Dr. Luisa Fernanda Duarte Peñaloza, a graduate of the School of Microbiology at the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) and currently a professor and researcher at the University of Development in Chile, is visiting UIS from October 1 to 9, 2026, as part of an academic program focused on knowledge exchange, research, and international cooperation.
Dr. Duarte Peñaloza’s visit is made possible by funding from ICETEX’s International Experts Program – General Call for Proposals 2026, an initiative that seeks to strengthen the capacities of higher education institutions, associations, and academic networks in Colombia through the strategic engagement of national and international experts. The program contributes to strengthening internationalization, academic quality, international cooperation, research, innovation, and regional impact, in alignment with national priorities for higher education and international cooperation.
During her stay at the UIS, Dr. Duarte Peñaloza participated as a guest speaker at the 5th International Conference on Health and Life Sciences, where she delivered the keynote address titled “The Hidden Burden of Persistent Infections: Cellular Senescence, Aging, and New Opportunities for Prevention,” presenting results from her current FONDECYT Start-up Project 11241567, funded by the Ministry of Science through the National Agency for Research and Development in Chile.
Her participation in this conference allowed her to share with the university community current knowledge and perspectives on how some persistent infections can leave biological effects that extend far beyond the acute infectious episode, presenting emerging evidence linking these infections to processes such as chronic inflammation, immunosenescence, and cellular senescence, and explaining how these phenomena could contribute, over the years, to increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, new opportunities arising from research for the prevention and treatment of these conditions were reviewed.
A Scientific Career Built in Colombia and Chile
Dr. Luisa Fernanda Duarte Peñaloza is a bacteriologist and clinical laboratory scientist from the Industrial University of Santander, where she began her professional training. She later earned a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, with a concentration in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Her academic and scientific career has focused primarily on the fields of virology and immunology, with a special interest in the design and development of vaccines and the study of neurodegenerative diseases. She currently serves as a professor and researcher at the Universidad del Desarrollo in Chile, where she conducts research, teaches, and trains new researchers.
Dr. Duarte Peñaloza’s return to the UIS also represents an opportunity to strengthen ties between the University and its alumni who are pursuing their academic and scientific careers at internationally recognized institutions.
An Academic Agenda to Strengthen Cooperation
As part of her visit, various academic activities have been scheduled for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and researchers from the School of Health and other academic units at UIS.
These events will provide a firsthand look at the research areas pursued by Dr. Duarte Peñaloza and explore opportunities for academic and scientific collaboration between the Industrial University of Santander, the University of Development, and their respective research groups.
The agenda includes opportunities for exchange, academic dialogue, and training, with the aim of promoting new opportunities for international cooperation and strengthening the UIS’s research networks.
