Usach and Rutgers University are jointly developing an initiative to explore new therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
The research will delve into the effects of natural bioactive compounds derived from the Andean Shilajit species, a black moss found in both the Andes and Himalayas.
The funds will facilitate a two-year collaborative research effort between Dr. Leonel Rojo and Dr. Diana Roopchand.
The academic relationship between the two researchers dates back to December 2024, when Dr. Roopchand visited the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology as part of the “Successful Women in Science” event held at the University of Santiago, Chile.
“It was precisely this event that made it possible to draft and submit this international project. The project was evaluated by leading scientists at Rutgers University,” said the academic from the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology about the initiative selected in the Rutgers Global Seed Grants call for proposals.
The project will promote the internationalization of the University of Santiago through academic mobility, covering expenses related to funding between researchers and students from both institutions, as well as the purchase of reagents, biological material, and other research supplies.
Dr. Roopchand is an associate professor at Rutgers University. Her research focuses on the study of natural bioactive compounds and, primarily, on discovering how natural products can modify the gut microbiome and consequently restore or preserve groups of bacteria that are beneficial to the body. In addition, they have been developed in both animal models and clinical trials.