Overview
Background
I’m a clinician–researcher in infectious diseases, focusing on improving the prevention, detection, and control of high-burden and neglected infections through operational research and implementation science. My work spans hospital infection prevention (quality improvement collaborative) and community-based surveillance for diseases, including leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, and arboviruses.
At The University of Queensland (ODeSI, UQ Centre for Clinical Research), I support decision-making for infectious disease programs, translating routinely collected data and field evidence into actionable strategies. In Brazil, I lead and contribute to multi-site initiatives with PROADI-SUS hospitals and the Ministry of Health, including developing national guidelines and designing pragmatic trials.
Key expertise
- Infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, and outbreak analytics
- Implementation research and quality improvement collaboratives
- Pragmatic trials (e.g., cluster stepped-wedge designs) and diagnostic evaluation
- Health technology assessment and micro-costing evidence.
Availability
- Dr Sebastian Vernal Carranza is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Diploma of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaíso
- Doctoral Diploma of Clinical Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
- Postgraduate Diploma of Infectious Diseases, Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
Research interests
-
Neglected Tropical Diseases
Research impacts
My research provides practical tools and evidence to help health services and governments prevent infections, allocate resources efficiently, and strengthen surveillance—particularly in high-burden, resource-constrained settings.
A major focus of my work is translating quality-improvement methods into measurable patient-safety gains in intensive care. I coordinate research for a nationwide collaborative designed to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in ICUs, supporting implementation at scale and generating economic evidence to inform investment decisions.
Evidence of impact
-
Sustained research translation and reach through 52 peer-reviewed publications (676 citations; h-index 15)
Works
Search Professor Sebastian Vernal Carranza’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
A national implementation project to prevent healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units: a collaborative initiative using the breakthrough series model
Tuma, Paula, Vieira Jr, Jose M., Ribas, Elenara, Silva, Karen C. C. D., Gushken, Andrea K. F., Torelly, Ethel M. S., de Moura, Rafaela M., Tavares, Bruno M., Prandini, Cristiana M., Borem, Paulo, Delgado, Pedro, Ue, Luciana Y., de Barros, Claudia G. and Vernal, Sebastian (2023). A national implementation project to prevent healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units: a collaborative initiative using the breakthrough series model. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 10 (4) ofad129. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofad129
2022
Journal Article
Bullous pemphigoid and milia: prevalence and clinical laboratory findings in a Brazilian sample
Vernal, Sebastián, Oliveira, Ederson Valei de, Bueno Filho, Roberto, Julio, Tamiris A., Donadi, Eduardo A., Turatti, Aline, Ishii, Norito, Hashimoto, Takashi and Roselino, Ana Maria (2022). Bullous pemphigoid and milia: prevalence and clinical laboratory findings in a Brazilian sample. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 97 (4), 435-442. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2021.10.003
2022
Journal Article
Adherence to non-pharmacological preventive measures among healthcare workers in a middle-income country during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: hospital and community setting
Costa, Silvia Figueiredo, Vernal, Sebastian, Giavina-Bianchi, Pedro, Mesquita Peres, Carlos Henrique, dos Santos, Lanuse G.D., Santos, Roseli E.B., Santos, Rita C.C., Francisco, Maria Cristina P.B., Satie, Fatima M., dal Secco, Ligia M., Pivetta Cora, Aline, dos santos, Carolina Lazari, Duarte, Alberto Jose da Silva, Oliveira Bonfá, Eloisa Silva Dutra de, Perreira, Antonio Jose, Sabino, Ester Cedeira, Segurado, Aluisio Cotrin and Levin, Anna Sara (2022). Adherence to non-pharmacological preventive measures among healthcare workers in a middle-income country during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: hospital and community setting. American Journal of Infection Control, 50 (6), 707-711. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.12.004
