Five IMPACT researchers were awarded funding from the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) Fondecyt Regular 2025, for their individual research projects of excellence oriented to the production of knowledge.
“As an IMPACT center, the fact that our researchers have been awarded these resources is very important because it validates the clinical importance of the research they are leading, which gives good hope that in the near future they will achieve practical applications that will benefit society with new diagnostics and advanced therapies,” explained IMPACT’s Manager, Miguel Rebolledo.
CELL THERAPY FOR ARTHRITIS AND ADVANCES IN NEURODEVELOPMENT
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by an exacerbated immune response that causes cartilage damage and systemic inflammation and currently has no cure: existing treatments only relieve symptoms without sustained anti-inflammatory effects.
The project “Unravelling the role of Mitophagy Triggered by Exogenous MSC-Derived Mitochondria on Memory T-CD4 cells as a Novel Therapeutic Mechanism for Rheumatoid Arthritis”, led by IMPACT principal investigator Patricia Luz-Crawford, seeks to evaluate the therapeutic potential of transferring mitochondria from umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cell-derived MSCs into T-CD4 cells from patients with arthritis to assess metabolic response and reduce inflammation in preclinical models. Their objective is: studying the effects of mitochondrial transfer on T-CD4 cell metabolism and function, investigating the fate of the transferred mitochondria, and assessing their impact in preclinical arthritis models.
The project also combines the expertise of national and international researchers to advance the understanding of mitochondrial transfer and its therapeutic potential in arthritis, promoting international collaborations and the training of young researchers in this emerging field.
In addition, IMPACT research associate and Scientific Director of the Center for Biomedical Research and Innovation (CiiB) of the Universidad de los Andes, Federico Bátiz, was awarded funding for the project “Alteration of the mTOR/FOXO3 balance in interneuron progenitors as a pathogenic mechanism linking prenatal stress and neurodevelopmental disorders”.
FROM ELECTRONIC SKIN TO PACKAGING
The project, “Self-repairing multifunctional materials based on chitosan with biopolymeric nanoparticles for electronic skin and food packaging”, is another of those selected for this 2025 call.
IMPACT researcher and academic at the University of Chile, Humberto Palza, explains that this project “is about developing materials based on natural polymers that mimic the self-healing capacity of organs and tissues, particularly in terms of mechanical properties. In other words, materials that, when mechanically damaged, can self-repair and recover their mechanical performance. This has applications in the field of “skin-electronics”, i.e. materials that mimic the sensitivity of the skin in terms of its ability to “feel” pressures and forces, and other physical changes. It can also be used for food packaging.
INNOVATION IN CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging is a crucial tool in the diagnosis of heart disease, allowing the structure and function of the myocardium to be assessed noninvasively. However, its current use is limited by long examination times and high costs, leading to complex and uncomfortable procedures for the patient.
To address these challenges, the Fondecyt project “Towards a 20 min Cardiac MRI Exam at 0.55T: simple, efficient and affordable”, led by the alternate director of IMPACT and academic of the Pontificia Universidad Católica, René Botnar, seeks to develop a new protocol that allows this exam to be performed in less time and with minimal user intervention.
In addition to optimizing diagnostic quality and patient experience, this project also seeks to train new professionals at the intersection of imaging, deep learning and medicine, and to lay the groundwork for future clinical studies in the cardiovascular field.
On the other hand, IMPACT principal investigator and Pontificia Universidad Católica academic, Claudia Prieto, leads the project “Free-running cardiac MRF at 0.55T with self-supervised physics informed Deep Learning”, which was also awarded the Fondecyt Regular 2025.