MEMBERS
Currently, the SAPASEN is composed of 40 researchers from 10 different countries:
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Argentina
Christian García-Witulski
Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina
I earn a Ph.D. in Health and Sport Sciences (Epidemiology and Public Health) from the University of Zaragoza. I got a second Ph.D. in Economics from the Pontificial Catholic University of Argentina. I integrate tools from epidemiology, econometrics, and spatial analysis to explore the relationships around physical activity, diet and environmental exposures, and their association with chronic disease.
Gabriela De Roia
University of Flores
I graduated from a PhD course at the University of Verona, Italy, in the use of non-invasive techniques to assess oxidative metabolism to describe populations and test physical activity (PA) training methods as prevention and treatment of patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). I am the director of the Physical Activity Research Laboratory (LEAF) at the University of Flores and a professor at the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport. Regarding Public Health, I also work in the National PA Program of the Ministry of National Health, undertaking technical and management actions on PA promotion in NCDs issues.
Pablo Lobo
University of Flores
Pablo Lobo holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education (2012) and in Physical Activity and Sport (2016), and is currently concluding a Master's degree in Physical Activity and Sport at the University of Flores. He currently serves as Research Coordinator at the Physical Activity Research Laboratory (LEAF) and as a lecturer at the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport (University of Flores, Argentina). In recent years, his research has focused mainly on 24hs device-based measurement of movement and non-movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep).
Brazil
André de Oliveira Werneck
São Paulo State University
André Werneck has a degree in physical education (2017), an MSc in human motricity (2020), with a research internship abroad at the University of Cambridge (2019) and currently is a PhD student in public health nutrition at the University of São Paulo. He is interested in behavioral epidemiology, with a focus on physical activity and nutrition epidemiology, especially regarding their association with mental health.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andre_Werneck
Clarice Martins
Federal University of Paraíba
Clarice Martins has a degree in Physical Education, and PhD in Physical Activity and Health (University of Porto). Currently, she is an associate professor at the Department of Physical Education of the Federal University of Paraíba. Her research and teaching interest has been focused on movement behaviours, physical fitness and health outcomes in children.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Clarice-Martins-2
Danilo Rodrigues P. da Silva
Federal University of Sergipe
Danilo Silva obtained his PhD from the Londrina State University, Paraná, Brazil in 2017. Currently he works at the Department of Physical Education at Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil. He is interested in behavioral epidemiology, with focus on prevalence, correlates/determinants and interventions in physical inactivity and sedentary behavior.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Danilo_Silva12
David Ohara
State University of Santa Cruz
David Ohara has a degree in Physical Education (2008) and PhD in Physical Education (2016) from the Londrina State University. Currently he works at the Department of Health Sciences at State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Brazil. He is professor at the Post Graduation Program in Physical Education and Post Graduation Program in Health Sciences. He is interested in physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep and their determinants and correlates. David Ohara is also interested in device-based measurement (accelerometers, gyroscope, inclinometers) of physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Ohara-2
Diego Giulliano D. Christofaro
São Paulo State University
I am graduated in Physical Education, Master in Physical Education, PhD in Public Health. I am a Professor at Universidade Estadual Paulista and advisor of the Postgraduate Program in Movement Sciences at UNESP. I am ad hoc consultant for development agencies such as FAPESP and CNPq. I am currently a member of the Brazilian Society of Physical Activity and Health (SBAFS). I am editor and reviewer of national and international periodicals. I have experience in studies related to physical activity, sedentary behavior and health parameters in different populations.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Diego-Christofaro
Ellen Caroline M. da Silva
State University of Londrina
Ellen Silva has a degree (2017) and MSc (2020) in physical education. Currently she is a PhD student in Health Sciences at the State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. She is interested in behavioral epidemiology, with focus in interventions in sedentary behavior and physical inactivity and their correlates/prevalence.
