Her research focus on the dynamic of inflammatory cell recruitment to the central nervous system and their role in CNS pathologies. Dr. Furtado received her Ph.D. from the Department of Immunology at University of Sao Paulo, where she studied the molecular interactions between Toxoplasma gondii and host cell. For her postdoctoral studies, Dr. Furtado moved to the University of New York to work with Dr. Juan Lafaille, where she studied the role of regulatory T cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.