As part of Chile’s first scientific center specializing in soil health, Dr. Claudia Ortiz and Dr. Carmen Pizarro, from the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, work to generate rigorous knowledge about how soils sustain life.
Chile is one of the world’s largest producers of rainbow trout. However, the emergence and spread of diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses can can result in significant losses for the aquaculture industry.
Among these viral infections, infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) has become the leading cause of disease-related mortality in the species. According to Sernapesca’s health report for the 2021–2023 period, the virus shows an average incidence rate of 19.9% in seawater farms and 20.18% in freshwater facilities.
NASA, the University of Santiago de Chile, and top U.S. defense agencies are joining forces for a historic space mission. The collaborative effort will test whether extremophile microorganisms can survive outside the International Space Station (ISS). Participating institutions include the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the DoD Space Test Program (DoD STP), the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), and the Bioscience Foundation.
Attracting more than 12,000 visitors, the festival serves as a premier gathering that bridges higher education, industry leaders, and the local community to advance the world of fungi.
“Our faculty is a pioneer in bridging academia with technological innovation, as demonstrated by the cross-disciplinary work of our faculty members across its three departments,” explained Dr. Fernando Ortiz, researcher and director of VIME-comunidad, regarding the University of Santiago de Chile’s role in the event. He also presented the panel “Psilocybin Use and Mental Health.”
During his stay, the Argentine researcher visited the Laboratory of Molecular Magnetism and Molecular Materials (LM4), led by Dr. Diego Venegas Yazigi, with whom he maintains academic ties through international conferences and scientific meetings.
“We have been working for some time on topics related to molecular materials that exhibit magnetic properties. Now, we can begin to discuss these topics, exchange results and knowledge, and from there plan for closer collaboration between our two laboratories,” the researcher commented.
After two years of work, the closing event for the Fondef project “CuBacti, a feed additive to combat infections caused by marine pathogens affecting the salmon industry” was held. The initiative was led by Dr. Brenda Modak and researcher Dr. Mick Parra, along with a research team from the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology.
The Chilean aquaculture industry faces ongoing productivity challenges, including emerging viral diseases that severely impact fish health and cause significant production losses.
To provide innovative solutions, the University of Santiago de Chile (Usach) executed the Fondef IT project: “Validation of a Prototype Vaccine Against Piscine Reovirus 1 (PRV-1)", demonstrating a pilot recombinant vaccine's protective potential in Atlantic salmon. The study was led by researchers Dr. Marcelo Cortez (Faculty of Chemistry and Biology) and Dr. Yesseny Vásquez (Faculty of Medical Sciences).
Plastic has become an omnipresent material in daily life—found in food packaging, water bottles, and utensils—yet scientific researchers warn that toxic chemical components in these plastics pose significant long-term health risks.
A primary example is bisphenol A (BPA), a toxic chemical compound linked to severe disruptions in immune, neurological, and endocrine systems. Due to these health risks, BPA regulations and usage restrictions have been implemented internationally, including in Chile.
The University of Santiago de Chile (USACH) has officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art Liquid Nitrogen Plant at its Faculty of Chemistry and Biology. Attended by university leadership, the ceremony marked the launch of a cryogenic facility that stands as a unique technological milestone in Latin America.
This modern plant will supply the essential cryogenic resources needed to support safe scientific research, advanced experimentation, and high-precision sample preservation across the entire institution.
Extremophiles from Antarctica and the Atacama Desert will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on April 8 to study their biological adaptation to microgravity and high-radiation conditions inside the station.