Felipe Barreto Schuch
Federal University of Santa Maria
Associate Professor Felipe Schuch, Federal Univesity of Santa Maria (UFSM), has obtained a physical education degree and PhD at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Felipe’s research focuses on the role of physical activity and sedentary behavior in the prevention and management of mental disorders.
Fernanda Castro Monteiro
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
PhD student in Mental Health at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IPUB-UFRJ), has an Academic Master's degree in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (FAMED/UFRGS), specialization in Cardiology and Metabolism from the Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul (IC-FUC), and a degree in Physical Education from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS). Currently is a member of Neuroscience of Exercise Laboratory (LaNEx/UFRJ), working with physical activity levels, sedentary behavior and motivation. Has experience in physical education, with emphasis on mental health, working mainly on the following topics: mental illness, mood disorders, behavior science, and motivational aspects for physical activity.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fernanda-Monteiro-5
Leandro dos Santos
Federal University of Sergipe
Ph.D. in Physical Education from the State University of Londrina (2017) with a sandwich period at the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon (ULISBOA - Portugal). M.Sc. in Physical Education from the Federal University of Pelotas (2012). Specialized in Physical Activity, Motor Performance, and Health (2009), and a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education (2007) from the Federal University of Santa Maria. Post-doctoral research in Public Health at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2019), currently pursuing a Post-doctoral internship at the Federal University of Sergipe (2023). He is a member of the research group on metabolism, nutrition, and exercise (GEPEMENE), and his primary research interests include aging, resistance training, measurement and assessment of human performance, physical training for special populations, and physical activity in the context of public health.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Leandro-Santos-51
Leonardo G. de Oliveira Luz
Federal University of Alagoas (Arapiraca)
Leonardo Luz has a degree in Physical Education, and PhD in Sport Sciences and Physical Education (University of Coimbra). Currently, he is an associate professor at the Federal University of Alagoas (Arapiraca). His research and teaching interest has been focused on growth, maturation, movement behaviours, physical fitness, and health outcomes in youth people.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Leonardo-Luz-2
Luciana Leite Silva Barboza
University of Brasília
Luciana has a degree in physical education from the University of Pernambuco and a master's degree in physical education from the Federal University of Sergipe. She is currently starting her Ph.D. at the University of Brasília, focusing on the association between cardiometabolic diseases, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in South American adults.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luciana_Barboza3
Luis Carlos de Oliveira
São Judas Tadeu University
Physical Education Professional. Director and Researcher Member of CELAFISCS - Study Center of the Physical Aptitude Laboratory of São Caetano do Sul. Master in Physical Education from Universidade São Judas Tadeu - SP - Brazil. Doctoral Student of the Postgraduate Program in Physical Education at USJT - São Paulo - Brazil. Member of GETAFIS - Study Group on Training and Physical Activity and Health of the PPG of the USJT.
Associate Member of SBAFS - Brazilian Society of Physical Activity and Health. Researcher in the areas of Growth and Development; Promotion of Physical Activity and Health in Schoolchildren and Promotion of Physical Activity in the Workplace; Development and Management of Physical Activity Promotion Programs for the Community. Member of the Management Team of the Agita São Paulo Program - SP Brazil.
Luiz Rodrigo A. de Lima
Federal University of Alagoas
Luiz Rodrigo works at the Institute of Physical Education and Sport at Federal University of Alagoas in Maceió, Brazil. He obtained a Ph.D. in Physical Education (2017) at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Currently, he is interested in the following subjects: 1) Physical activity and exercise in the health-disease process in primary and secondary prevention; 2) Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in children and adolescents as a consequence of primary diseases (HIV-infection, obesity, congenital heart disease); 3) Development and validation of instruments for measuring physical activity, body composition and aerobic fitness.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luiz_Augustemak_de_Lima
Mabliny Thuany
Faculty of Sport, University of Porto
Mabliny Thuany is a PhD student in Sport Sciences, at Faculty of Sport, University of Porto (Portugal). She is a member of the Health, Physical Activity and Sports Research Centre (SAFE) and the Laboratory for Study and Research on Performance in Exercise and Sport (L’esport). She is particularly interested in endurance sports, predictors of sports performance, detection, promotion, selection and talent identification. She is involved in different research projects, comprising subjects related to sports performance, human growth and development, and active displacement.
