- The 21st edition granted recognition to doctors Juan Luis Concepción, Margarita Lampo, Reinaldo Marín and Nelson Ramírez, all in the area of Biology | Main photo: El Diario
On Wednesday, November 6, the Empresas Polar Foundation awarded the Lorenzo Mendoza Fleury award to four outstanding Venezuelan scientists for their research in the area of Biology.
The 21st edition of the awards recognized doctors Juan Luis Concepción, Margarita Lampo, Reinaldo Marín and Nelson Ramírez, at the facilities of the Empresas Polar Foundation, located in the Sucre municipality of Caracas.
“This verdict shows that, despite the adversities that the scientific community in Venezuela is going through, talent, creativity, and productivity are still preserved in the country’s academic institutions. “This is the most important scientific award in the country,” said Liliana López, member of the selection jury, to begin the award ceremony.
Human talent and commitment
Lorenzo Mendoza, executive director of Empresas Polar, highlighted The Diary the importance of constantly highlighting the scientific work carried out in Venezuela and the contribution that this research offers to the country.
Mendoza explained that the Fundación Empresas Polar award is a means for the scientific community to recognize its peers, thanks to the fact that it is the scientists themselves who decide who to nominate to, finally, choose the contributions to highlight.
For us, it is important to demonstrate that barriers can be broken by being enthusiastic and optimistic about a country that has, without a doubt, extraordinary human talent and is committed to the development of Venezuela,” he stated.
The 2024 edition unanimously awarded members of the biology area, however, the representative of Empresas Polar recalled that it is an award that covers different scientific areas such as Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, among others.
Lorenzo Mendoza Fleury Polar Business Foundation Award
This award was created in 1982, but it was awarded for the first time in 1983 and only 103 Venezuelans have received it.
Laura Díaz, manager of Institutional Programs at Empresas Polar, shared that the recognition was announced to the winners on September 30, 2024 via telephone.
“The process of awarding this award is robust and involves discussion and analysis of each of the candidates who undergo jury evaluation, it is due to the difference in years,” he said.
Winners of the Polar Business Foundation Award
This year’s four winners stood out in the area of Biology, one of them is Dr. Margarita Lampo, biologist and zoologist, who focused her career in the ecological area for the conservation and management of species, pests, disease vectors, species vulnerable and in danger of extinction.
Lampo contributed to understanding the demographic processes associated with the arrival and local and geographic expansion of invasive species such as the toad and also highlights his work in the conservation of amphibians.
The only way you can get up every day to do something over and over again for years, as is the case with me, is to have a passion for what you do. Another fundamental thing is knowing how to have patience in a world that is going faster and faster,” shared Dr. Lampo in an interview for El Diario.
In addition, Dr. Juan Luis Concepción, molecular biologist and university professor at the University of Los Andes (ULA), who has dedicated his research to developing new tools for the treatment and diagnosis of parasitic diseases in Venezuela, such as Chagas disease and leishmaniasis.
The scientist created a kit diagnosis to detect these diseases in which modern biotechnology techniques are used, which are currently available in various health centers.
Another of the winners was the biologist Reinaldo Marín, who stands out in the area of biomedicine and has contributed to studies on sodium transport phenomena and its effect on high blood pressure; as well as your research on the role of certain enzymes in sperm motility to understand some of the causes of infertility in men.
His work on ionic homeostasis (the process of maintaining a balanced concentration of ions, especially calcium, within neurons) in pregnant women and associated medications and treatments to prevent preeclampsia.
Another winner was Nelson Ramírez, also known as ‘The Flower Doctor’, for dedicating his study to the reproduction of angiosperm plants (flowering plants). His research allowed us to advance our knowledge of the ecology and evolution of various types of flowers and plants; in addition to helping to understand the effect that climate change and the invasion processes of exotic species have on reproductive effectiveness in the tropics.
Winners of the 20th edition of the Empresas Polar Foundation
-Oscar Noya
-Gladis Magris
-Jose Luis Ramirez
-They don’t ask Romero
-Jaime Charris
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L as innovations in drug development aimed at managing this condition.
Lastly, Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, a biochemist and researcher, was acknowledged for his work in understanding cellular responses to metabolic stress and its implications for cancer treatment.
The awarding of the Lorenzo Mendoza Fleury Polar Business Foundation Award is a significant recognition in Venezuela’s scientific community, highlighting the contributions of researchers who are dedicated to advancing knowledge and improving public health through their work.
The award not only celebrates individual achievements but also inspires future generations of scientists in the country. With such a venerable history dating back to 1983, this recognition serves as encouragement for those pursuing careers in various scientific fields, reinforcing the importance of research and discovery in addressing pressing societal challenges.
