Inicio Research Lines RP3 – Animal Health in the Marine Environment RP3 Team
Dr. Jaime Figueroa V. is a Biologist, MSc and PhD in cell and molecular biology from Universidad Austral de Chile (UACH), conducting his PhD thesis at University of Hamburg with a DAAD scholarship. Since 1990, he has been working as an academic and researcher at UACH, focusing on fish molecular biology. Initially, his research centered around comparative endocrinology, but the results from these investigations led him to delve into the study of the fish immune system. This eventually led to his extensive research on Piscirickettsia salmonis, a fish pathogen, for more than two decades. Dr. Figueroa V. has an impressive publication record with over 90 articles in renowned journals, contributing significantly to the understanding of P. salmonis. Additionally, he holds membership in 4 national and international scientific societies and is a member of 4 national and international scientific societies.
Various research projects funded by FONDECYT, Innova CORFO, and FIE have been carried out at the fish molecular biology laboratory at UACH in Valdivia. Some of these projects have been conducted in collaboration with other universities and national research groups. Dr. Figueroa V. has been a principal investigator at INCAR from the establishment of the center, overseeing the Animal Health in the Marine Environment research line at UACH. His research line has focused on significant pathogens such as P. salmonis, IPNv, ISA, in both salmonids and native fish, in partnership with various national and international organizations.
Dr. Figueroa is a full professor at UACH, an evaluator of postgraduate programs by CNA, and an evaluator of CONICYT postgraduate scholarships and FIPA projects by Subpesca. In terms of human capital development, he has supervised nearly 40 undergraduate theses and 16 Master's and PhD theses.
Read MoreDr. Juan Guillermo Cárcamo is a biochemist with a degree from the Universidad Austral de Chile and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the same institution.
In 1994, he served as a Research Fellow at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, United States, and between 2000 and 2002, he completed a Fondecyt postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Concepción. He is a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Barcelona, Spain, and since 2020, he has been an Associate Researcher at the INCAR Center.
Dr. Romero holds a biochemist degree from the Universidad Austral de Chile (1998) and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the same university (2006). He is currently a Category I academic at the Institute of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. His research interests include immunology and molecular biology of aquatic organisms, genomic characterization, and molecular diagnosis of viral and bacterial pathogens in fish. He has also participated in national and international research and development projects. He has sponsored and co-sponsored undergraduate and graduate theses (Master's and PhD) at the UACh and other universities, and has also sponsored postdoctoral projects. He has been a member of the Fondecyt Animal Health and Production Study Group and is a member of the Chilean Biology Society. He currently directs the Aquatic Immunology and Stress Laboratory at the Institute of Animal Pathology, where he has consolidated his active scientific output, national and international collaboration networks, and ties to the environment.
Read MoreI studied at the Universidad de Los Andes (ULA), Venezuela, between 2003 and 2008. I graduated with a degree in Bioanalysis, and between 2009 and 2012 I completed a Master's degree in Science, majoring in Molecular Biology (ULA). Between 2013 and 2016, I worked as a Research Associate at the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC). In 2016, I migrated to Valdivia, Chile, and began my PhD in Science, majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology, at the Universidad Austral de Chile. I presented my thesis in 2021. Between 2021 and 2023, I worked as a Research Assistant at the Center for Scientific Studies, and in 2023, I started as a Research Assistant at AQUAIST, where I will develop my Postdoctoral research for the period 2025-2028, sponsored by Alex Romero.
Read MoreGuillermo Valenzuela Nieto holds a professional degree in Biochemistry from the Universidad Austral de Chile, and a PhD in Science from the Universidad Austral de Chile and a PhD in Rehabilitation of Natural Resources from the Universidad Regensburg (Regensburg, Germany) within the framework of a double degree program. He has conducted research in the area of molecular biology and expression regulation. He subsequently completed two postdoctoral studies focusing on biotechnology, generating numerous patents related to the development of nanobodies. He currently focuses his research on the development of biotechnological tools for the study, diagnosis, and control of human pathogens, mainly emerging viruses and parasites, as well as others relevant to aquaculture and the productive sector. He also maintains numerous collaborations with national and international laboratories, where he contributes to the study of various biological phenomena from a molecular biology perspective.
Read MoreThroughout my career, I have worked on the immune response and gut physiology of Salmo salar and Eleginops maclovinus, particularly in the context of bacterial infections such as those caused by interactions with Piscirickettsia salmonis, Francisella noatunensis, and others, as well as with hard metals. Furthermore, I have applied omics techniques such as transcriptomics and gut microbiota analysis. These experiences have allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of host-pathogen interactions and how these relationships affect both health and biological efficiency in aquaculture systems.
