Bernardita Méndez, president of Fundación Ciencia & Vida, received the ICARE award 2015 for her “contribution to the development and international projections of chilean science, as well as for the successful development of science-based innovations”

September 4, 2015

We are proud to announce that our President, Bernardita Méndez, received the Icare Award 2015 in “Special Category” for “her contribution to the development and international projections of Chilean science, as well as for the successful development of science-based innovations”. Also, Reinaldo Solari, a renowned Chilean businessman was recognized with the award in the “Business Category” and Productos Fernández (PF) in the “Company Category”.

Bernardita has a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Universidad Católica de Chile and did her postdoctoral training in the Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley. Her strong biotechnology background includes more than a decade with Chiron Corporation at California, where she served as Vice President, Regulatory and Quality Affairs. There she was responsible for the regulatory approval by the health authorities of many biotech-derived diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics on a world-wide basis, as well as for the filing and prosecution of patents in the US and abroad. She is currently in charge of the Intellectual property and Regulatory Affairs of the technology developed by Andes Biotechnologies.

Bernardita is a Professor at Universidad Andrés Bello and Universidad Católica de Chile. She serves as a Board member in several profit and non-profit organizations, including Fundación Chile, Universidad Andrés Bello and ComunidadMujer. She was a member of the Consejo Nacional de Innovación para la Competitividad, convened by President Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010).