We have a new research line in the Field of reproductive immunology. The human oviduct has virtually been ignored in the study of the local immune system of the reproductive tract. However, the role of the oviduct in the reproductive process and as a barrier between the uterine and vaginal lumen and the peritoneal cavity implies a presumptively important role for the oviductal immune response. The regulation of the antibody secretion at this level and the putative participation of the epithelium in the local immune response is now under study.
Línea(s) de investigación:
Sistema inmune de las mucosas del tracto reproductor de la mujer.
Jerarquía:
Titular
Grados académicos /educación:
Doctor en Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, 1988.
Licenciado en Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, 1979.
In our Basic and Applied Microbiology lab, we are currently interesting in the study of the effect of several genes on the development in fungi, the expression of fungal proteins with biotechnology potential, the secondary metabolism of fungi, and the ecology and biotechnology of yeasts and fungi isolated from Antarctic environments. For these purposes, genetic engineering, bioinformatics and microbiology skills are used, and collaboration programs with national and foreign researches have been established.
Línea(s) de investigación:
Genética y Microbiología de hongos filamentosos, microbiología antártica.
Jerarquía:
Asociado
Grados académicos /educación:
Doctor (Ph. D.) en Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2002.
Bioquímico, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 1995
Up today there exist a number of drugs able to inhibit the acute pain. Nevertheless, these drugs are not capable of inhibiting completely chronic pain types. Even though there exist abundant knowledge about the pain pathways to the cerebral cortex, neither the neurotransmitters participating in these pathways nor the regulatory mechanisms involved is known. Furthermore, quite a few is also known about the mechanisms involved in the codification and discrimination of tactile and painful sensations. Additionally, is also poorly understood the plastic changes involved in the response of the organism to chronic pain. This kind of interrogate has leaded our Lab to the study chronic neuropathic and arthritic chronic pain in animal models. A typical chronic pain is produced during a migraine episode. Once initiated, this pain is maintained in time due to peripheral and central sensitization. Even though the physiopathology of migraine has been deeply studied, their genesis and the mechanisms of central sensitization are still unknown. Into this topic, we development an system for long lasting drug delivery based in polymeric nanoparticle.
Línea(s) de investigación:
Fisiopatología y neuroplasticidad en el dolor crónico
Jerarquía:
Asociado
Grados académicos /educación:
Doctor en Ciencias Biologicas, P. Universidad Catolica de Chile, 1997
The Laboratory of Neural Systems is devoted to the study of the genesis and the regulation of the respiratory rhythm in mammalian neonates. Our long-term goal is to determine the biological basis underlying the effects of perinatal nicotine exposure upon the neonatal respiratory neural network. This approach is a paradigm for studying the mechanisms that relate a known population risk, as maternal tobacco smoking, with a higher rate of central nervous system disfunctions as those observed in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. We combine electrophysiological and morphological techniques using in vivo as well in vitro preparations (isolated brainstem-spinal cord preparation and brainstem slices).
Línea(s) de investigación:
Neurociencias
Jerarquía:
Titular
Grados académicos /educación:
Doctor en Ciencias Biológicas, mención en Ciencias Fisiológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Médico-Cirujano, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 1984
Neuroplastic mechanisms operating in pathological conditions such as chronic pain and malnutrition. Approaches are at the molecular, cellular, electrophysiological and behavioral levels.
Línea(s) de investigación:
Fisiología del Dolor; Desarrollo Cerebral y Nutrición
Jerarquía:
Titular
Grados académicos /educación:
Licenciado en Ciencias Odontológicas, Universidad de Chile, 1969.