Formerly supported chemistry groups in Latin America
Chile
IPICS CHI01 - Chemical Ecology
ISP supported the research group at Laboratorio de Química Ecologica, Universidad de Chile 1984 and 2002. The group was led by Prof Hermann M Niemeyer.
From 1991, the group constituted a node in the Latin American Network of for Research in Bioactive Natural Products (LANBIO).
Objectives
The research group worked on problems emerging from to the use of industrial agrochemicals in crops, by studying the biochemicals involved in the interaction between aphids and plants, both in experimental systeme with wheat, a major crop in Chile and the world, and in the natural environment in which the hosts are native plant species.
Achievements
Over the years of ISP support the group graduated 9 PhD students and 11 MSc/MPhil/Licentiate students. In addition the group published papers in 130 international journals, 16 papers in national journals and produced 163 conference reports.
Colombia
IPICS COL01 – Physiological chemistry
ISP supported the research group at Universidad Nacional de Colombia between 1977 and 2004. The group leader was Ms Myriam Sánchez de Gómez.
The group COL01 was gave rise to two other groups, COL01/2 in 1988 and COL01/3 in 1992.
Objectives
The research group was devoted to studies of interactions between malnutrition and growth hormone action.
Achievements
Between 1977 and 2004 the group graduated 5 PhD students and 13 MSc/MPhil students. The group also published 16 papers in international journals, 27 papers in national journals and produced 91 contributions to scientific conferences.
IPICS COL01/2 - Food science and nutrition
ISP supported the research group at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Colombia, between 1988 and 1990. The group leader was Ms Ana Silvia Bermúdez.
The research group was devoted to Food science and nutrition.
Achievements
Between 1988 and 1990 the group published 2 papers in national journals and produced 2 contributions to scientific conferences.
IPICS COL01/3 - Studies on tropical fruits
ISP supported the research group at Universidad Nacional de Colombia between 1988 and 1992. The group leader was Dr Carmenza Duque B.
The research group studied at that time newly commercialised Colombian tropical fruits.
Achievements
Between 1988 and 1992 the group graduated 3 MSc/MPhil students. The group also published 4 scientific publications in international journals, 4 in national journals and produced 6 contributions to scientific conferences.
The group continued as COL:03 from 1992 (see below).
IPICS COL03 - Flavours studies on Colombian fruits
ISP supported the research group at Universidad Nacional de Colombia between 1992 and 2004. (The group started as COL01/3). Group leader was Prof Carmenza Duque B.
Objectives
In Colombia there is a total of approximately 170 edible fruit species, but in the 1990s only five or six were widely commercialised for the international markets. Therefore the Colombian government developed policies to stimulate export of “new” fruits, so that the export increased from 24 ton in 1984 to approximately 30 000 tons in 1998.
These new fruits were tamarillo (Cyphomandra betacea), lulo (Solanum vestissimum D.), lulo or naranjilla (Solanum quitoense L.), cape goose berry (Physalis peruvian), mamey (Mammea americana), mountain papaya (Carica pubescens), curuba (Passiflora mollissima), guava (Psidium guajava), mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) etc.
The main goals for the research group was to:
- gain scientific insight knowledge on the aroma composition and aroma formation of important Colombian fruits.
- obtain knowledge on how the fruit aroma changes after harvesting (of importance for post-harvest treatment) and how the aroma evolved in different storage conditions.
- develop new products with optimum flavour that could be export together with the raw fruits.
Achievements
Between 1992 and 2004 the group graduated 7 PhD students and 15 MSc/MPhil students. In addition the group published 43 papers in international journals, 22 papers in national journals and produced 79 conference reports.
More information
The amount of funding allocated over the support period 1992 to 2004 was SEK 1 654 000.
The activities of the research group located continued after the phase-out of ISP-support. The group leader retired from the university in 2006, but was replaced by a former student. Since then, the group has been continuing working and expanding the research topics. They engage in research in chemical ecology involving volatiles active in the communication among species, they develop value-added products from fruits, preserving original aromas, they study the chemistry of natural pigments (anthocyanins, carotenoids and betalains), and more.
