovery, characterization, and engineering of Efagins, novel phage-related antibacterial nanomachines, as precision antimicrobial agents against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Through interdisciplinary approaches integrating genomics, molecular microbiology, and structural biology, I aim to contribute to advancing the development of next-generation targeted therapies as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

Affiliations

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Ophthalmology

Harvard Medical School

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Microbiology

Honors and Awards

honor

Harvard University Visiting PhD Scholarship (2016–2017)

Harvard University

Awarded a Harvard University scholarship to conduct a one-year visiting PhD research program in the United States.

honor

UFCSPA Thesis of the Year Award 2020

Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil

Best PhD Thesis Award granted by the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA) in recognition of outstanding doctoral research and significant scientific contributions to the field of Health Sciences.

honor

Health and Technology Innovation Fund 2026

Mass General Brigham: Boston, Massachusetts, US

Awarded $50,000 in competitive funding to support the Efagins project, focused on developing innovative precision antimicrobial technologies and advancing translational research to address multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Experience

Post Doctoral Researcher

Broad Institute, Cambridge, USA

01 Jan 2023 - present

Post Doctoral Researcher

Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

01 May 2022 - present