Our country could soon add a new one Nobel prize although this time tied to the sciences.
This, as the Chilean scientist Ricardo Maccioni has two nominations on Nobel Prize in Medicine 2021 for his contributions to the knowledge of the disease of the Alzheimer’s.
The Doctor of Science is an academic at the University of Chile and has been leading the International Center for Biomedicine for more than 30 years, which is dedicated to seeking a cure for this neurodegenerative disease.
The connoted researcher took the time to talk to BioBioChile of different subjects, where evidently the pandemic could not be absent. Although he maintains that it has become a difficult period for everyone, he acknowledges that for him and his team have been productive times.
“Last year we did seven scientific publications during the pandemic, which is a record, in terms of publishing scientific papers in high-impact journals. It means that there has been highly coordinated work during the pandemic. I’ve been working in my office since 7 in the morning, and I’m just 76 years old. ”, He began pointing.
The arrival of the first vaccines in our country make the Chilean scientist see the future in an optimistic way. “A pandemic is something that happened unfortunately, but pandemics have occurred to humanity on many occasions,” he mentions.
“The issue is that in the future, as people get vaccinated, there will be the possibility of slowing down the progress of the disease. It’s like when you have a downward act and you slow down and slow down, until you get there. down and everything is under control, “he said.
In this regard, Dr. Maccioni emphasizes that the recommendation is to get vaccinated. “And hopefully all the facilities are in place for people to access the vaccine. I’ve seen a bit of confusion in people yet. “, Add.
“There is no justification for not wearing masks. You have to use them and keep your social distance, that’s clear. I’m scared when I see crowded people in supermarkets, that can’t be. Now, obviously if a policy is made vaccination, it is scientifically proven that this works, “he continues.
In this regard, the researcher emphasizes that “all vaccines work”, mentioning the case of diseases that have been able to be controlled by inoculation such as measles or smallpox.
“All these great advances have been made by vaccines. There is no medical reason to think that vaccines do not work. This unwarranted fear that vaccines can lead to autism is unfounded. They are somehow crazy things that come out of nowhere and have no scientific grip. “, Expressa.
“The government is taking the right steps. People are the ones who have to use them in some way properly. If they say that there is a capacity of people in the supermarkets who can come in, they can’t be full. It can’t be. that, because it is summer, all the people end up on the beaches, that there are thousands of people in a small area without any kind of control, ”he argues.
“We need to be more aware. It’s not a matter of government or ordinances. Maybe we should be a little firmer as in countries like New Zealand, Where they virtually extinguished the virus. It’s a little smaller than Chile, but it’s comparable, it’s isolated like us, “he said.
From a young age Dr. Maccioni became interested in studying the Alzheimer’s, “When nothing or very little was known. It’s a topic that interested me soon,” he explains.
After realizing his studies superiors in biochemistry in the University of Chile, one calld like biochemist in 1969, after which it attended his postgraduate in biomedical sciences in the same house of studies, withdrawing in 1975. here when he did his research fellow at the Center for Health Sciences at the University of Colorado, USA.
Among other important advances, the scientist led the development of a test that will diagnose the Alzheimer’s with a blood sample.
“It’s a non-invasive test called Alz Tau“That in one or two months it will be available for the entire Chilean population to do, from Arica to Punta Arenas,” he said. All this based on the detection of the behavior of a key molecule in the development of the disease: the TAU protein.
Specifically, it is a system consisting of two kits. The first is to prepare the platelet protein, while the second kit is to do the analysis that indicates the value of these variants of the TAU protein.
Thus, this scientific proposal is positioned as a unique alternative in the world that with a simple technology allows accurate and predictive information, not only diagnostic but early arrest, up to 10 years in advance.
The test is based on the presence of high or low molecular weight of this protein, all in the hands of algorithms. In this sense, the biomarker consists of calculating species of high molecular weight and low molecular weight of the TAU protein, Which indicates that in cases of Alzheimer’s dominates the species of the high, and this has a correlation with about 90%.
The biochemist is currently continuing his research work. It will be published in the journal Alzheimer’s Disease Magazine his new studio called New frontiers in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Which proposes an integrated approach that includes preventive factors and pharmacological approaches for future disease control.
The academic has his expectations that through a multitarget therapeutic approach, which goes to different goals, you can have control of the disease.
“But not with a simple drug, I’ve said that many times. If you’re trying to cure Alzheimer’s with a drug against some brain enzyme, You will never control it, because it is an event within the dozen events that are happening in the brain altered with the disease. Then you can control one part but not all. The idea is to control at different levels, “he argues.
A third Chilean Nobel laureate?
Dr. Maccioni admits that any scientist would experience great joy in being nominated for a Nobel Prize. “Basically, it’s a recognition of years of work. Scientists have very little recognition, but if they come, they’re logically welcome,” he acknowledges.
“It would be a great honor for me and my research team, because I don’t work alone. And on the other hand, it would be an honor for Chile, because it would be a unique event for our country, which has never had a Nobel Prize in Medicine, Has never had an award in hard science. This would place Chile in the world sphere, in a position of importance.
Finally, he sent a message to those young people who are just starting out in the world of science. “First of all, they have to assume that doing science in Chile is not easy, we need to redouble our efforts in terms of what scientists do in countries like the United States,” he says. “You have to be reluctant, that is, have a very strong spirit to face the onslaught,” he adds.
In addition, it emphasizes the importance of perseverance and hard work. “I have come to this by working 20 hours a day for a long time. I am now 76 years old and I am working not 20 but 16 hours. Legally I have my one month vacation, but I am on cannon foot, working,” he stated .
Meanwhile, he explained that one must be honest and think big. “You never have to be scared. Projects can be done. Everyone who has been trained in my lab has this stamp”, He concludes.