The group continued to strengthen the human scientific resource in Colombia. Since 2006, 6 PhD’s, 10 MSc graduations have been accomplished. Additionally, the group has been the pioneer in the creation of a national, interdisciplinary network in the field of bioprospecting Colombian tropical fruits, involving 40 researchers from all over the country.
After the phase out of ISP-support the group spent several years without external financial support, but during the following years, they managed to obtain grants from the Colombian National Research Agency, the International Foundation of Science (IFS), and the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).
Ecuador
IPICS ECU01: Nutritional biochemistry and biotechnology
ISP supported the research group at Escuela Politecnica Nacional between 1984 and 2007. Group leader was former ISP PhD graduate Professor Jenny Ruales.
Objectives
The research group was working in the broad field of food chemistry/food science with emphasis on utilisation of starch from indigenous plants.
The main goal was to optimise the use of resources and to improve the nutritional quality of food products based on local raw materials, eg.
- Identify and quantify compounds with antioxidant effect in Ecuadorian fruits and mango skin.
- Perform quantification of oligoelements in Ecuadorian foods. The study contributed to the Ecuadorian data food composition tables.
The research carried out in the group was done in collaboration with Lund University and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and Biochemistry Department of Universidad de Uruguay (IPICS URU02). Collaborative research was also carried out with institutions in France and Spain, Uppsala University, Sweden, and University of Greenwich, United Kingdom.
Achievements
Between 1984 and 2007 the group graduated 2 PhD students and 11 MSc/MPhil students. In addition the group published 58 papers in international journals, 25 papers in national journals and produced 211 contributions to scientific conferences.
More information
The amount of funding allocated over the support period 1984 to 2007 was SEK 6 803 000.
Immediately after the phase-out of ISP-support the group got a grant from the European Union between 2006–2009, which was sufficient to operate the group for four years and to keep the MSc program running.
After that, the group acquired grants from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (Netherlands), The Belgian Research Cooperation, the Spanish National Research Council, and received funding from the government and the own institute.
The grants were used for updating some of the research equipment acquired with ISP-funding. The group also started a PhD programme. At least 5 PhD’s have graduated since the end of ISP support in 2007. There are at least 10 papers published in international scientific journals
and 14 contributions to conferences or workshops since then.
Most of the contacts at the former host department in Sweden have retired, but contact has been kept with the Food Engineering Department at Lund University, which is participating through supervision of PhD students, research cooperation, joint research projects, co-publishing and lecturing. The group has also been collaborating with Gent University, Belgium, Technical University of Berlin, Germany, the National Research Center, CEBAS in Spain and with Toulouse University in France.
Peru
IPICS PER01 - Oxide semiconductors and related materials
ISP supported the research group at Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Peru, between 2002-2006.
More information
The chemistry group remained active after the phase out of ISP support. They were also part of an ISP supported physics group in thin films at the same faculty (IPPS PER01), which continued to receive funds a few years after the conclusion of the chemistry support. In addition, the group managed to secure funding from the government (National Research Council) and from university grants.
Since the end of ISP support in 2006, but the group has published 10 papers in international scientific journals and has made 23 contributions to international and national scientific conferences.
Challenges facing the group and the faculty are the national context with low teacher salaries, forcing most teachers to work at more than one university. The Faculty received a national grant for starting a MSc programme in nanotechnology, but it was not renewed due to
student dissatisfaction with the supervision and the faculty infrastructure.
IPICS PER02 - Chemical ecology of insect pests
ISP supported the research group at Universidad de Concepción, Peru, between 2002-2007.
The activities of the group has not continued after the phase-out of ISP support, due to lack of resources. The challenges facing the staff still at the department are adequate academic supervisors, facilities, infrastructure, management capacity, and support from university authorities.
