BrJAC pays tribute to Prof. Dr. José Camillo Novello, a pioneer researcher in proteomics in Brazil and a gentle advisor

Abstract

On January 6, 2022, Dr. José Camillo Novello, Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (IB-Unicamp), SP, Brazil, left us prematurely. Owner of a discreet and subtle humor, Prof. Camillo enjoyed a good chat, always accompanied by a cup of coffee. More recently, he loved to talk about his grandchildren and children who are living abroad. Prof. Camillo arrived at Unicamp in the 1970s. Initially, he worked at the Laboratory of Protein Chemistry with Professors Benedito de Oliveira and Sergio Marangoni. During this period, he dedicated himself to the studies of biochemical characterization of Arthropod and Snake venoms. The laboratory skills transferred by Prof. Camillo are told in an amusing way by his students, who were always guided with cordiality. In the late 1990s, Prof. Camillo focused efforts in proteomics, being a pioneer in this field in Brazil. He coordinated the first Brazilian publication in this field [1] based on one of his projects funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp) about Xylella fastidiosa´s Functional Genome. Recently, Prof. Camillo faced many health challenges, which never changed his kindness and good mood when, over a cup of coffee, he would talk about politics, soccer, and the evolution of his former students. He was proud of his “scientific grandchildren,” whom he would happily approach in the corridors of IB-Unicamp. His affectionate figure is missed in the corridors and in the canteen of IB-Unicamp. But his legacy remains and will always be in the world, with his science, and among us, in nostalgia.