Mariana Marques is a Program Manager at the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria. In this capacity she is responsible for the implementation of research and training grants, programs and conferences that are focused on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and associated illnesses. She previously worked as the Director of Research Program Development at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she managed programs to enhance the School's medical research programs and monitored a $45M contract to develop medical countermeasures against radiological threats.  Prior to that she worked at the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development as a Biosciences Strategy Analyst supporting the state's vaccine industry in pandemic preparedness and biodefense initiatives and earlier as an International Trade and Investment Specialist. Mariana helped to manage a successful campaign for statewide office and served as policy analyst to a former Lieutenant Governor.  She holds a certificate in International Relations from Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences-Po), a B.A. in International Studies, an M.A. in Government and a graduate certificate in Public Health Preparedness from Johns Hopkins University. Mariana speaks Portuguese, French and Spanish.