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
2017
Journal Article
Evidence of hidden leprosy in a supposedly low endemic area of Brazil
Bernardes, Fred, Paula, Natália Aparecida de, Leite, Marcel Nani, Abi-Rached, Thania Loyola Cordeiro, Vernal, Sebastian, Silva, Moises Batista da, Barreto, Josafá Gonçalves, Spencer, John Stewart and Frade, Marco Andrey Cipriani (2017). Evidence of hidden leprosy in a supposedly low endemic area of Brazil. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 112 (12), 822-828. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760170173
2017
Journal Article
Final diagnosis of 86 cases included in differential diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in a Brazilian sample: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Tirelli, Fernanda, Vernal, Sebastian and Roselino, Ana Maria (2017). Final diagnosis of 86 cases included in differential diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in a Brazilian sample: a retrospective cross-sectional study. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 92 (5), 642-648. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175794
2017
Journal Article
Relationship between pemphigus and American tegumentary leishmaniasis: insights from serological and genetic profiles
Walsh, Priscilla, Brochado, Maria J. F., Vernal, Sebastian, Machado, Aline R., Turatti, Aline, de Paula, Natalia A., Donadi, Eduardo A. and Roselino, Ana Maria (2017). Relationship between pemphigus and American tegumentary leishmaniasis: insights from serological and genetic profiles. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 111 (8), 345-353. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trx065
2017
Journal Article
Image Gallery: A case of pemphigus vulgaris following Simulium spp. (Diptera) bites
Wambier, C. G., Struecker, T. A., Durski, L. N., de Araujo, A. G., Wambier, S. P. F., Cappel, M. A., Vernal, S. and Roselino, A. M. (2017). Image Gallery: A case of pemphigus vulgaris following Simulium spp. (Diptera) bites. British Journal of Dermatology, 176 (5), E100-E100. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15393
2017
Journal Article
Unexpectedly high leprosy seroprevalence detected using a random surveillance strategy in midwestern Brazil: A comparison of ELISA and a rapid diagnostic test
Frade, Marco Andrey C., de Paula, Natália A., Gomes, Ciro M., Vernal, Sebastian, Bernardes Filho, Fred, Lugão, Helena B., de Abreu, Marilda M. M., Botini, Patrícia, Duthie, Malcolm S., Spencer, John S., Soares, Rosa Castália F. R. and Foss, Norma T. (2017). Unexpectedly high leprosy seroprevalence detected using a random surveillance strategy in midwestern Brazil: A comparison of ELISA and a rapid diagnostic test. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11 (2) e0005375, 1-12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005375
2017
Journal Article
Maxadilan-simile expression in Nyssomyia neivai, a sandfly vector in an endemic region of Brazil, and its immunogenicity in patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis
Aires, Juliana, Casanova, Claudio, Vernal, Sebastian, Nascimento, Margarida, Rodrigues, Sandra, Lerner, Ethan A and Roselino, Ana Maria (2017). Maxadilan-simile expression in Nyssomyia neivai, a sandfly vector in an endemic region of Brazil, and its immunogenicity in patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 112 (2), 116-122. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760160351
2017
Journal Article
Field Validation of SYBR Green- and TaqMan-Based Real-Time PCR Using Biopsy and Swab Samples To Diagnose American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in an Area Where Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Is Endemic
