Valmir Rastely-Junior | Infectious Diseases | Young Scientist Award

Mr. Valmir Rastely-Junior | Infectious Diseases | Young Scientist Award

Universidade Federal da Bahia | Brazil

Mr. Valmir Rastely-Junior is a distinguished physician specializing in infectious diseases, pediatrics, and neuropediatrics, with an MD from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA, 2015). He has accumulated extensive clinical and research experience, focusing on child health, congenital Zika syndrome, antimicrobial resistance, and public health inequities, integrating multidisciplinary care with evidence-based interventions. His professional trajectory includes work at Fiocruz Bahia on neurodevelopmental studies, epidemiologic surveillance, teratogen information services, and COVID-19 teleadvice programs. He has been instrumental in technology-driven initiatives such as Telecoronavírus (UFBA) and Artificial Intelligence as a Service for Combating COVID-19 (Rede CoVida/Cidacs Fiocruz), emphasizing the translation of research into practical, community-focused solutions. Mr. Rastely-Junior’s research interests center on infectious-disease–driven child health, neurodevelopmental outcomes in congenital infections, health disparities, and AI-supported clinical and epidemiological tools. He possesses strong research skills, including clinical study design, epidemiologic analysis, bibliometric synthesis, and international collaborative research, demonstrated through six peer-reviewed publications in Scopus and PubMed-indexed journals, three joint research projects, two conference presentations, and mentorship of research scholars. His work has earned eight awards and recognitions, including first-place honors at Fiocruz Bahia and an honorable mention in the International Balint Award/Ascona Prize, reflecting both scientific excellence and societal impact. Mr. Rastely-Junior is an active member of 16 professional bodies, contributing to editorial, review, and volunteer initiatives that promote knowledge dissemination and community engagement. In conclusion, his blend of clinical expertise, innovative research, international collaborations, and commitment to evidence-based public health positions him as a promising leader in global biomedical research, capable of advancing high-impact publications, AI-enabled solutions, and mentorship programs that enhance healthcare outcomes and scientific standards worldwide. 27 Citations | 3 Documents | 2 h-index.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

  1. Aguilar Ticona, J. P., Nery Jr, N., Doss-Gollin, S., Gambrah, C., Lessa, M., … Rastely-Junior, V. N. (2021). Heterogeneous development of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome-associated microcephaly. PLoS One, 16(9), e0256444. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256444. Cited by: 26

  2. Nery Jr, N., Aguilar Ticona, J. P., Gambrah, C., Doss-Gollin, S., Aromolaran, A., … Rastely-Junior, V. N. (2021). Social determinants associated with Zika virus infection in pregnant women. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15(7), e0009612. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009612. Cited by: 14

  3. Aromolaran, A., Araujo, K., Ladines-Lim, J. B., Nery Jr, N., do Rosário, M. S., … Rastely-Junior, V. N. (2022). Unequal burden of Zika-associated microcephaly among populations with public and private healthcare in Salvador, Brazil. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 120, 201–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2022.06.021. Cited by: 6

  4. Mattos, A. M., Rastely-Junior, V. N., Pires, M. M., Aguilar, J. P., Lessa, M. S. A., Regis, C., … (2023). Predictors of neurodevelopment in microcephaly associated with congenital Zika Syndrome: A prospective study. Children, 10(12), 1831. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10121831. Cited by: 3

  5. Brito, L. B., Rastely-Junior, V. N., Browne, E. S., Nery Júnior, N. R. R., … (2016). Sinais e sintomas de zika-virus em gestantes internadas em um Hospital Público de referência da Bahia. Cited by: 2