Donna, originally from Canada, is a specialist in human Biochemistry with a doctorate from The University of Ottawa. Dr Marçal worked in the field of human inflammation and how the body reacts to foreign materials. She has been awarded several international research fellowships for her work.

Upon her first Sydney research visit, she investigated the human biochemistry pathways involved in inflammation using advanced proteomics. Her work on specific human proteins and their functions in human inflammation enabled her with a research fellowship from the Australian Government through the Endeavour Research Fellowship Program.

Upon completing her PhD, she started her first research position with the University of Queensland at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechology where she continued her work in the field of macrophage interactions with biomaterials. She then received a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Canada) Research Fellowship which took her to her research position at the University of New South Wales. Here she conducted research in the field of macrophages and atherosclerosis.

Dr Marçal is now the scientific specialist behind Phoxy Labs Pty Ltd and also the driving force behind the Dermatonics skin care range.