HHMI Awards Canadian, Latin American Research Grants

January 15, 2002— The Howard Hughes Medical Institute announced today that it has awarded $16.25 million in new grants to 43 outstanding biomedical researchers in Canada and five Latin American countries.

The five-year grants support the research of scientists in fields such as genetics, epidemiology, virology and neuroscience. These scientists are investigating a wide variety of biomedical topics, including the molecular bases of parasitic diseases that are prevalent in much of Latin America, the genetic origins of cancer and the mechanisms that control cell growth.

The grants range from $266,665 to $450,000 over five years. The recipients hold full-time appointments at nonprofit scientific institutions in the six countries, have made significant contributions to biomedical research and have significant publications in international English-language, peer-reviewed scientific journals.

The newly named International Research Scholars are citizens of Argentina (15), Brazil (4), Canada (13), Chile (3), Mexico (7) and Venezuela (1). The grants provide salaries for students and other laboratory personnel, equipment and supplies, and travel to visit research collaborators or attend international scientific conferences. The grants also include funds to support the International Research Scholars’ institutions, thereby assisting other scientists. Twenty-three of the new grantees have previously received HHMI grants.

The Institute currently supports International Research Scholars in 29 countries. Since 1991, it has awarded over $100 million in grants through its international program. The international program and HHMI grants in support of science education in the U.S complement the Institute's primary mission of carrying out biomedical research with its own scientists at 72 locations across the United States. HHMI's annual budget is approximately $650 million.

More information about HHMI's international program is available online at http://www.hhmi.org/international

Country/Awardee	Institution
Argentina
Basombrio, Miguel Angel	National University of Salta
Cáceres, Alfredo Oscar*	Mercedes and Martin Ferreya Institute for Medical Research, CONICET, Cordoba
Ceriani, Maria Fernanda	Institute of Biochemistry Research, Campomar Foundation, Buenos Aires
de Mendoza, Diego	Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Rosario, CONICET
Elgoyhen, Ana Belén*	Institute for Research on Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, CONICET, Buenos Aires
Frasch, Alberto Carlos*	Institute for Research in Biotechnology, National University of General San Martin
Goldbaum, Fernando Alberto	Institute of Biochemistry Research, Campomar Foundation, Buenos Aires
Kornblihtt, Alberto Rodolfo	University of Buenos Aires
Levin, Mariano Jorge	Institute for Research on Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, CONICET, Buenos Aires
Maccioni, Hugo J.F.*	National University of Cordoba
Mayorga, Luis Segundo*	National University of Cuyo
Parodi, Armando J.*	Institute for Research in Biotechnology, National University of General San Martin
Rubinstein, Marcelo *	Institute for Research on Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology, CONICET, Buenos Aires
Soncini, Fernando Carlos*	Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Rosario, CONICET
Vila, Alejandro Jose	Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Rosario, CONICET
Brazil
Bozza, Patricia Torres	Oswaldo Cruz Foundation
DosReis, George Alexandre	Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Ferreira, Sérgio Teixeira*	Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Peixoto, Alexandre Afranio	Oswaldo Cruz Foundation
Canada
Bleackley, Robert Christopher*	University of Alberta
Finlay, B. Brett*	University of British Columbia
Korneluk, Robert G.*	University of Ottawa
Rachubinski, Richard Anthony*	University of Alberta
Rudnicki, Michael Anthony	Ottawa Health Research Institute
Scherer, Stephen Wayne	Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto
Shoubridge, Eric Alan	McGill University
Sonenberg, Nahum*	McGill University
St George-Hyslop, Peter Henry*	University of Toronto
Strynadka, Natalie Catherine*	University of British Columbia
Wang, Yu Tian	University of British Columbia
Woodgett, James Robert*	Ontario Cancer Institute
Wrana, Jeff	Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
Chile
Brandan, Enrique*	Catholic University of Chile
Labarca, Pedro*	Center for Scientific Studies
Mayor, Roberto	University of Chile
Mexico
Arias, Carlos Federico*	Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Geiger, Otto	Center for Research on Nitrogen Fission, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Herrera-Estrella, Luis Rafael*	Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Irapuato)
Mejiia, Patricia León	Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Romo, Ranulfo*	Institute of Cellular Physiology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Vielle-Calzada, Jean-Philippe	Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Irapuato)
Zurita, Mario	Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
Venezuela
Padrón, Raúl A.*	Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC)
* denotes repeat Scholar

Contact: Cindy Fox Aisen, caisen@iupui.edu, (317)843-2276
 

Jennifer Donovan, donovanj@hhmi.org, (301) 215-8859
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