He holds a medical degree from UFMG (1972), a master's degree and a doctorate from the Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics from UFRJ (1976 and 1980, respectively), and a postdoctoral degree from the University of Leicester, UK (1993). He is currently Professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Immunology at UFMG. He was Research Associate at the University of Pennsylvania and Jefferson Medical College (1976-1977) and Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Leicester (1992-1993). Demonstrated the mechanism of action of several toxins of spiders of the genus Phoneutria on sodium channels, calcium channels and potassium channels. Recently proposed and demonstrated molecular mechanism of the action of scorpion toxins, as well as the control of rapid inactivation in sodium channels. He participated as a guest lecturer in several national and international congresses. He formed a strong group of electrophysiology, recognized nationally and internationally, where several masters and doctors were formed that occupy positions in Brazilian and foreign universities. He was president of the Brazilian Society of Biophysics (1994-1996) and the Brazilian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2006-2008), and is vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Toxinology. Participated in the Deliberative Council of the Federation of Societies of Experimental Biology and was advisor to the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science. He is interested in Education, having introduced innovative methods in the practical teaching of Biochemistry, besides coordinating and participating in activities of improvement of Basic Education of Sciences. He coordinated the Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry and Immunology, and led the creation of the PhD Course in Bioinformatics, of which he was the first coordinator. He was Pro-Rector of Research at UFMG (1998-2002). Under his management, the project for the creation of the technological park of the UFMG (BH-TEC) was elaborated. He coordinated the creation of the UFMG Institute of Advanced Transdisciplinary Studies, of which he was the first president. He was president of the FAPEMIG Curator Council (2010-2011), and participates or participated as a representative of the scientific community of several committees related to Education, Science and Technology, such as the CNPq Deliberative Council, the FINEP Advisory Board, the CTInfra Steering Committee, the Commission of Coordination of PRONEX and Coordinating Committee for the preparation of the National Postgraduate Plan 2011-2020. Received honors and distinctions of students, Minas Gerais government and Federal government. He is commander of the National Order of Scientific Merit and titular member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences. He was Director of Agrarian, Biological and Health Sciences at CNPq (February 2011 to August 2013) and Director of Institutional Cooperation (June 2014 to May 2015). He has been Director of Science, Technology and Innovation at FAPEMIG since June 2015

Cellular Biophysics, Electrophysiology, Pharmacology Biochemistry & Molecular, Chemistry of Macromolecules, Toxicology, Comparative Physiology.