Rafael dos Santos Henrique
Federal University of Pernambuco
Rafael Henrique has a degree in Physical Education, and Ph.D. in Physical Education from the University of Pernambuco (2018). Currently, he works at the Department of Physical Education at Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil. In recent years, his research agenda has mainly focused on a bioecological approach to understanding the underlying mechanisms of growth and development and its relationship with the physical activity, sedentary behavior, physical health, obesity, and cognition of low-income children in Brazil.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafael-Henrique-2
Rafael Miranda Tassitano
Federal Rural University of Pernambuco
Associate Professor at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco/Brazil (UFRPE). Postdoctoral in Physical Activity and Health at the University of South Carolina (2018-2019). My primary research interest focuses on Physical Activity and Sedentary behavior related to understanding the complexity of these behaviors, and how to reduce the inequities and disparities between populations. For the past few years, I have worked in several multidisciplinary research initiatives focused on Health Promotion in a low-income population from Brazil (i.e. children, adolescents, adults and elderly), having secured internal and external funding from regional and national foundations in connection with such research.
Raphael Henrique Araújo State University of Londrina
Raphael is starting his PhD in Health Science at the State University of Londrina, Brazil. He is interested in behavioral epidemiology, with a focus on physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Ricardo A. C. Sampaio
Federal University of Sergipe
Ricardo Sampaio holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education (UFC, Brazil, 2007), a Master's Degree in Human Health Science (Kyoto University, Japan, 2014), and a Ph.D. in Physical Education (UNICAMP, Brazil, 2017). He is currently a faculty member in the Department of Physical Education at the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS, Brazil). He collaborates with national and international institutions in the field of physical activity and health, encompassing research about physical activity for older adults, special groups, adapted physical activity, as well as studies on sarcopenia and frailty syndrome.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ricardo-A-C-Sampaio
Ricardo Ribeiro Agostinete São Paulo State University
Ricardo Agostinete has a degree in Physical Education (2014) and MSc in Physiotherapy at São Paulo State University (UNESP) (2017) with a research internship at Universidade de Coimbra (2016). He currently is a PhD student in Movement Science at UNESP with a research internship at University of Exeter. His research focus is on physical exercise/activity in health outcomes during childhood and adolescence, mainly in bone health.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ricardo_Agostinete2
Thayse Natacha Gomes
Federal University of Sergipe
I have a PhD in Sport Science at Faculty of Sport-University of Porto, and I have being engaged in different research projects in different countries. My research interest is related to understanding the inter- and intra-individual differences in human growth and development, physical activity levels and sedentary behaviour, sports performance, obesity and its comorbidities, using multilevel approach/ecological models.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thayse_Natacha_Gomes
Thiago Sousa Matias
Federal University of Santa Catarina
Thiago has a PhD in Human Movement Science from Santa Catarina State University. He is currently working at the School of Sports, Federal University of Santa Catarina (Professor position). He is a behavioural scientist and became interested in the affective relationships of Physical Activity such as motivation. He is also interested in the synergic between obesogenic behaviors associated with psychological health.
Victor Zuniga Dourado
Federal University of São Paulo
Associate Professor at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP). Bachelor in Physiotherapy and Computer Engineering and MSc and Ph.D. in Pathophysiology (Pulmonary Rehabilitation) from São Paulo State University (UNESP). "Livre-Docente" in Human Movement Sciences/Clinical Exercise Physiology. Lown Scholar at Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health. His research includes Physical Activity/Fitness epidemiology and the development and use of technologies to improve adults' physical activity/fitness. He is the Principal Investigator of the Epidemiology and Human Movement Study (EPIMOV) and developed the smartphone app for physical activity in the Project "Playful Active Urban Living (PAUL)," in collaboration with Amsterdam University.
