About us

The REACT (Revolutionary Exotoxin A Combat Techniques) project came from the convergence of academic journeys, intellectual interests and shared concern about the growing threats of superbugs. Thus, Gabriela Goes da Cunha and Júlia Silva Djahjah transformed individual concerns into work in the field of biotechnology.

In 2018, Gabriela, still in elementary school, won the Espantaxim Prize, a national writing competition, with the theme "The World in 2050". During her research for the text, she came across the WHO data on superbugs ( 1 death every 3 seconds in 2050 ), which would generate one of the biggest public health crises in the coming decades. The specter of superbugs continued to haunt Gabriela over the years because of the hospital infections .

Meanwhile, Julia, fascinated by topics of global impact, began her journey in 2021 by taking the Antimicrobial Stewardship: Improving Clinical Outcomes by Optimization of Antibiotic Practices course , online through Stanford University. The course introduced Julia to the role of antibiotic stewardship and solidified her understanding of the balance between medical practices and microbial evolution.

The year 2024 was a turning point for both of them. Gabriela participated in the Summer Pre-College Program in Computational Biology at Carnegie Mellon University, under the guidance of Dr. Phillip Compeau and Dr. Joshua Kangas . In this program, she learned about the possibilities and algorithms of computational biology related to the genetic code of bacteria, in addition to standing out with one of the four best end-of-course presentations on the revolutionary AlphaFold , whose developers won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 for the tool. For Gabriela, the course definitively directed her towards the fusion of biology and technology, which motivated the creation of REACT .

At the same time, Julia was selected for a summer program at Harvard , where she completed a degree in Science, Technology, and Political Philosophy . The course explored the social and ethical challenges posed by the rise of new technologies in a future filled with adversity, with an emphasis on medicine. Julia's connection to political philosophy, science, and social change brought an important angle to the problem of superbugs.

Gabriela and Júlia’s experiences connected , and motivated by their complementary backgrounds, they began working together to develop REACT . They were not alone: they sought guidance from Professor Francisco Tupy , a specialist in gamification and applied science, with an emphasis on video games. His guidance provided insights on how to approach the project in a way that connects cutting-edge science with accessible and practical solutions. In addition, they had the co-supervision of Pietro Quinzani , who achieved fourth place at ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair), standing out at the most prestigious science fair in the world in 2022.

Combining Gabriela's technical background in computational biology, Julia's theoretical technological vision, and the intellectual support of its mentors, REACT was developed. The goal of the project is to combat exotoxin A, one of the most devastating weapons of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using molecular simulations to design more effective and accessible inhibitors.

Today, REACT is the product of trajectories that combine science, ethics and innovation. Gabriela and Júlia continue to expand the project, seeking solutions that save lives and bring a more sustainable future. This is just the beginning of a story that, like them, is made of passion, rigor and the belief in the power of knowledge .