Universidad San Sebastián once again positions itself as a leading research institution, with a total of 23 projects selected across its various faculties, strengthening its impact on the generation of frontier knowledge.

We congratulate Drs. Lladser, Prado, and Pacheco on this important recognition and reaffirm our commitment as a technological and scientific center of excellence to cutting-edge research, which contributes to the progress of knowledge and the training of new generations of scientists in the country.

Among the researchers from Centro Ciencia & Vida selected in this call is Dr. Álvaro Lladser, who will develop a study on the role of regulatory T cells in cancer immunotherapy-induced immunity (Fondecyt 1251312). His project seeks to understand how these lymphocytes can contribute to the formation of immunological memory, with the aim of optimizing therapeutic strategies against cancer, improving the efficacy of immunotherapy-based treatments.

For her part, Dr. Carolina Prado, associate researcher at the Basal Center, will study the role of the microbiota in the trafficking of intestinal immune cells to the central nervous system in scenarios of homeostasis and disease (Fondecyt 1250646). Her work will focus on multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease with no cure, exploring how metabolites produced by the microbiota can influence the migration of immune cells and their impact on disease progression. This study hopes to open new possibilities for the development of alternative therapies that improve patients' quality of life.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rodrigo Pacheco will analyze the role of the short-chain fatty acid receptor GPR43 in the interaction between T cells and the microbiota in Parkinson's disease (Fondecyt 1250021). His research will focus on how these bacterial metabolites can modulate pain perception in Parkinson's patients, one of the most debilitating non-motor symptoms of this disease. If his hypothesis is confirmed, this study could contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies to reduce chronic pain in these patients.

The awarding of these projects reinforces the contribution of Centro Ciencia & Vida of Universidad San Sebastián to science of excellence, with research that not only expands fundamental knowledge in biomedicine but also generates potential applications to improve the health and well-being of the population. These achievements underscore the impact of Chilean science on understanding complex diseases and developing new therapies.

Collaboration with other institutions is fundamental for the development of this type of research. An example of this is the alliance with Dr. Margarita Calvo, from Universidad Católica, an expert in pain, with whom Dr. Rodrigo Pacheco has worked on publishing studies on the microbiota and pain perception in Parkinson's disease. Thanks to this collaboration, it has been possible to delve deeper into the study of chronic pain and strengthen the application for the Fondecyt project.

The link with researchers from other institutions reinforces the impact and scope of the scientific studies carried out at the basal center and promoted by the National Research and Development Agency, ANID.