Through the merger of the PPGBIOQ and PPGCB programs, the Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PPGBBM) was established, linked to the CBII area of CAPES. The PPGBBM aims to train researchers in biochemistry and molecular biology with multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary experience, qualified to work in areas related to genetics, cellular biology, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, epidemiology, materials science, and education. Within this interdisciplinary perspective, the program seeks to understand biological, molecular, and cellular processes, as well as their application to basic research and their implications for human and animal health. The concentration area is biochemistry and molecular biology, and the research lines have been reformulated to meet the demands of the two originating programs. The research lines are as follows:

• Biological Systems and Modeling
• Biology of Microorganisms, Their Vectors, and Complex Diseases
• Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Biomolecules
• Education in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research Lines:

• Biological Systems and Modeling: This research line aims to computationally study biological systems through various multidisciplinary tools and knowledge in genetics, biophysics, molecular biology, pharmacology, biomaterials, and microbiology. It encompasses the development of products for application in the productive and/or industrial sectors, as well as the generation of technological bio-devices with potential applications in health and exact sciences.

• Biology of Microorganisms, Their Vectors, and Complex Diseases: This research line focuses on the biology of microorganisms and the study of parasite-host interactions, immunobiology, and the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Studies in this line also aim to develop new strategies for obtaining products that can be used in chemotherapies or immunochemotherapies for the treatment of infectious diseases. The line also considers aspects of epidemiology, prevention, and control of pathogenic agents, including molecular biology and ecology of these organisms and the host’s immune response, thereby providing insights into the health-disease process. Other research themes addressed include the ecology and behavior of insect vectors of medically important pathogens (triatomines, phlebotomines, and culicids); insect capture in the field; physiology and biochemistry with an emphasis on the parasit oid/vector and vector/human interaction; and the control of vector insects.

• Molecular Biology and Genetics: This line focuses on the identification and characterization of genes and polymorphisms involved in different processes and metabolic pathways, as well as the development of molecular tools to aid in the diagnosis of genetic and infectious diseases and the genetic study of populations. It also includes studies involving computational data related to various types of omics, such as genomics, proteomics, glycomics, and encompasses in silico studies on various structural aspects of biomolecules and systems biology.

• Biomolecules: This research line includes studies related to the production and functional and structural characterization of macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids, as well as smaller molecules such as peptides, vitamins, intermediate metabolites, new proteins, peptides, or carbohydrates, and the verification of their potential for applications in agriculture, biomedical fields, and nutrition. It also covers the evaluation of the potential of these molecules for applications in various areas of the productive/industrial sectors.

• Education in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: This research line aims to develop new methods, methodologies, and teaching materials dedicated to biochemistry education.

The announcements for admission to the master’s and doctoral programs can be accessed in the "Selection processes" tab available on this website. PPGBBM also offers scholarships for master’s and doctoral studies.