Juliano Ito is one of six young people awarded a Travel Award to present his undergraduate thesis at IDWeek, a world-leading meeting on infectious diseases
Photo: Go Vibe Films
Juliano Hiroyuki Ito, a graduate of the Biomedicine program at the State University of Maringá (Universidade Estadual de Maringá – UEM), was awarded the International Investigator Award during the selection of papers for the IDWeek 2025 Congress, one of the world's largest events on infectious diseases, which will be held from October 19 to 22 in Atlanta, United States, in both in-person and virtual formats.
The award includes the Travel Award, financial assistance that covers travel expenses and guarantees the in-person presentation of the work. The abstract submitted by Ito, entitled “Impact of antituberculosis drugs on the infectivity of mycobacteriophage D29 in Mycobacterium smegmatis host cells,” was derived from his undergraduate thesis.
“I was one of six young researchers worldwide to receive the International Investigator Award, granted to outstanding authors who submitted high-quality abstracts. This award is highly selective, especially considering that, on average, 3,000 abstracts are accepted for the event, which brings together around 11,000 participants,” Ito explains.
Undergraduate thesis on tuberculosis
- Co-authors of the abstract submitted to the event include Katiany Rizzieri Caleffi-Ferracioli, Jean Meneguello, and Rosilene Fressatti Cardoso, alongside Juliano Ito
The work was developed in the Graduate Program in Health Sciences (Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde – PCS) under the advisorship of Professor Rosilene Fressatti Cardoso and co-supervised by Professor Jean Eduardo Meneguello. Meneguello highlights that the research is relevant due to the complexity of tuberculosis treatment. “Developing new compounds to treat tuberculosis is challenging. So, science thought: ‘What if we use viruses that infect only bacteria?’ This is still an early idea, but exploring how these viruses interact with antimicrobials and with the bacteria itself was the starting point for Juliano's project," the co-advisor explains.
According to Meneguello, what set this research apart was the student's courage in blazing a new trail. “Juliano fearlessly tackled a topic that had not yet been explored in the laboratory. That kind of resilience and courage drives science forward. We had to revisit knowledge that was previously only theoretical and put it into practice, always wondering: ‘will this really work?’ And that question kept us all moving,” he points out.
For Ito, this achievement represents a turning point in his academic journey. “This prize closes my undergraduate studies with a golden key and opens the door to my international career in scientific research,” he says.
The co-advisor also sees a direct impact for the institution. “I believe this award validates UEM’s internationalization strategies. It shows how long-term initiatives, such as the visit of a U.S. researcher years ago to study mycobacteriophages, when I was pursuing my master’s, and last year’s partnership with the University of Sherbrooke in Canada, which encouraged Juliano in this topic, have produced concrete results that now translate into international recognition,” Meneguello assesses.
Ito also highlights the importance of mentorship. “Even though he was not an expert on the subject, Professor Jean provided valuable insights, taught me how to be a researcher, and contributed greatly to the development of the project. In addition, the structure and equipment at UEM were crucial for this work to succeed,” he highlights.
The young researcher intends to pursue graduate studies, possibly abroad. “This award will be essential for improving my network in international environments,” he projects. Meneguello hopes that the graduate will remain connected to UEM. “We would like him to grow with the university, but we also know that he carries the name of UEM with him, and we can only hope that he continues to expand his horizons.”
According to the co-advisor, the message that remains is one of inspiration for other students. “The award shows that UEM is not limited to Maringá: it is globally connected. It is an example that anything is possible, and the university is a fertile ground for achievements. There are no boundaries for knowledge. When it is aligned with personal, social, and human growth, it becomes a tool to change the world and make us better people. Just as in science, I believe that we are atoms of change, capable of influencing everything around us," he considers.
Currently, Ito is a non-degree student in the Graduate Program in Health Sciences at UEM and plans to pursue an academic career. Based on this experience, the young researcher leaves a message for other students: “Put aside the ‘inferiority complex’. We are not inferior. Many international conferences offer travel awards and even free registration. You just need to seek out the opportunities,” he advises.
International Investigator Award
Created to encourage the participation of young international researchers in IDWeek, the award is given to authors of outstanding abstracts residing outside the US and Canada who are either in training or within five years of career experience. Financial support amounts to US$1,500 for awardees, and may reach US$1,750 for abstracts considered exceptional by the event's sponsoring societies.
IDWeek
IDWeek is the annual joint meeting of the leading North American societies in the field of infectious diseases: the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Society for Health-care Epidemiology of America (SHEA), HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA), Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), and Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP). Recognized as the foremost international scientific forum in the field, the event brings together professionals from different areas of health to share research, experiences, and advances in patient care and public health.
Translation team:
Felipe Amorim Piva
Julia Pedriali Rosa