Top Latin American Scientists Named 2011 Pew Fellows in the Biomedical Sciences

Philadelphia, PA - The Pew Charitable Trusts named 10 outstanding early-career scientists to be Pew Latin American Fellows in the Biomedical Sciences. By providing these individuals with an opportunity to further their research, advance scientific knowledge, and collaborate with investigators in the U.S., the program aims to build scientific capability throughout the region.

This prestigious program provides $60,000 in salary support over two years 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 in order to establish research laboratories and promote scientific advancement in their home countries.

“Pew is honored to continue its commitment to support the training of exceptional young scientific leaders from Latin America,” said Rebecca W. Rimel, president and CEO of The Pew Charitable Trusts. “As the community of Pew Fellows returning to their home countries expands, we are proud of the impact that this program is making to scientific capacity beyond the United States.” Applicants from all Central and South American countries are invited to apply to the program. The 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 Pew Latin American Fellows Program in the Biomedical Sciences recognizes and supports outstanding young innovators from a region of the world rich with talent,” said Wiesel. “I am privileged to play a role in such an initiative that identifies bright young scientists and gives them the training and resources they need to be successful investigators in Latin America.”

The Latin American Fellows Program is one of the Pew Health Group’s two long-standing commitments in this field. The other is the Pew Scholars in the Biomedical Sciences, a 26-year funding program supporting America’s early-career scientists at an essential point in their careers. The Fellows program was launched in 1991 to help develop and advance the scientific network of highly-trained researchers and to foster collaboration between scientists in Latin America and the U.S. To date, Pew has dedicated over $18 million in direct support for more than 200 Latin American Fellows.

The 2011 Pew Latin American Fellows in the Biomedical Sciences are:

Argentina

•     Guillermo Lehmann Mantáras, M.D., Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Enrique Rodriguez-Boulan, M.D.
      Weill Cornell Medical College
      Neuroscience
•     Marina Muzzio, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Carlos D. Bustamante, Ph.D.
      Stanford University
      Genetics

Brazil

•     Tatiana Domitrovic, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of John Johnson, Ph.D.
      Scripps Research Institute
      Virology
•     Beatriz C. Freitas, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Lawrence Goldstein, Ph.D.
      University of California, San Diego
      Neuroscience
•     Isabela B. Ramos, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Gary Wessel, Ph.D.
      Brown University
      Cell Biology and Physiology

Chile

•     Esteban A. Engel, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Lynn Enquist, Ph.D.
      Princeton University
      Neurovirology
•     Karina J. Vargas, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Sreeganga Chandra, Ph.D.
      Yale University
      Neuroscience

Mexico

•     Rocío Hernández, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Kathryn Anderson, Ph.D.
      Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center
      Developmental Biology
•     Wilbert Zarco, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Winrich Freiwald, Ph.D.
      The Rockefeller University
      Neuroscience

Uruguay

•     Natalia Romero, Ph.D.
      Laboratory of Thomas Michel, M.D., Ph.D.
      Brigham and Women’s Hospital
      Signal Transduction

For more information about the program and the 2011 awardees please visit www.pewlatinfellows.org.