Dr. Martins received her Ph.D. in 1993 from São Paulo University in Brazil. She is currently an Associate Member of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, also in São Paulo. She has received fellowship awards from the Interamerican Development Bank and São Paulo University and is president of the Brazilian Society for Cell Biology.

Vilma Martins is studying the physiological mechanisms underlying cellular prion proteins' loss of function and their roles in prion disease. Prions are microscopic protein particles that are thought to cause certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as so-called mad cow disease. She is working with a group to establish systematic human prion disease screening in Brazil.