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Guilherme Ponciano de Barros, a third-year Pharmacy student at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FCF) at USP, was awarded the SOT Undergraduate Research Award, according to the list of recipients from the Society of Toxicology (SOT). This recognition guarantees the young researcher’s participation in the entity’s annual conference, which takes place in the United States in March. The event is considered one of the most significant in the world in the field of toxicology.
Barros is developing his undergraduate research at the Laboratory of Inflammation and Immunotoxicology, under the advisory of Sandra Helena Poliselli Farsky, a professor at the school , and with support from the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp). His work investigates how exposure to smoking products, both conventional and electronic cigarettes, affects the interaction between lung cancer cells and the immune system.
The study specifically focuses on the polarization of macrophages, defense cells that can be influenced by the tumor environment. The preliminary results offer an important warning: both types of cigarettes have similar biological effects. This challenges the perception that electronic cigarettes are a healthier alternative.
“Preliminary results indicate that both conventional and electronic cigarettes influence this dynamic. It is already known that cigarettes are associated with lung cancer and affect the immune system. We observed that both products, conventional and electronic cigarettes, interfere with the interaction between tumor cells and immune cells”, Barros said. “This shows that electronic cigarettes, although marketed as safer, may not be so harmless. Many people use them more frequently precisely because they believe they cause less harm, which can pose similar or even greater risks. Our data suggest practically similar effects between them. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for considering therapies, reducing impacts, evaluating addiction, and establishing safety criteria”, he added.
According to the SOT, the award reflects the excellence of Guilherme’s application and his commitment to scientific advancement that benefits human and environmental health. For him, the laboratory environment was the key factor in his training. “I learned a lot from the group and matured technically and organizationally”, Barros said, highlighting the importance of applying undergraduate content in practice.
The student plans to take advantage of the international conference to expand his network and receive specialized mentoring. After completing the Pharmacy program, Barros plans to pursue an academic career and gain international experience to further his scientific research.
Written with information provided by the Press Office of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
English version: Nexus Traduções, edited by Denis Pacheco