2022
Journal Article
Autoantibodies against desmoglein 2 are not pathogenic in pemphigus
Miguel, Marcela Calixto Brandão, Julio, Tamiris Amanda, Vernal, Sebastian, de Paula, Natália Aparecida, Lieber, Andre and Roselino, Ana Maria (2022). Autoantibodies against desmoglein 2 are not pathogenic in pemphigus. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 97 (2), 145-156. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2021.06.004
2021
Journal Article
Leprosy detection rate in patients under immunosuppression for the treatment of dermatological, rheumatological, and gastroenterological diseases: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis
Barroso, Daniel Holanda, Brandão, Jurema Guerrieri, Andrade, Elaine Silva Nascimento, Correia, Ana Clara Banhatto, Aquino, Danielle Costa, Chen, Ana Carolina Rios, Vernal, Sebastian, de Araújo, Wildo Navegantes, da Mota, Lícia Maria Henrique, Sampaio, Raimunda Nonata Ribeiro, Kurizky, Patrícia Shu and Gomes, Ciro Martins (2021). Leprosy detection rate in patients under immunosuppression for the treatment of dermatological, rheumatological, and gastroenterological diseases: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. BMC Infectious Diseases, 21 (1) 347, 1-9. doi: 10.1186/s12879-021-06041-7
2021
Journal Article
Geoclimatic, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics related to dengue outbreaks in Southeastern Brazil: an annual spatial and spatiotemporal risk model over a 12-year period
Vernal, Sebastian, Nahas, Andressa K., Neto, Francisco Chiaravalloti, Prete Junior, Carlos A., Cortez, Andre L., Sabino, Ester Cerdeira and Luna, Expedito Jose de Albuquerque (2021). Geoclimatic, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics related to dengue outbreaks in Southeastern Brazil: an annual spatial and spatiotemporal risk model over a 12-year period. Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo, 63 e70, 1-9. doi: 10.1590/S1678-9946202163070
2020
Journal Article
Pemphigus foliaceus and sand fly bites: assessing the humoral immune response to the salivary proteins maxadilan and LJM11
Vernal, S., De Paula, N. A., Bollela, V. R., Lerner, E. A. and Roselino, A. M. (2020). Pemphigus foliaceus and sand fly bites: assessing the humoral immune response to the salivary proteins maxadilan and LJM11. British Journal of Dermatology, 183 (5), 958-960. doi: 10.1111/bjd.19221
2020
Journal Article
RNA-sequencing of the Nyssomyia neivai sialome: a sand fly-vector from a Brazilian endemic area for tegumentary leishmaniasis and pemphigus foliaceus
Vernal, Sebastian, Oliveira, Fabiano, Oliveira, Wanderson H. C., Goulart, Thais M., Oristian, James, Calvo, Eric, Pinto, Mara C., Roselino, Ana Maria and Ribeiro, Jose M. C. (2020). RNA-sequencing of the Nyssomyia neivai sialome: a sand fly-vector from a Brazilian endemic area for tegumentary leishmaniasis and pemphigus foliaceus. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 17664, 1-18. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74343-y
2020
Journal Article
A comprehensive systematic review of leishmaniasis in patients undergoing drug-induced immunosuppression for the treatment of dermatological, rheumatological and gastroenterological diseases
Kurizky, Patricia Shu, Marianelli, Fernanda Ferraro, Cesetti, Mariana Vicente, Damiani, Giovanni, Ribeiro Sampaio, Raimunda Nonata, Tanaka Goncalves, Lais Mitsue, Felipe de Sousa, Carlos Augusto, Martins, Sofia Sales, Vernal, Sebastian, Henrique da Mota, Licia Maria and Gomes, Ciro Martins (2020). A comprehensive systematic review of leishmaniasis in patients undergoing drug-induced immunosuppression for the treatment of dermatological, rheumatological and gastroenterological diseases. Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo, 62 e28. doi: 10.1590/S1678-9946202062028
2020
Journal Article
Tegumentary leishmaniasis mimicking visceralization in a cirrhotic patient: atypical cutaneous lesions and local immunological features
Vernal, Sebastian, Casal, Yuri, Vieira, Lucas T., Amato, Valdir S., Duarte, Maria Irma S. and Nastri, Ana Catharina S. S. (2020). Tegumentary leishmaniasis mimicking visceralization in a cirrhotic patient: atypical cutaneous lesions and local immunological features. Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical, 53 e20190380, 1-4. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0380-2019
2019
Journal Article
