Rafael Cypriano Dutra, 39, director of Translational Research at Dompé research labs in Naples, Italy was one of the 500 thousand most cited scientists globally from all disciplines in 2021, according to study conducted by the University of Stanford at the end of 2022 based on data from Elsevier publishing.  Before joining Dompé, Rafael was a full professor of pharmacology at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in Florianopolis, Brazil where his work has earned him the stature of being one of the top researchers
from UFSC and has earned him a spot on the world’s most cited scientists global list.  

 Rafael’s research focuses primarly on autoimmune diseases, from the skin to the bowel, including those concerning the liver.  "The more than 80 scientific papers published during my time at UFSC between 2012 and 2022 addressed basic research in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. But I have also worked in neuropathic pain and chemotherapy-related disorders," says Dutra. "Today, I continue to work in a space bridging pharmacology, immunology, and neuroscience in preclinical research on animal models, focusing on translational findings that can lead to clinical application in humans." 

Inclusion in the “most cited” database drives authority and visibility in the field but for Rafael, it means so much more.  “I am proud to be included on this list as it is recognition for decades of dedication and commitment to hard work and accomplishments, many of which have emerged in conjunction with the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Dutra. “It also means having more responsibility, both to fellow researchers and to Dompé."  Achieving such notable scientific results are even more remarkable as funds for public scientific research are scarce.  Delivering scientific value is complex and makes it more difficult to build credibility beyond national borders. 

Dutra points out that while the university environment from which he hails offers freedom and flexibility, it is also quite bureaucratic and that corporate life offers new perspectives. "The most important thing for me now is no longer the publication of interesting papers, but rather to collaborate on making drugs and bring them to clinical phase and future approval" he explains. "As a Dompé employee, I want to contribute to improving on what we do by staying at the forefront of manufacturing and science.” 

From public to private research, moving from Brazil to Italy, the new path taken at Dompé by Dutra is a considerable leap in many ways. "Changing continents remains a great challenge, because of the language and culture and the fact that part of my family still lives in Brazil. However, I am pleased to be in Italy, where I have planted roots and whose citizenship I now hold".