With a vast trajectory in which his pioneering research related to cardiovascular diseases stand out., the Professor of the University of Chile, academic of the Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Adjunct Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, of the United States, was awarded this Monday, August 29, the recognition delivered by the Government of Chile.

Pharmaceutical Chemist and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Chile, the Full Professor of the Faculties of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicine, Sergio Lavandero, was recognized this Monday, August 29, the National Prize of Natural Sciences 2022.

The Minister of Education, Marco Antonio Avila, explained that the jury based its decision "considering its remarkable contributions in fundamental science and its applications to human health.. His pioneering and valuable research related to the discovery of new molecular mechanisms in the development of cardiovascular diseases stands out., becoming a worldwide benchmark".

Professor Lavandero has outstanding highlights research related to the discovery of new mechanisms in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Within his team, new ideas have been described, cellular mechanisms and processes that occur in the genesis and development of cardiac pathologies, as well as new potential therapeutic targets for its treatment.

“This award has a lot of meaning for me, particularly grateful to my University of Chile, because I could not be winning this award today if I did not recognize what it meant for my training, together with the National Institute. I am a child of public education and grateful for it. The U. of Chile is wonderful, and above all it is wonderful when we come together to work together for great ideals., so I invite you to continue working for our University”, said Professor Lavandero after receiving the recognition.

"The area I work in is chronic noncommunicable diseases., which are the pathologies that sicken and kill most Chileans and the world's population, in order of importance, Diseases Cardiovascular, cancer, obesity and diabetes", said Lavandero, also highlighting the work of the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS ) for training "new generations of scientists who do relevant research for the country".

On the other hand, Minister Ávila stated that, during deliberation, the jury considered that it is necessary for the country to further stimulate the participation of women in scientific careers, given that this year there were no women applicants for this National Award. About that., the President of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, Maria Cecilia Hidalgo, stressed that "we have to encourage women scientists to recognize their work and present themselves as candidates for the National Award".

About Sergio Lavandero

Doctor Lavandero, who is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, of the United States, made his postdoctoral improvement in the areas of cellular communication and biomedicine at the National Heart & Lung Institute del Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine (London, England); Erasmus Universitat (Rotterdam, Holland); National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, Maryland, USA), St. Vincent's Hospital, Research Cardiovascular Center (Melbourne, Australia) and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, Texas, USA).

His academic career began in 1985, upon entering as an instructor of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Chile, progressively passing through each of the academic categories. He reached the category of Full Professor of the University of Chile at the age of 40. In 2003 he joined as Professor of the Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Biomedical Sciences Institute of the Faculty of Medicine of our campus.

To consolidate its line of research work, Professor Lavandero leads the first Chilean Center of Excellence for the study of Chronic Diseases (Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases, ACCDiS ) formed in 2013 by the University of Chile and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. In this center the academic develops a line of research associated with the cellular communication that controls normal cell functions and their alterations that lead to the genesis and development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

Professor Lavandero has published more than 312 items in international journals indexed with editorial board; 6 book chapters; 30 articles in national journals; and has to his credit 5 patents. Your scientific productivity in the last 5 years, from 2018 to 2022, reaches 82 publications to date. Recently the research platform Research.com highlighted him as the second most cited researcher in Chile in the field of Biology and Biochemistry.

Throughout his career, the National Award has done undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and has contributed to the training of dozens of new academics/researchers currently working in university or research institutions in Chile and abroad, through the postdoctoral guide, PhD theses, master's theses and undergraduate memorists.

Dr. Washerman is full member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences of the Institute of Chile, and for the period 2022 to 2024 vice president of that instance; full member and President of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chile and member of the Academy of Sciences of Latin America. Also, was a member of the University Senate, in the period 2018-2022.

About the National Prize for Natural Sciences

Since 1992, the Government of Chile has awarded this distinction to those who have made exceptional contributions to the country's sciences and development and whose work constitutes a model for future generations of scientists to follow..

The Minister of Education, Marco Antonio Avila, was part of the jury that defined the winner of the National Prize for Natural Sciences 2022, which was also formed by Rosa Devés, Rector of the University of Chile; Ignacio Sanchez, rector of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and representative of the Council of Rectors; Maria Cecilia Hidalgo, president of the Chilean Academy of Sciences; and Francisco Bozinovic, National Prize of Natural Sciences 2020 (last recipient of this distinction).

Read full news at https://uchile.cl/noticias/189698/profesor-lavandero-gano-el-premio-nacional-de-ciencias-naturales-2022