Diagnostic accuracy of tests for leprosy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Gurung, P., Gomes, C. M., Vernal, S. and Leeflang, M. M. G. (2019). Diagnostic accuracy of tests for leprosy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 25 (11), 1315-1327. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2019.05.020
2019
Journal Article
Clinico-immunological spectrum of American tegumentary leishmaniasis and leprosy coinfection: a case series in Southeastern Brazil
Vernal, Sebastian, Bueno-Filho, Roberto, Gomes, Ciro Martins and Roselino, Ana Maria (2019). Clinico-immunological spectrum of American tegumentary leishmaniasis and leprosy coinfection: a case series in Southeastern Brazil. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, 52 e20180172, 52. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0172-2018
2019
Journal Article
Oropouche virus-associated aseptic meningoencephalitis, Southeastern Brazil
Vernal, Sebastian, Martini, Camila C R and da Fonseca, Benedito A L (2019). Oropouche virus-associated aseptic meningoencephalitis, Southeastern Brazil. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 25 (2), 380-382. doi: 10.3201/eid2502.181189
2018
Journal Article
Biological predictors shared by dementia and bullous pemphigoid patients point out a cross-antigenicity between BP180/BP230 brain and skin isoforms
Julio, Tamiris A, Vernal, Sebastian, Massaro, Juliana D, Silva, Matheus C, Donadi, Eduardo A, Moriguti, Julio C and Roselino, Ana M (2018). Biological predictors shared by dementia and bullous pemphigoid patients point out a cross-antigenicity between BP180/BP230 brain and skin isoforms. Immunologic Research, 66 (5), 567-576. doi: 10.1007/s12026-018-9028-1
2018
Journal Article
Raro compromiso lingual de leishmaniasis mucocutánea por Leishmania perteneciente al subgénero Viannia
Bueno-Filho, R., Vernal, S., Gomes, C. M. and Roselino, A. M. (2018). Raro compromiso lingual de leishmaniasis mucocutánea por Leishmania perteneciente al subgénero Viannia. Actas Dermo-Sifiliograficas, 109 (7), 651-651. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2017.08.019
2018
Journal Article
Anti-desmogleins autoantibodies detected by ELISA and blotting in bullous pemphigoid: what do they mean?
Julio, Tamiris, Vernal, Sebastian, Turatti, Aline and Roselino, Ana M (2018). Anti-desmogleins autoantibodies detected by ELISA and blotting in bullous pemphigoid: what do they mean?. International Journal of Dermatology, 57 (1), 124-127. doi: 10.1111/ijd.13834
2018
Journal Article
Bullous pemphigoid associated with ischemic cerebrovascular accident and dementia: exclusive blistering lesions on the upper hemiparetic limb
Vernal, Sebastian, Julio, Tamiris, Cruz, Fernanda, Turatti, Aline, Ishii, Norito, Hashimoto, Takashi and Roselino, Ana Maria (2018). Bullous pemphigoid associated with ischemic cerebrovascular accident and dementia: exclusive blistering lesions on the upper hemiparetic limb. Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica, 26 (2), 179-182.
2018
Journal Article
Anti-phospholipid syndrome in seven leprosy patients with thrombotic events on corticosteroid and/or thalidomide regimen: insights on genetic and laboratory profiles
Vernal, Sebastian, Franco Brochado, Maria Jose, Bueno-Filho, Roberto, Louzada-Junior, Paulo and Roselino, Ana Maria (2018). Anti-phospholipid syndrome in seven leprosy patients with thrombotic events on corticosteroid and/or thalidomide regimen: insights on genetic and laboratory profiles. Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical, 51 (1), 99-104. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0216-2017
2017
Journal Article
Geographical foci and epidemiological changes of pemphigus vulgaris in four decades in Southeastern Brazil
Celere, Beatriz S., Vernal, Sebastian, Brochado, Maria José F., Segura-Muñoz, Susana I. and Roselino, Ana Maria (2017). Geographical foci and epidemiological changes of pemphigus vulgaris in four decades in Southeastern Brazil. International Journal of Dermatology, 56 (12), 1494-1496. doi: 10.1111/ijd.13714
2017
Journal Article
Insights into the epidemiological link between biting flies and pemphigus foliaceus in southeastern Brazil
Vernal, Sebastian, Pepinelli, Mateus, Casanova, Claudio, Goulart, Thais M., Kim, Olivia, De Paula, Natalia A., Pinto, Mara C., Sa-Nunes, Anderson and Roselino, Ana Maria (2017). Insights into the epidemiological link between biting flies and pemphigus foliaceus in southeastern Brazil. Acta Tropica, 176, 455-462. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.09.015
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Sebastian Vernal Carranza is:
- Available for supervision
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