Selected from nine applicants, the principal investigator at Centro Ciencia & Vida and academic at Universidad San Sebastian was honored for her research career in the neurobiology of aging, conducted entirely in Chile.

Dr. Cheril Tapia, principal investigator at Centro Ciencia & Vida and academic at Universidad San Sebastian, received the Outstanding Young Scientist 2025 award, granted by the Society for Cell Biology of Chile (SBCCh) together with the company GrupoBios. The distinction recognizes researchers under 40 who have developed their line of work primarily in Chile, considering their scientific productivity as well as human capital formation, the awarding of competitive projects, and teaching.

For Dr. Tapia, the award holds special meaning because it summarizes a journey that has taken place entirely in Chile, from her Biochemistry studies in Valparaíso to her current work at USS and Centro Ciencia & Vida. “It is an important award for me because my entire career has been in Chile, including my postdoc and the awarding of my first projects. This makes the award very significant for me and for my laboratory. We are all very happy that the work performed is being recognized,” the researcher noted, highlighting that this achievement is the result of the joint effort of her entire laboratory team, founded eight years ago.

Neurobiology of aging

From the Laboratory of Neurobiology of Aging, Dr. Tapia investigates how the aging process affects the brain at the cellular and molecular levels. In particular, her team focuses on mitochondrial function in hippocampal neurons (a critical region for memory) and how their deterioration with age may contribute to cognitive decline.

These studies seek to understand why synaptic connections become more vulnerable in old age—for example, in the face of harmful protein accumulation—and to explore potential strategies to mitigate that damage. This line of research is directly linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, which are increasingly common in societies with aging populations.

The recognition will be presented at the SBCCh Annual Congress, to be held in Puerto Varas from November 24 to 28. On that occasion, Dr. Tapia will also deliver a talk presenting her scientific career and the main advances of her work in the neurobiology of aging.