William Tebar
University of São Paulo
William Tebar has a degree in Physical Education (2010) and PhD in Movement Sciences (2020) at São Paulo State University - Unesp. Currently, he is a post-doctoral researcher at University of São Paulo - USP, where he also obtained the MSc degree in Public Health (2014). He is interested in epidemiological research about the relationship of physical activity and sedentary behavior with health and disease, mainly regarding cardiovascular outcomes.
Chile
Felipe Diaz Toro
Universidad Andrés Bello
I am a chronic disease epidemiologist and public health professional with experience in the design and quantitative analysis of observational epidemiologic studies and clinical trials, developing an academic career in chronic disease epidemiology with emphasis in cardiovascular disease, epidemiology of aging, and multimorbidity. I am also interested in epidemiologic methods for causal inference (propensity score matching, inverse probability weighting, emulated clinical trials), and analysis of multilevel and longitudinal epidemiological data. Currently a candidate to a PhD degree in epidemiology.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Felipe-Diaz-Toro
%2011_10_41%20-%20Copia.jpg)
Júlio Brugnara Mello
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
Professor of Physical Education and PhD in Human Movement Sciences. Associate professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV, Chile). Researcher at the eFiDac research group, working in the research lines of physical fitness and health, school physical education and sports sciences. Collaborating researcher at the PROESP-Br Research Group (UFRGS, Brazil). Associate editor of the Brazilian Journal of Physical Activity and Health. The main research investigates the longitudinal relationship between physical fitness and musculoskeletal health parameters.
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julio-Mello
Nicolas Aguilar-Farias
Universidad de La Frontera, Chile
Physiotherapist (Universidad de La Frontera, Chile), Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology and Doctor of Philosophy (University of Queensland, Australia). Assistant professor at Universidad de La Frontera. Director of the UFRO Activate Research Group. He has been involved in several national and international studies related to physical activity and public health. Currently is the leader of Chile’s Report Card on Physical Activity for children and youth. He is also a regular technical advisor of health and sports organizations worldwide.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicolas-Aguilar-Farias
Gerson L. de Moraes Ferrari Federal University of São Paulo
Dr. Gerson Luis de Moraes Ferrari is Master and Doctor by the Department of Pediatrics at Federal University of Sao Paulo. Part of the PhD at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center (Louisiana, United States). Is one of those responsible for Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Brazil and is a consultant in the area of physical activity of the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health / Estudio Latinoamericano de Nutrición Salud (ELANS). He was responsible for the development of the C3 Collaborating for Health project (Fundación United Health) in Brazil.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gerson_De_Moraes_Ferrari
Kabir Sadarangani
Teleton Chile
My primary research interest is in the area of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior linked with non-communicable diseases. My research mainly focuses on epidemiological data and projects within diabetics’ population. Also, I serve as a technical advisor for the Ministry of Health. My current national funded study is based on active transport and health status in the bicycle-sharing-system.
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kabir_Sadarangani2
Colombia
Jaminson Raul Ricardo-Sejin
University of Antioquia
I have a degree in Physical Education, Recreation and Sports, a Master's in Public Health and a PhD Candidate in Physical Education with an emphasis on Physical Activity for Health. I work as a physical education teacher at the school level and I have worked as a researcher in the field of public health in populations of children and adolescents. I am currently a researcher in the Physical Activity for Health (AFIS) group at the University of Antioquia (Medellin, Colombia) and I lead a project on interventions of the 24-hour Active cycle, addressing physical activity behaviors, sedentary behaviors, and sleep.
