Fiocruz Bahia researcher elected to The World Academy of Sciences

Milena Soares, a researcher at Fiocruz Bahia, was elected a member of The World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Science in Developing Countries (TWAS) in the area of Medical and Health Sciences. The induction ceremony, during which the newly elected members are introduced to the Academy, will be held at the next TWAS General Conference.

 "It is an honor to be part of an academy that brings together researchers dedicated to research focused on developing countries. My election reflects the recognition of the scientific community for all my work as a researcher and trainer of young scientists," she said.

According to the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, the group elected to TWAS, which will take office in 2025, has the largest number of new members in history. There are 74 in all, 50 men and 24 women (32.4% women); ten of them are Brazilian. The election of the new members will take effect on January 1st, 2025, bringing the total number of members to 1,444.

The researcher, who was recently featured in the list of the 100,000 most influential scientists in the world, also works at Cimatec Saúde, where she coordinates research in the areas of advanced therapies, such as cell and gene therapy, immunology and pharmacology. Milena Soares has a degree in Biological Sciences (BA in Genetics) from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a PhD in Biological Sciences (Biophysics) from the same institution. She also took a sandwich doctorate at Harvard University (USA). She is also a full member of the Bahia Academy of Sciences and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

TWAS

TWAS was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the developing world, under the leadership of Abdus Salam, a Pakistani physicist and Nobel laureate. The organization has members from more than 100 countries, the vast majority of which are developing nations.

To become a permanent member of TWAS, candidates must be appointed by members of the Academy and have their CVs evaluated, along with external letters of recommendation. Only scientists who have made significant contributions to the advancement of science in the developing world can be appointed as TWAS Fellows.