Gomes, Ciro Martins, Cesetti, Mariana Vicente, de Paula, Natalia Aparecida, Vernal, Sebastian, Gupta, Gaurav, Ribeiro Sampaio, Raimunda Nonata and Roselino, Ana Maria (2017). Field Validation of SYBR Green- and TaqMan-Based Real-Time PCR Using Biopsy and Swab Samples To Diagnose American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in an Area Where Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Is Endemic. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 55 (2), 526-534. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01954-16
2017
Journal Article
Spatial Distribution of Pemphigus Occurrence over Five Decades in Southeastern Brazil
Celere, Beatriz Smidt, Vernal, Sebastian, La Serra, Leonardo, Franco Brochado, Maria Jose, Moschini, Luiz Eduardo, Roselino, Ana Maria and Segura-Munoz, Susana Ines (2017). Spatial Distribution of Pemphigus Occurrence over Five Decades in Southeastern Brazil. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 97 (6), 1737-1745. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0100
2016
Journal Article
Disseminated Leishmaniasis by Leishmania viannia subgenus: a series of 18 cases in Southeastern Brazil
Vernal, Sebastian, De Paula, Natalia A., Gomes, Ciro M. and Roselino, Ana Maria (2016). Disseminated Leishmaniasis by Leishmania viannia subgenus: a series of 18 cases in Southeastern Brazil. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 3 (1) ofv184. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofv184
2015
Journal Article
Riesgo de bacteriemia asociada a dispositivos intravasculares estratificados por peso de nacimiento en recién nacidos de un hospital público de alta complejidad: seguimiento de siete años
Nercelles, Patricio, Vernal, Sebastián, Brenner, Pola and Rivero, Pamela (2015). Riesgo de bacteriemia asociada a dispositivos intravasculares estratificados por peso de nacimiento en recién nacidos de un hospital público de alta complejidad: seguimiento de siete años. Revista Chilena de Infectologia, 32 (3), 278-282. doi: 10.4067/S0716-10182015000400004
2015
Journal Article
Accuracy of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction: systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Gomes, Ciro Martins, Mazin, Suleimy Cristina, dos Santos, Elisa Raphael, Cesetti, Mariana Vicente, Brizida Baectold, Guilherme Albergaria, de Freitas Cordeiro, Joao Henrique, Estrela Terra Theodoro, Fabricio Claudino, Damasco, Fabiana dos Santos, Vernal Carranza, Sebastian Andres, Santos, Adriana de Oliveira, Roselino, Ana Maria and Ribeiro Sampaio, Raimunda Nonata (2015). Accuracy of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction: systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 110 (2), 157-165. doi: 10.1590/0074-02760140280
2014
Journal Article
Changes in Postural Control in Mastectomized Women
Montezuma, Thais, Guirro, Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira, Vaz, Maíta Mara de Oliveira Lima Leite and Vernal, Sebastián (2014). Changes in Postural Control in Mastectomized Women. Journal of Cancer Therapy, 5 (6), 493-499. doi: 10.4236/jct.2014.56056
2011
Journal Article
Introducción de nuevas TIC y mejoría de la asistencia a un programa de salud
Moya Rivera, Patricia, Silva Rojas, Jaime, Cárdenas Bustamante, Omayda, Segura Durán, Omar, Puentes Caballero, William, Sanabria Arenas, Mauricio, Nava Tovar, Gerardo, Torrenegra Guerrero, Rubén, Nuñez Leiva, Diego, Coronado Cofré, Mauricio, Müller Santana, Gilda, Gayoso Neira, Roxana, Vivallo Bos, Carolina, Contreras Bizama, Jaime, Fuentes F., Jessica, Aravena G., Valentina, Guajardo O., Claudio, Novoa O., Sandra, Villagrán C., Claudia, Kain Berkovic, Juliana, Corvalán Aguilar, Camilia, Lera Marques, Lydia, Uauy Dagach, Ricardo, Cid Lagunas, Patricia, Uribe Cifuentes, Juan Pablo, Contreras Cerda, Patricia, Burrows Argote, Raquel, Vásquez Vergara, Fabián, Rojas Moncada, Pamela ... Alvez Ferreira, Aline (2011). Introducción de nuevas TIC y mejoría de la asistencia a un programa de salud. Revista Chilena de Salud Pública, 14 (2/3), 259-260. doi: 10.5354/0717-3652.2010.13301
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Sebastian Vernal Carranza is:
- Available for supervision
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