Dr Sergio Lavandero joins as a corresponding new member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences

– Director of the ACCDiS

President and member of number of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, doctor Juan A. Asenjo communicated in public session the incorporation of the outstanding researcher , Prof. Sergio Lavandero as corresponding member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences. The keynote speech was given by Professor María Cecilia Hidalgo Dela, on April 15 of this year.

Professor John a.. Asenjo explained that the regulation of the Chilean Academy of Sciences establishes that you to be elected, the investigator must be an active scientist, renowned, reliable and over 35. The condition of active scientist is judged according to the quality of the research papers published in journals of high standard as well as books and monographs and, the formation of disciples who actively cultivate a branch of science. According to the President of the Chilean Academy of Sciences, Professor Lavandero widely meets this requirement.

The keynote of the new Member was in charge of María Cecilia Hidalgo, Member of a number of the Academy and national prize of natural sciences research 2006.La Hidalgo highlighted the scientific production of the laundry-room doctor, between 1996-2015, surpassing the two hundred publications. In addition, added that his work has been cited more than 7,500 times, What is considered a record in any field of science. Scientific production and the number of citations is related to two key moments: joining the Fondap Center of molecular studies of cells and, the sabbatical year that took place in the Southwestern Medical Center of the University of Texas.

During his research career, doctor Lavandero has managed to establish numerous national and international collaborative networks; He has been President and Director of the Superior Council of science of Fondecyt and member of the Council for evaluation and Vice President for research at the University of Chile. He currently chairs the society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Chile.

Cellular communication

In its first scientific stage, doctor Lavandero was focused on the study of the mammary gland and, subsequently, He began his research in the cardiovascular system. Now studying the signal transduction - mechanisms that use the cells for decoding the stimuli received from the environment- and control of cellular mechanisms that mediate the proliferation in hypertrophy of cardiac tissue.

In his exhibition entitled 'molecules, mechanisms and therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases", doctor Lavandero explained that his scientific interest has focused on understanding the workings of the human body and, in special, explain the development of cardiovascular disease,as myocardial infarction, high blood pressure, heart failure, among others. In Chile, these diseases are the leading cause of death and account for 28% of the same.

Currently, the researcher leads a Fondap Center that addresses the study of chronic diseases, specifically in the Maule Region by its high prevalence. "Understand why, How, What are the genetic factors, "environmental that lead to the development of these diseases is transformed into a great challenge because all investigations have been performed abroad and in Chile we have particular situations which do not occur in other countries", said Professor Lavandero.

Extracted from : http:www.academiadeciencias.cl/incorporacion-del-profesor-sergio-lavandero/