Pedro Madureira has graduated in Biochemistry at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) and obtained his PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS) of the same university. The work developed since the beginning of his scientific career follows a line of investigation started a few decades ago by Prof. Mário Arala Chaves, with the discovery of immunosuppressive molecules excreted by bacterial pathogens, so called virulence-associated immunomodulatory proteins (VIP). Currently, his main research interest is the role of a specific VIP in the host-pathogen interactions that are responsible for the high susceptibility of neonates to bacterial sepsis. This research led to the development of a maternal vaccine that it is now waiting for the approval to start human clinical trials. Pedro Madureira, together with Venture Catalysts, founded Immunethep. Immunethep is a biotech company focused in developing and commercializing immunomodulatory products.