However, the group has published at least 4 papers in international scientific journals since the end of support, and has made 3 contributions to scientific meetings.
Uruguay
IPICS URU01 - Screening and characterisation of neuroactive natural compounds
ISP supported the research group Instituto de Investigaciones Biologicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Uruguay, between 1978 and 2002. Group leader was Dr Frederico Dajas.
Objectives
With the prolongation of the life span due to advancement of technology, brain pathology is increasingly gaining importance all over the world. Together, degenerative diseases of the nervous system affect more than 10% of the population over 65 years. Given this high prevalence, the search for new therapeutics is a scientific activity with great economic and social potential. Strategies to approach the problem include chemical synthesis from already known compounds or searching for new molecules with original profile of action. Nature is a rich source of new molecules and a great number of therapeutics now in use have their roots in natural products.
The flora and fauna of South America is one of the greatest in the world in the number of species, representing a still poorly explored richness. Biodiversity is thus the most important natural resource available for many countries, a resource whose potential for sustainable development is a challenge to be addressed at the national and international level. Domestic research (analytical chemistry, bioassays, etc) can be performed in the countries in question to gain actual control of the chemical leads available in their biodiversity.
The research group of the Neurochemistry Division aimed at exploring the rich regional biodiversity of South America, screening natural compounds for their activities in the central nervous system, mainly their potential for treating diseases like Parkinson Disease and Alzheimer´s Dementia.
Oxidative stress with its concomitant overproduction of free radicals is involved in the ethiology of highly prevalent human diseases, particularly in the brain (Alzheimer´s Dementia, Parkinson´s Disease, etc). Since natural compounds can be a source of lead molecules for antioxidant activity, a systematic screening was performed by the research group. For example the Chondriamides from red algae (Chondria atropurpurea) of the South Atlantic Coast and Flavonoids from marcela (Achyrocline satureioides) were analysed.
The research group also did clinical assessment of oxidative stress: Practically all the research on active oxygen species and oxidative stress is based on their importance for human pathologies like ageing, diabetes, cancer, etc. Nevertheless, surprisingly scarce research has been devoted to the direct assessment of free radicals in human pathology. For these reasons, one of the research objectives of the Neurochemistry group was to assess the level of oxidative stress in humans through the hydroxylation of salicylate. The experimental method was modified for its clinical use and several groups were studied in co-ordination with the Geriatric Clinic at the University Hospital in Montevideo.
Preliminary results showed that the production of the 2,3 dihydroxybenzoic (2,3 DHBA) derivative of salicylate was increased in old people suffering from different pathologies (diabetes, hypertension, and dementia). In contrast, elderly people without pathologies did not differ from young controls in their levels of oxidative stress, as demonstrated by 2,3 DHBA production. These results were the basis for the production of a kit to assess oxidative stress in clinical conditions, an objective that attracted industry interest.
Achievements
Over the years of ISP-support the group graduated 5 PhD and 9 Master/Licentiate students. Moreover, the group has published 63 papers in scientific publications in international journals, 12 in national journals and made 100 contributions to scientific conferences.
More information
The amount of funding allocated over the support period 1978 to 2002 was SEK 4 665 000.
The research group has continued its activities after the phase out of ISP-support with the help of funding from the government, international donors, and private funding from the industry.
They were very active in the participation and organisation of training courses and conferences. The group was also in contact with the former host department in Sweden through research cooperation, joint research projects, co-publishing, and administrative collaboration.
The group was involved with the formerly ISP-supported School of Neuroscience, and was responsible for organising the school every second year.
IPICS URU02 - Solid phase protein biotechnology
ISP has supported the network at Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, between 1974 and 2003. Group leader was Dr Francisco Batista-Viera.
Objectives
The solid phase protein biotechnology is based on the use of support materials to perform many tasks that would be much more difficult, or even impossible, using solution chemistry. The research project aimed at contributing to the general scientific knowledge through the development of new methods potentially useful for the downstream purification of biomolecules and the production of fine chemicals as well as pharmaceutical drugs.
