Letícia Perticarrara Ferezin is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of São Paulo. There, she explores the molecular and social determinants of health outcomes. In this Postdoc Portrait interview, she discusses her non-linear research path and what she hopes her research will accomplish.
Personalized Medicine and Biomarker Discovery
Q | What scientific problem are you trying to solve?
Throughout my career, I have been fascinated by a fundamental question: Why do people exposed to similar health risks experience very different outcomes?
My research explores how genetic variation, biological pathways, and social determinants interact to influence disease susceptibility, progression, and treatment response. I have worked across diverse fields, from aging and cardiovascular health to infectious diseases and sexual health, always seeking to understand the factors that make each person's health journey unique.
Currently, my work focuses on identifying genetic and molecular markers associated with erectile dysfunction and treatment response. By studying genes involved in oxidative stress and vascular function, I aim to uncover biological mechanisms that may help explain why some patients respond well to therapy while others do not.
Ultimately, I hope this research contributes to a future where healthcare is more precise, preventive, and personalized, allowing treatments to be tailored to everyone’s biological profile.
Q | What drew you to genetics and beyond?
My scientific journey has never followed a straight line, and that is precisely what makes it meaningful. I began my career studying aging and the challenges faced by older adults. As I became increasingly interested in the biological mechanisms underlying health and disease, I moved into genetics, where I discovered how small variations in DNA can influence health outcomes throughout life.
Over time, I realized that understanding disease requires looking beyond genes alone. Social conditions, environmental exposures, and access to healthcare also play critical roles. This perspective led me to work on projects ranging from hypertension and aging to tuberculosis, vulnerable populations, and precision medicine.
What continues to motivate me is the opportunity to connect molecular discoveries with real-world health challenges. I am inspired by research that not only advances scientific knowledge but also has the potential to improve people's lives.
Q | What’s one thing you learned from your research that you didn’t expect?
One of the biggest surprises in my career has been realizing how interconnected biology and society truly are. As a geneticist, I initially focused on molecular mechanisms and biological variation. However, through projects involving vulnerable populations, infectious diseases, and public health, I learned that health outcomes are rarely determined by biology alone.
Two individuals may carry similar genetic profiles yet experience very different health trajectories because of differences in living conditions, healthcare access, education, or social support. This lesson fundamentally changed the way I think about science. It reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary research and reminded me that solving complex health problems requires understanding both biological and social determinants of health.
Translational Research and Disease Risk
Q | If your research succeeds, what could it change for science or society?
My research could help move healthcare closer to truly personalized medicine. By identifying genetic and molecular signatures that influence disease risk and treatment response, clinicians may be able to predict which patients are most likely to develop complications, and which therapies are most likely to work for them. This approach could reduce trial-and-error treatment strategies, improve patient outcomes, and support more efficient healthcare systems. More broadly, it could help bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinical decision-making.
Q | What question are you most excited to answer next?
How can we combine genetic information, molecular biomarkers, and real-world health data to predict disease risk and treatment response before complications occur? Answering this question could transform healthcare from a reactive model into a preventive and personalized one.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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