The Vice-Rectorate for Research and Development of the University of Chile has awarded 15 projects in this internal competition, allowing the continuity of research lines in key areas such as cellular aging, volcanism and cancer genetics. This support ensures the sustainability of research that addresses global challenges.
He “Support Program for Link Projects with Regular Fondecyt Competition” is an internal initiative of the University of Chile, led by the Vice-Rectorate of Research and Development (VID). This call seeks to give continuity to the lines of research developed by the academics of the institution that contribute, based on knowledge of excellenceto face global challenges.
Cellular aging, roots of globalization, historical volcanism in the Los Ríos Region and genetics of breast cancer are some of the 15 research initiatives awarded during the 2024 version of the competitionThe selected projects will be eligible for funding of up to $8,000,000 and will have an execution period of 12 months.
The academic units awarded by the call correspond to the faculties of Medicine; Architecture and Urbanism; Philosophy and Humanities; Agricultural Sciences; Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Veterinary and Animal Sciences; and Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Besides, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology and the Clinical Hospital University of Chile.
Faced with this award, the Research Director of the University of Chile, Rodrigo Fusterconfirmed the support provided by the Enlace Program in the current competitive environment of competitive funds. “There are investigations by our academics that, in order to be sustained over time, require this support provided by the Vice-Rectorate of Research and Development. In this sense, the relevance lies in being able as an institution to maintain lines of research while managing to access these public funds, since they are relevant lines of research that cannot lose validity,” said the university authority.
Active lines in the generation of knowledge
Among the initiatives awarded in the “Support Program for Link Projects with Regular Fondecyt Competition”, is “mtOGG1 as a protector against cellular senescence induced by oxidative stress”, led by the academic of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), Roberto Bravo.
The study seeks to know the mechanisms that lead to the generation of senescent cellsallowing the identification of molecular targets to prevent cellular senescence, and thus, improve the quality of biological aging“As we age, repair mechanisms become less efficient, so senescent cells accumulate in the tissues, generating a constant pro-inflammatory environment,” Bravo explained.
Regarding the award, the researcher noted that “without the funding, I simply could not continue doing my research. University support is essential for researchers to be able to contribute knowledge to society”.
Another of the selected projects is “Pre-eruptive and eruptive conditions of the historical volcanism of the Carrán Los Venados distributed field (Los Ríos Region, Chile)”, led by the Professor of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Patricia Larrea.
Seeking to characterize the magmatic processes and pre-eruptive conditions that contributed to the formation of the eruptions in the years 1907, 1955 and 1979, this investigation studies the historical volcanism of the sector between Carrán and Los Venados in the Los Ríos Region“The project seeks to address the lack of detailed studies of a high volcanic risk area in Chile, which ranks sixth in the Specific Risk Ranking of Active Volcanoes of the National Geology and Mining Service,” said Professor Larrea.
Regarding the award, the academic noted that “It allows the project to start while seeking full funding from Fondecyt Regular, allowing the research to advance and maintain its scientific momentum.. These resources make it possible to obtain relevant results from the earliest stages, facilitating field work and chemical analyses essential to understanding complex volcanic phenomena.”
For its part, the academic of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities, Luis Clementeawarded resources for its research entitled “The globalization of rural life: local agents and global networks on the Portuguese-Extremadura border (15th-16th centuries)”. This project investigates the networks for the distribution of people and the circulation of goods that are articulated between the border of Portugal and Extremadurawith the peninsular and overseas economic centres during the 15th and 16th centuries.
The academic argued that “in a multipolar global system, human communities on the border played a role in the globalisation process, promoting a new scheme of exchanges between the Iberian Peninsula, its connection with the Atlantic and global networks. We propose that the non-privileged sectors of this area boosted the circulation of goods, making these localities nodes between the Iberian interior and the overseas sphere.”
Regarding the importance of financing, the researcher noted that “the support of the VID has been fundamental for To promote and maintain the research career of those of us who join the UCH as academics and to train young researchers in our areas.which in turn generates human capital for the country.”
In turn, the academic of the Faculty of Medicine, Lilian Jarawill continue its project “Role of miRNA-146b in breast carcinogenesis and identification of new Alexis susceptibility variants in triple negative breast cancer”, which studies genetic aspects of hereditary breast cancer and early diagnosis.
“Currently, breast cancer is not a single disease, but there are different subtypes of cancer in the world. In Chile, work is also being done on five subtypes and these have different genetics, progression and treatments, however, the genetic phase of all types is still unknown to global research. In this sense, the awarded project is looking for causes and markers in two subtypes of breast cancer,” said Professor Jara.
Finally, regarding the award of the tender, the researcher concluded that “it is essential for the maintenance of this line. To be able to continue moving forward and be able to apply for new funds with greater results. In addition, to have funds that allow the development of postgraduate theses.”