Since the group dealed with tools for many different areas such as medicine, diagnostics, food processing, pharmaceutical sciences and bioengineering, it was of interest both from the academic and applied points of view. The project was carried out with the collaboration of Uppsala University, Sweden.
One major goal of the project was to promote high level education of research students in order to provide the country and the region with a number of well-educated people in this field. Therefore, the research group awarded many former PhD students to group members when finishing their degree, thus opening new possibilities for growing and strengthening of the research group.
As a natural consequence of the expanding activities of the group, cooperation and joint efforts with other scientists in the country and in the region emerged. The organisation of regional post-graduate courses greatly contributed to this, as well as to spread out the knowledge and experience gained. The group was part of the establishment of the regional network LATSOBIO.
Achievements
Between 1974 and 2003 the group graduated 4 PhD students and 3 MSc/MPhil students. In addition, the group published 34 papers in international journals, 3 papers in national journals and produced 96 conference reports.
A member of the group together with some MSc students have developed a novel assay to assess water quality for consumption, which is now adopted by government offices and laboratories. There is an agreement between the Science Faculty at Universidad de la Republica and government institutions to assess the quality of water for consumption by the population in Montevideo, Uruguay.
One of the senior members and ISP alumnus of the group has cooperated with and assisted government divisions such as the Municipal Government of Montevideo and the office responsible
for water supply to the whole population in Uruguay, performing several technical assessments on water quality.
The group has also assisted the main dairy industry in Uruguay concerning the recovery and processing of minor proteins from dairy-byproducts such as cheese whey with high added value and their permeates and filtrates.
Senior members from the group have also participated in scientific committees for government granting agencies,
and scientific organisations in order to assess scientific projects and scientist qualifications.
More information
The amount of ISP funding allocated over the support period 1974 to 2003 was SEK 3 933 000
The group continued its activities after the phase out of ISP-support. The senior group members remained in the group and progressed very well in their academic careers at the department.
The former PhD graduates succeeded to start new research projects and to attract new graduate and postgraduate students, hence the group consolidated its activities.
Although difficult in the beginning, the group members managed to get funding from other sources after the end of ISP-support, mainly from national funding agencies such as the National Agency for Research and Innovation and the Program for Development of Basic Sciences. The group has also received funding from the university and international research funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Spanish National Research Council and the industry (eg. CONAPROLE, national dairy industry).
The group remained in contact with the former host department through research cooperation, joint research project, co-publishing, and lecturing.
In addition, the group established new academic links and collaborations with foreign institutions through participation in a CYTED Network, which enabled scientific cooperation with research groups in Argentina and Spain.
IPICS URU03 - Medicinal plants and glycoconjugate chemistry and biology
ISP supported the research group at Universidad de la Republica, in Uruguay between 1988 and 1994. Group leader was Mr Fernando Ferreira.
Objectives
The aim of the research group was to improve the research capabilities in medicinal plants and glycoconjugate chemistry and biology, and to establish active research programs in this field.
The research areas were:
- Solanum tuberosum and native Solanum species:
- chemical screening and phytochemcial studies of their glycoalkaloids and saponins;
- the toxicity and possible role of these compounds in the resistance of these plants to pests;
- Ilex paraguayensis:
- Chemical screening, phytochemical and biological-activity studies of the glycosides present in this plant, extensively used as an herbal tea drink.
- Medicinal plants:
- Antimicrobial activity screening of the plants used in folk medicine:
- Isolation and chemical characterization of the active principles.
- Bacterial polysaccharides:
- Structural studies of bacterial polysaccharides of potential economic or sanitary interest.
Achievements
Over the years of ISP-support the group made 11 scientific publications in international journals and 11 contributions to scientific conferences.
More information
The amount of funding allocated over the support period 1988 to 1994 was SEK 705 000.