Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Renato Menezes graduated with a degree in dentistry from the University Gama Filho, RJ, Brazil in 1994. In his third year of dental school, he decided to become an endodontist. He therefore completed his fellowship in 1994, and his residency in endodontics in 1995. In 2000, he moved to Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, where he earned his Master's degree and PhD in dental sciences, majoring in endodontics at Bauru Dental School at the University of São Paulo.

Currently, Renato is a Post Doctorate Associate working in Dr. Vieira's lab in the Department of Oral Biology at the University of Pittsburgh. His research expertise and interests are related to cancer risk in oral cleft families and genetics of periodontal diseases (chronic periodontitis).