Read MoreVeterinarian, PhD student in Veterinary Sciences. I completed my undergraduate studies at Santo Tomás University, practicing my profession in various fields for over 15 years, with an emphasis on veterinary microbiology and immunology. I completed my Master of Science degree with a specialization in microbiology and my doctoral thesis, studying the immune response to various viral infections in various productive species such as cattle and salmon.
Read More"Actualmente estoy próxima a defender mi tesis titulada: Influencia del aumento de temperatura y salinidad en el crecimiento y expresión génica de Piscirickettsia salmonis y su impacto en la virulencia en la línea celular SHK-1.
Anteriormente fuí Asistente de Investigación en el Laboratorio de Estructura Supramolecular del Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC).
También formé parte del Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia de Tuberculosis (Caracas, Venezuela) en el que me desempeñé como bioanalista, investigadora y profesora de pregrado y postgrado.
Camila Nicole Pino Belmar is a biochemist from the Austral University of Chile and currently works as a researcher in the field of biotechnology. Her research focuses on engineering tools for the targeted degradation of viral proteins in fish. She has participated in various FONDECYT-funded projects related to the molecular biology of viruses such as Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) and Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV). She has also presented her work at international conferences and is the author of publications in scientific journals. A recipient of the ANID national doctoral scholarship, she has completed research stays at the University of Queensland, Australia, and at the Biotechnology Exploration Laboratory at the Universidad San Sebastián, Chile, expanding her experience in applied research and international collaboration.
Read MoreNatacha Santibáñez es Bioquímica y candidata a Doctora en Ciencias mención Biología Celular y Molecular de la Universidad Austral de Chile. Su investigación se enfoca en inmunidad, estrés y el uso de aditivos funcionales en acuicultura, con especial interés en la biología celular de salmónidos. Ha participado en múltiples proyectos financiados por ANID, incluyendo FONDECYT, FONDAP y destacando su rol como directora en el proyecto FONDEF VIU en 2019, enfocado en la búsqueda de productos con actividad anti Piscirickettsia salmonis in vitro. Ha sido asesora científica en diversas instituciones, incluyendo el la Fundación Fraunhofer Chile Research y ACUAIM Biobusiness & Research Spa. Su trabajo ha sido publicado en revistas indexadas y presentado en congresos nacionales e internacionales.
Read MoreSoy estudiante de la línea RP3, realice mi tesis de pregrado y magister bajo la conducción del Dr. Alex Romero. Estudio células epiteliales de truchas arcoiris, abordando su interacción con patógenos de interés para la industria acuicola y aditivos funcionales
Read MoreLicenciado en Bioquímica y tesista de magíster en Biotecnología Bioquímica en la Universidad Austral de Chile, con interés en la interacción entre virus y hospedadores en la acuicultura. Mis investigaciones se centran en los efectos del virus de la necrosis pancreática infecciosa (IPNV) en el sistema inmune de peces.
Read MoreI was born and raised in Valdivia. I earned my degree in Biochemistry in 2017, where I completed my thesis on the effect of stocking density stress on Atlantic salmon. I continued working on the interaction between Piscirickettsia salmonis with salmon and trout until 2020. I completed a diploma in Entrepreneurship and Business Creation at the University of Ch in 2022, and in 2023 I entered the Master's program in Biochemical Biotechnology. I am currently studying the protective effect of polyphenols on salmonid mucosa, primarily against P. salmonis infection.
Read MoreSoy estudiante de Licenciatura en Ciencias con mención en Biología de la Universidad Austral de Chile. Actualmente me encuentro realizando tesis de título centrado en el análisis e identificación de genes implicados en la producción de biofilm bajo condiciones de estrés térmico y de salinidad en Piscirickettsia salmonis bajo la dirección del Dr. Jaime Figueroa, en el Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Peces. Además durante el 2024 fui delegada de la Asociación de Estudiantes de Biología de Chile.
Read MoreMy name is Lorenzo Valentino Muñoz Silva, I currently have a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biology and I am completing my professional cycle to obtain the title of Biologist, where I am working in the molecular biology laboratory of fish directed by Dr. Jaime Figureoa who is guiding my thesis project, simultaneously I am in a binding capacity in the Master of Science program with a mention in Microbiology offered by the Austral University of Chile with the aim of learning and continuing to expand my knowledge to continue developing my area of research.
Read MoreI am a biochemistry undergraduate thesis student at the Universidad Austral de Chile. I am currently participating in the FONDECYT Regular project 1231761, which seeks to understand the effects of salinity and temperature on the morphofunctional integrity of the gill and intestinal mucosa in salmonid fish, and its relationship with the pathogenesis of Piscirickettsia salmonis.
