Philadelphia, P.A.—The Pew Charitable Trusts today named 10 promising young scientists as Pew Latin American Fellows in the Biomedical Sciences. The rigorously competitive program provides $60,000 in salary support for postdoctoral level scientists to work with leading researchers in the United States. Upon returning to Latin America, Fellows receive an additional $35,000 to purchase essential equipment to continue their research in their home countries.
"Pew's Latin American Fellows Program is designed to further the development of outstanding scientists by providing them with excellent training in high-quality scientific laboratories in the U.S.," said Rebecca W. Rimel, President and CEO of The Pew Charitable Trusts. "We are proud to invest in Latin America's scientific future. These Fellows will help lead the global advance of research to protect and promote the health of the public."
The Latin American Fellows Program is one of The Pew Charitable Trusts' two long-standing commitments in this field, which also includes the Pew Scholars in the Biomedical Sciences, a program for America's leading early-career scientists. The Fellows program was launched in 1991 to help develop a community of highly-trained researchers who could stimulate and contribute to the growth of important biomedical research, and to foster collaboration between scientists in Latin America and the U.S.
Since 1991, Pew has invested over $14 million to fund over 175 fellows, close to 80 percent of whom have returned to their home countries. Applicants from all Central and South American countries are invited to apply to the program, and selection is made by a distinguished national advisory committee, chaired by Dr. Torsten N. Wiesel, president emeritus of Rockefeller University and a 1981 Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine.
The 2009 Pew Latin American Fellows in the Biomedical Sciences are:
Argentina
- Diego Ezequiel Alvarez, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Hervé Agaisse, Ph.D.
Yale University
Microbial Pathogenesis - Facundo Germán Pelorosso, M.D.
Laboratory of Allan Balmain, M.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Cancer biology - Ileana Slavin, Ph.D
Laboratory of Jeanne F. Loring, Ph.D.
The Scripps Research Institute
Gene expression of stem cells
Brazil
- Kelly Grace Magalhães, Ph.D.
Laboratory of David B. Moody, M.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Tuberculosis and the immune system - João P.B. Monteiro, M.D., Ph.D.
Laboratory of Ronald N. Germain, Ph.D.
NIAID, National Institute of Health (NIH)
Immune system memory - Luis Francisco Zirnberger Batista, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Steven Artandi, M.D., Ph.D.
Stanford University
Telomere complex and genetic disease
Chile
- Verónica Eisner, Ph.D.
Laboratory of György Hajnóczky, M.D., Ph.D.
Thomas Jefferson University
Mitochondria and muscular disease - Ramón A. Jorquera, Ph.D.
Laboratory of J. Troy Littleton, M.D., Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Neuronal communication - Andrés Klein, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Matthew P. Scott, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Niemann Pick Type C disease
Mexico
- Paulina Cortés-Hernández, M.D., Ph.D.
Laboratory of Jodi M. Nunnari, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis
Mitochondrial division and cell death
For full biographies and information regarding the fellows' research subjects, please visit www.pewlatinfellows.org.
The Pew Charitable Trusts (www.pewtrusts.org) is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life. We partner with a diverse range of donors, public and private organizations and concerned citizens who share our commitment to fact-based solutions and goal-driven investments to improve society.