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Research activity

The research activity of the Institute was based on:

  • The young group leader laboratories;
  • The resident groups and
  • The research developed by the different core facilities.

Five Young group leader projects were recruited during this period:

  • The group from José L. Badano, working on “The role of ciliae in cell physiology and human pathology”;
  • The group from Pablo Aguilar § Arlinet Kierbel, working on “The characterization of endocytosis process and of bacterial internalization”;
  • The group from Sergio F. Pantano, working on “Structural and molecular dynamics by using computational and bio-infromatic tools” and
  • The group from Marcelo Comini, working on “The role of oxidatif stress in parasitological diseases”.
  • The group from Ruben Agrelo, working on "Aging and cancer epigenetics"

Presently, 5 young confirmed scientists and 21 young fellows work in these groups. Three resident groups working on oncology and neurobiology, directed respectively by Alfonso Cayota, Eduardo Osinaga and Luis Barbeito, have been settled during this period. In addition, to the above mentioned principal investigators, 18 young scientists either financed by public institutions or by grants work in these resident groups. As detailed in the following chapters, every one of the core facilities develops its own research activity simultaneously with their core facility work.

Following the foundational period (2005-2007) research activity started in the last 30 months in the IP Montevideo. During 2008 and 2009, most of the research groups have settled their own laboratory and started generating genuine outcomes. Although, a significant number of publications still correspond to collaborations, there is an increase in the scientific production as shown by the fact that 23 manuscripts were published in 2007, 38 during 2008 and 46 during 2009. This constitutes a reasonable number of publications, taking into account the youth of most scientist and institution itself as well as the shortage of funds directly devoted to research.

These results have been achieved thanks to external and internal collaboration and networking, which is one goal of the IP Montevideo. Secondly, most groups have succeeded in obtaining financial support from local and international agencies (198.000 U$D in 2007, 841.000 in 2008, 881.000 in 2009 and we expect more than 1.000.000 for 2010). This will ensure further development of research activities in the coming years. We expect to increase our impact and genuine production during 2010 and the following years, as well as to generate multidisciplinary and flag projects that could assemble our technological and scientific capacity.