My work has focused on deciphering how changes in salinity affect infection by this pathogen of aquaculture interest, using the RTgutGC cell line as an experimental model and using molecular biology techniques. This research was conducted under the supervision and direction of Dr. Alex Romero, research associate at the INCAR Center, in conjunction with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Raibel Suárez.
Read MoreMoisés es Bioquímico de la Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) y Doctor en Ciencias, mención Biología Celular y Molecular, por la misma casa de estudios. Realizó su entrenamiento postdoctoral en la Facultad de Medicina de la UACh, profundizando su experiencia en investigación en biología celular y molecular. Desde 2019 forma parte del Centro Interdisciplinario para la Investigación Acuícola (INCAR) como profesional de investigación en la RP3, enfocando su trabajo en la problemática de la caligidosis, específicamente en los aspectos moleculares asociados a la resistencia farmacológica.
Read MoreSoy Bioquímica de la Universidad Austral de Chile y actualmente me desempeño como asistente de investigación y Lab Manager en el Laboratorio de Inmunología y Estrés de Organismos Acuáticos, dirigido por el Dr. Alex Romero. Mi trabajo se centra en el cultivo celular y en técnicas moleculares como PCR, con un enfoque en las líneas celulares RTgutGC y SHK-1, así como en el estudio de Piscirickettsia salmonis. Durante mi tesis de pregrado, investigué el uso de antibióticos en cantidades subinhibitorias sobre P. salmonis, profundizando en la interacción de estos microorganismos con el ambiente acuático. Además, soy parte del proyecto FONDECYT Regular 1231761, que estudia los efectos de la salinidad y la temperatura sobre la integridad morfofuncional de la mucosa branquial e intestinal de peces salmonidos y su relación con la patogénesis molecular de Piscirickettsia salmonis. También participo activamente en actividades de vinculación con el medio.
Read MoreLicenciado en Ciencias Biológicas con Magíster en Ciencias mención Microbiología y Doctor (c) en Ciencias de la Universidad Austral de Chile. Su investigación se centra en la caracterización de patógenos acuícolas, con énfasis en Piscirickettsia salmonis y Renibacterium salmoninarum, abordando su genómica, proteómica y mecanismos de evasión inmune. Participando en múltiples proyectos y publicaciones científicas, contribuyendo al desarrollo de estrategias para el control de enfermedades en la salmonicultura.
Read MoreBacterióloga y Magíster en Ciencias con mención en Microbiología, con experiencia en investigación aplicada a microbiología y biología molecular. Durante su tesis de magíster en la Universidad Austral de Chile, investigó el impacto de polimorfismos de nucleótido simple (SNPs) en genes de virulencia de Piscirickettsia salmonis, combinando técnicas avanzadas de cultivo bacteriano y celular, análisis de biología molecular y bioinformática. Ha participado como tesista en proyectos FONDAP-ANID, abordando estudios de genómica bacteriana, virulencia y resistencia antimicrobiana. Sus resultados han sido presentados en congresos nacionales/internacionales y están en proceso de publicación en revistas científicas. Actualmente, trabaja como asistente de investigación en la Universidad Austral de Chile, enfocándose en ensayos de viabilidad celular, análisis de factores de resistencia antibiótica mediante qPCR y apoyo a tesis estudiantiles. Su experiencia técnica incluye PCR convencional, RT-qPCR, cultivo celular/bacteriano/viral, ensayos de viabilidad celular, inmunofluorescencia y análisis bioinformático/datos para resolver problemas relevantes en microbiología aplicada.
Read MoreTatiana Pérez es Bioquímica, titulada en la Universidad Austral de Chile y actualmente estudiante de Magíster en Ciencias Mención Salud Animal. Trabaja
como Lab Manager en el laboratorio de Inmunología y Estrés de Organismos Acuáticos, AQUAIST, del Dr. Alex Romero. El año 2017 se une como Asistentede Investigación al INCAR en la línea de investigación RP3 (Salud Animal en el Ambiente Marino), apoyando en investigación, vinculación con empresas nacionales e internacionales y mentoría de alumnos pre y postgrado. También ha colaborado en la organización del Workshop "Desafíos Nutricionales hacia una Acuicultura Sustentable" (2022) y el Seminario «Científicas contribuyendo a la economía circular entre la industria cervecera y acuícola», en enero del 2025 (proyecto INGE220001 del que forma parte y patrocinado por InES
“Conocimiento + Género UACh”).
Trabaja en INCAR desde los primeros años de ejecución del proyecto , apoyando en el quehacer administrativo del centro.
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