Chilean neuroscientist is named a member of the World Academy of Sciences
Currently, Karen Castillo is investigating the operation of a class of proteins that reside in the membrane of our cells that, like molecular antennas, act as receptors of temperature and pain. They are these proteins, which carry the strange name of "transient potential receptors channels", or TRP in the jargon of experts.
Karen Castillo,researcher young of the Millennium Institute, interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience from the University of Valparaiso, CINV, is the new Member of the World Academy of Sciences)The World Academy of SciencesoTWAS)as an associate member andfor a period of five years.
According to figures from the United Nations Organization for education, science and culture, UNESCO, only 32% of participation in science and technology which is developed in Chile is starring women, one of the lowest rates of all Latin America in gender parity. Considering this reality, it is the appointment helps enhance the feminine role in the national scientific sphere, especially with regard to regional.
The requirements to become an associate member of the TWAS were various: be less than 40 years, with a high scientific productivity and a significant contribution as an independent researcher young researcher. "The fact of being one of the five young Latin American scientific to enter the World Academy of Sciences is a great recognition of the scientific work that I have developed since I graduated as an engineer in Molecular biotechnology of the University of Chile, and until today, to the interior of the CINV. On the other hand, this distinction shows that it is possible to develop world-class science in Chile outside the centralism of the capital, in regions like Valparaiso", emphasizes the researcher, who serves as a young researcher in the field of Biophysics of the CINV .
Karen Castillo says that the limited funds for research are one of the main difficulties faced by scientists and academics from Latin America and the Caribbean. This situation, often forcing professionals to leave their countries of origin in search of economic opportunities abroad, preventing a proper boost to scientific and economic development of the country, which ends up supplying raw materials to countries developed, and without giving a value added sustainable to our resources, and local technological development.
Karen Castillo says that the limited funds for research are one of the main difficulties faced by scientists and academics from Latin America and the Caribbean. This situation, often forcing professionals to leave their countries of origin in search of economic opportunities abroad, preventing a proper boost to scientific and economic development of the country, which ends up supplying raw materials to countries developed, and without giving a value added sustainable to our resources, and local technological development.
"It is necessary to create networks of support that benefit the research work and scientific dissemination of all those Nations that still do not reach full development. We need to enhance the science in post of the knowledge and skills to meet challenges such as poverty and disease in our territories. Promoting science and the use of scientific data is what we need in Chile and Latin America for decision-making, political, social and economic according to local realities. Thus we avoid the flight of human capital and encourage local global development,"added the researcher.
Benefits and collaborative networks
Castillo explains that it is usual that Latin American researchers carried out their studies in unfavorable conditions and with old equipment and that one of the benefits of belonging to the World Academy of Sciences lies in that, if necessary, scientists can access to European institutions and with advanced technology to perform studies and analysis.
"It also provides the possibility to apply for competitive research to members of the Association, i.e. There are insured funds that allow to be associated with specific scientific, financing trips, equipment, reagents and what has relationship to facilitate scientific research with high standards. That enhances the collaborative interactions of one researcher and our Center, in turn, may have, providing access to foreign funds out of Latin America,"emphasizes the scientific of CINV.
In this way it is possible to recognize, support and promote excellence in scientific research in South America, facilitating contact between scientists and institutions Latin Americans and Europeans.
Gender gap
Scientist says that there is a diagnosis clear with respect to gender inequality in the scientific field in Chile, in which "the scale is strongly inclined towards the men, especially in academic and managerial positions which is where perceived this gap" .
However, it is considered that mass awareness that has been the topic for the last time, has opened doors so that it begins to discuss and legislate across on the topic.
To the CINV this picture is relevant, why are already addressing the challenges of inclusion and promoting gender equality. "As CINV not only interested in what is happening in laboratories, but we care generate higher standards of integration in all areas, having presence of men and women on equal terms. Even against an equivalent curriculum, we are favoring the women, thus generating positive discrimination that also seeks to give more visibility to women scientists", explains Dr. Ramón Latorre, national prize of Sciences and director of the institution. As Millennium Institute the CINV is worrying very actively to give space to our young researchers who, finally, are the future of our Center.
About the World Academy of Sciences
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), based on merit, was founded in 1983 by a group of scientists led by pakistani physicist and Nobel, Abdus Salam prize. Its main objective is to promote and disseminate the scientific capacity and excellence for the sustainability of developing countries. Its headquarters is located in the buildings of the International Centre for physics theoretical (ICTP) in Trieste, Italy.
In 1985 it was officially opened with the name of Academy of Sciences of the third world, nomination that was known until 2013. In its early days it was integrated by 42 scholars, 9 of them projecter with Nobel Prize. It currently consists of more than 1,200 fellows elected in more than 90 countries, considered the most successful researchers in the world. The total of its members, 14 have received the Nobel Prize in some area of science.
Approximately 85% of its members come from countries developing and 15% are scientists and engineers from developed nations, with investigations that have significantly impacted to South America.
The scientific research
Currently, Karen Castillo is investigating the operation of a class of proteins that reside in the membrane of our cells that, like molecular antennas, act as receptors of temperature and pain. They are these proteins, which carry the strange name of "transient potential receptors channels", or TRP in the jargon of experts. "In this context, my main question is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that allow these proteins to inform our nervous system when we have to remove the hand of an object very hot or very cold. "The response we can get through these investigations, we can lead to the manufacture of drugs that we serve to alleviate the pain", points out.
The researcher is currently concentrated on studying the behavior of two-channel capable of responding to changes in temperature in different ranges. The TRPM8 is known as the receiver of cold channel, while the TRPV1 is a channel that is activated by heat. "We are studying these channels so that they can be used as therapeutic targets in certain pathologies that have to do with pain, even with neuropathy and headaches caused by cancer, diabetes or migraine", concludes the researcher.
