Dr Mirza Alas Portillo

Mirza Alas Portillo completed her doctoral research at University College Dublin (UCD) between 2022 and 2025 (supervisor: Claas Kirchhelle). Her research focused on critically examining the emergence of the empty antibiotic pipeline as a concept from the 1970s. Her work was based on applying a historical approach to understand standard narratives of the dry antibiotic pipeline as a market failure.  The work was part of the Norwegian Research Council-funded research consortium  "How Did the Antibiotic Pipeline Run Dry?" (DryAP). As part of her doctoral research, Mirza co-published articles on the past and present of bacteriophage therapy  and paradoxes of antimicrobial innovation as well as a witness seminar on shifting financial models for antibiotic innovation.  

Before joining UCD, Mirza worked for an intergovernmental organization in Geneva, Switzerland on global health issues and has also experience working for non-governmental organizations. Her work included research and policy advice for developing countries on antimicrobial resistance, access to medicines issues, and global health governance.