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jaminson-Ricardo-Sejin-5
Robinson Ramírez-Vélez
Public University of Navarra
Dr. Robinson Ramírez-Vélez completed his BSc in Physiotherapy in 2004 from the University of Maria Cano (Colombia). He obtained his first PhD in 2011 from the Nutrition and Metabolism, University of Valle (Colombia), and in 2018 he obtained his second PhD in Health Science from the Public University of Navarra (Spain). He is currently a Research Fellow at the Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarra, Navarrabiomed-Biomedical Research Centre, IDISNA-Navarra’s Health Research Institute in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robinson_Ramirez-Velez2
Ecuador
Mario Germán Álvarez Álvarez
Universidad Politécnica Salesiana de Ecuador
Mario Álvarez graduated in Education Sciences, in Physical Culture specialty, from the University of Cuenca. He obtained his specialty in Sports Nutrition at the Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo and the Master's Degree in Physical Culture at the University of Guayaquil. He is in the last year of his PhD in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences at the Autonomous University of Madrid. He is currently a teacher-researcher at the Salesian Polytechnic University of Ecuador, in the Undergraduate degree called Pedagogy of Physical Activity and Sports. In addition to being the coordinator of the Research Group in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (GICAFD). Among his research lines is the use of Self-Determination Theory in intervention programs with university students, as well as the use of wearable technology in the evaluation of physical activity and physical condition.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mario-Alvarez-Alvarez
Paraguay
Felicia Cañete Villalba
National University of Asuncion
Ministry of Public Health of Paraguay
Doctor in Medicine. Specialist in Endocrinology and Public Health. Professor of Public Health and Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of Asunción. She is part of the Surveillance and Investigation Department of the Directorate for the Surveillance of Non-communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Public Health. For 15 years she was the director of the National Diabetes Program of Paraguay. Her interest in research focuses mainly on Noncommunicable Diseases and their risk factors.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Felicia-Canete
Peru
Cecilia Anza Ramírez
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Cecilia Anza-Ramirez is a biologist trained in Epidemiology at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH - Lima, Peru). Currently, she is part of the CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, also at UPCH. Her research interests are focused on the occurrence and factors associated with cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, especially hypertension, diabetes and obesity.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Cecilia_Anza-Ramirez
J. Jaime Miranda
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Research Professor at the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, and Director of the CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, both at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) in Lima, Peru. His works brings together epidemiological and health policy aspects of chronic non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries with emphasis on obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Dr. Miranda trained in medicine at UPCH and earned a PhD in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK).
Link:www.cronicas-upch.pe
Suriname
Se-Sergio Baldew
Anton de Kom University of Suriname
Se-Sergio Baldew obtained his doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Therapy from the KULeuven in Belgium. He is a lecturer at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname within Physical Therapy program. His research focusses on physical activity, fitness and cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Specifically on determinants of physical activity among people with risk factors and or diseases.
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Se_Sergio_Baldew
Uruguay
Javier Brazo-Sayavera
Universidad de la República Uruguay
Javier B Sayavera obtained his PhD from the University of Extremadura (Spain). He has worked as an associate Professor at the Universidad de la República (UDELAR) in Uruguay since 2017. In 2020 moved to Spain to join the University Pablo de Olavide. In Uruguay, he has led a new research group and a Lab with the aim of increasing the knowledge and to study the problems related with physical activity and to provide solutions, principally for the Uruguayan population. He is the leader of the Uruguayan Report Card on physical activity indicators in children and adolescents linked to the Global Matrix initiative.
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Javier-Brazo-Sayavera
Venezuela
Ramfis Nieto-Martinez
LifeDoc Health, Memphis USA
Venezuelan physician-scientist and professor whose research interest has focused on transcultural endocrinology, specifically diabetes prevention, cardiometabolic risk factors, and nutrition. Director of the Cardiometabolic Health and Lifestyle Unit at LifeDoc Health, Memphis, TN, US, and Lown Scholar at TH Chan School of Public Health; Harvard University. Dr. Nieto-Martinez trained in Internal Medicine and got an MSc in Nutrition and is the principal investigator of the Venezuelan Cardiometabolic Health Study (EVESCAM).
Link:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ramfis_Nieto-Martinez/research