Cell Models, Functional Nutrition and Fish Health Take Center Stage at International Aquaculture Workshop in Chile

Researchers from Chile and abroad will gather in Puerto Montt, Chile, on September 21 for the international workshop “Cell Models for the Salmon Farming of the Future: Innovation in Research and Validation of Functional Additives.” The event will explore advances in fish cell models, functional nutrition and biotechnology as tools to improve salmon health and support more sustainable aquaculture.

Organized by INCAR² and Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh), the workshop will bring together eight specialists working across cell biology, nutrition, bioprospecting, neurobiology and infectious diseases.

Two leading Canadian researchers will provide an international perspective on the development and application of fish cell lines. Dr. Niels Bols, from the University of Waterloo, will introduce a conceptual framework for classifying and understanding fish cell lines, while Dr. Lucy Lee, from the University of the Fraser Valley, will review 30 years of research using the RTS11 cell line and its applications in salmonid immunology and aquaculture.

Researchers from Chile will highlight how cellular models can accelerate the development and evaluation of new tools for salmon farming. Dr. Luis Vargas-Chacoff, from UACh, will discuss primary cell cultures and cell lines as research models in aquaculture, while Dr. Alex Romero Zúñiga, INCAR² researcher and UACh academic, will present new cellular strategies for evaluating functional feed additives designed to enhance fish health, growth and resilience.

The potential of cell-based research to bridge laboratory science and commercial applications will also be explored. Dr. Allison Astuya, from Universidad de Concepción, will discuss in vitro bioprospecting as a platform for identifying bioactive compounds with potential applications in salmon farming.

Functional nutrition will be another key focus. PhD candidate Natasha Santibáñez, from INCAR² and UACh, will present research on the use of maca (Lepidium meyenii) extract to support muscle homeostasis and stress resilience in salmonids.

The program will also examine emerging questions in fish health. Dr. José Luis Muñoz, from Universidad de Los Lagos, will address the use of primary brain cell cultures to investigate the effects of antibiotics, while Dr. Cristian Oliver, from Universidad Mayor, will discuss how extracellular vesicles produced by Piscirickettsia salmonis may modulate inflammatory immune responses in salmonid cells, providing new insights into host-pathogen interactions and disease mechanisms.

By bringing together researchers, students and aquaculture professionals, the workshop aims to strengthen the connection between fundamental research and technological innovation, accelerating the development of new approaches to fish health, nutrition and sustainable salmon production.

The event is sponsored by Cargill, Blue Health Vision, Acuanativa, Instituto Base, Fish Physio Lab and Manuchar.

Information and registration: ercilia.perez@uach.cl