DRA. Camila Lopez, recently obtained the medal Hermann Niemeyer, Prize annually awarded the society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Chile to a doctoral student that stands out for its experience and academic excellence.

Camila López is biochemistry of profession, Master's degree in Biochemistry and graduated from the program of doctorate in Biochemistry from the University of Chile. 29-year-old, It already has 18 publications in scientific journals and made teaching of undergraduate in the school of chemical sciences and pharmaceutical of the University of Chile. In ACCDiS, Camila works in the laboratory of transduction of molecular signals, led by Dr. Sergio Lavandero, Director of the Center, who also was a tutor at all stages of their education. "She is one of the most outstanding students that I've had in my academic career of 31 years" says Dr. Lavandero.

The Dra Lopez, It focuses its research on studying how to respond the cells against stress in the mitochondria. "Mitochondria are subcellular organelles that are very important for the functioning of cells, since they are involved in many metabolic processes and synthesis of compounds, In addition to being fundamental to signaling and cell death. That's why when it occurs an alteration at the mitochondrial level, cells should generate a response to prevent or reduce the damage"explains Camila López.

"In my thesis (PhD) We wanted to specifically study the accumulation of misfolded proteins mitochondrial stress, and we proposed a way of different answer to that which occurs by changes in gene expression. This response involves potentiation of cellular metabolism in the early stages of stress and would serve to give an energetic support during the adaptive response"adds Dr. Lopez, who has published in prestigious journals such as Autophagy, Nature Rev Cardiology, Biochimica et biophysica ACTA Acta (BBA) – Molecular Cell Research, among others.

Below is the interview made by ACCDiS to the Dra. Camila Lopez:

What it motivates to do scientific research?

The possibility of generating new knowledge, to conceive new ideas and put them to the test using different methods. Also, the possibility of generating new ways of responding to questions that we thought that they were resolved.

What does mean to you in terms of personal and professional, having won the Prize medal Niemeyer?

Is a great honor for me to have won this medal. It is a recognition of the effort during my years of study, at the same time which is a challenge and an incentive to continue with my work.

How do you feel that ACCDiS has influenced its scientific development?

Belonging to a team as big as ACCDiS has given me the opportunity to see the work of many scientists that work in different lines of research. This has allowed me to learn different ways of doing science and give a new approach to my work.

A few words to the people of ACCDiS and people who do science...

That you continue exercising their excellent work as they have done during the years of operation of this Centre. You bet always on collaboration and communication of their works, Since this way they can enrich and give new approaches both to their own research of other scientists. Continue on investigations focused on the problems of our country.

Photos courtesy of the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology