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INCAR²Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación · ANID — Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo

RL4

Dr. Juan Antonio Valdés

Principal Investigator

Biography

Dr. Juan Antonio Valdés is a Full Professor, Director of the Biotechnology Engineering Program at Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB), and a Principal Investigator at the Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR). His research focuses on growth and stress responses in organisms of aquaculture importance. He currently leads his fourth FONDECYT research project and has authored more than 90 Web of Science-indexed publications, with an h-index of 25. As an educator, he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses related to aquaculture biotechnology. To date, he has supervised 5 Ph.D. dissertations in Biotechnology, 14 Master's theses, more than 30 undergraduate theses, and numerous research internships and placements.

Degrees and Academic Qualifications

  • 2025 Lawyer (LL.B.), Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile.
  • 2023 Bachelor of Legal Sciences, Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile.
  • 2007 Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Chile.
  • 2000 Biochemist, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile.
  • 2000 Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile.
  • 1996 Systems Analyst, Escuela de Asistentes Técnicos (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), Chile.

Selected Projects

  • 2023-Present. Impact of Early Life Stress on Teleost Skeletal Muscle Plasticity: Insights into Cortisol as an Epigenetic Regulator Between Beneficial and Harmful Stress. Grant No. 1230794. FONDECYT Regular Project. Role: Principal Investigator (PI).
  • 2021. Fishing for a Putative Membrane Corticosteroid Receptor in Euryhaline Teleosts: Role in Osmoregulation. Researcher: Dr. Jorge Aedo. FONDECYT Postdoctoral Project. Role: Sponsor.
  • 2020. Revisiting the Role of the Mineralocorticoid Receptor in Teleosts: Effects of 11-Deoxycorticosterone and Cortisol on Fish Somatic Growth. Grant No. 1201498. FONDECYT Regular Project. Role: Principal Investigator.
  • 2019. Functional Genomics Applied to Parr-Smolt Transformation: Novel Biomarkers for Smolt Selection in Atlantic Salmon. Researcher: Dr. Valentina Valenzuela. FONDECYT Postdoctoral Project. Role: Sponsor.
  • 2018-2021. FONDECYT Postdoctoral Project 3180283. Postdoctoral Researcher: Phillip Dettleff. Identification and Validation of New Biomarkers of Thermal Stress in Red Conger Eel (Genypterus chilensis) Through Transcriptomics: A Model for Aquaculture Diversification in Chile. Role: Sponsor.
  • 2017-2020. FONDECYT Project 1171318. Challenging the Stress Response Paradigm in Fish: Role of Cortisol Membrane-Initiated Signaling in Metabolic Adaptations of Skeletal Muscle. Role: Principal Investigator.
  • 2017-2018. FIC-R Project. Social and Technological Innovation to Promote Small-Scale Aquaculture in Rural Fishing Communities of the Valparaíso Region. Funding Source: Regional Innovation Fund for Competitiveness. Role: Project Director.
  • 2013-2017. CONICYT Regular Research Project No. 1130545. Effects of Chronic Stress Responses Triggered by Fish Farming Conditions on Endocrine and Molecular Signaling Pathways Involved in Muscle Growth in Fine Flounder. Role: Co-Investigator.
  • 2013-2017. Fondap Center Project. Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR). Role: Co-Investigator.
  • 2013-2015. Nucleus Project 447. Study of the Virulence Mechanisms of the Aquaculture Pathogen Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Based on an Innovative Primary Culture Model of Fish Cells and Larvae. Role: Co-Investigator.
  • 2012. UNAB Project 08/09-R. Cross-Talk Between IGF-1 and Myostatin Signaling Pathways Mediated by Calcium During Myogenesis. Role: Principal Investigator.
  • 2010-2012. UNAB Project 31/11R. Regulation of Myostatin Expression by IGF-1 During Myoblast Proliferation and Differentiation Phases. Role: Principal Investigator.
  • 2009-2013. CONICYT Initiation Project No. 11090274. Cross-Talk Between Myostatin and IGF-1 Transduction Pathways Mediated by Calcium During Myogenesis. Role: Principal Investigator.
  • 2009-2012. CONICYT Regular Research Project No. 1090416. Analysis of Signal Transduction Triggered by the GH/IGF-1/Myostatin Axis in Chilean Flounder Muscle: Effects of Nutritional Restriction and Compensatory Growth. Role: Principal Investigator.