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

RL2

Dr. Ruben Avendaño Herrera

Principal Investigator

Biography

Dr. Ruben Avendaño-Herrera is an Aquaculture Engineer and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Antofagasta (1997). He obtained his PhD in Biology through the Microbiology and Parasitology program at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain (2005), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Andrés Bello University (2010–2013).

Between 2006 and 2009, he worked as a researcher at the pharmaceutical company Veterquímica Ltda., and in 2010 he joined Andrés Bello University (UNAB). He is currently a Full Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Aquatic Organism Pathology and Aquaculture Biotechnology at UNAB, as well as Deputy Director and Principal Investigator at the CIA-INCAR² Center of Excellence.

His main research interests include aquaculture pathology, diseases of aquatic organisms, biotechnological tools applied to aquaculture, standardization of procedures for monitoring and validating the appropriate use of antibiotics, and the development of vaccines against aquatic diseases. He is the author of more than 153 scientific publications (mainly in WoS-indexed journals) and 7 book chapters.

He has edited and overseen the publication of a book on infectious diseases affecting salmonid farming in Chile and worldwide. He has participated in 29 research projects, both national and international, serving as principal investigator and lead researcher in 17 of them.

Dr. Avendaño-Herrera has supervised 11 doctoral and postdoctoral theses and has served on committees for 25 undergraduate theses. He is a reviewer for more than 30 international journals and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Fish Diseases. He has been part of the Animal Health and Production Committee of FONDECYT, serving as chair, and is currently a member of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee of FONDEF. He also serves on multiple evaluation panels for ANID funding programs and is a member of the Aquaculture Working Group of CLSI.

Degrees and Academic Qualifications

  • 2005. PhD in Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
  • 1997. Aquaculture Engineer, University of Antofagasta, Chile.
  • 1997. Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Sciences, University of Antofagasta, Chile.

Selected Projects

  • 2024–2026. Anticipating, rather than reacting to, the imminent threat of bacterial co-infections in farmed salmon in Chile: elucidation of fish susceptibility, bacterial behavior, and treatment efficacy during dual or multiple co-infections in Atlantic salmon. Project ID: 1230068. Funding: FONDEF. Rubén Esteban Avendaño Herrera.
  • 2021–2024. Production and evaluation of a diagnostic kit and an adjuvanted divalent vaccine against Yersinia ruckeri and Weissella ceti in rainbow trout. Project ID: 28-2020. Animal Health in Early Life Stages of Salmonids and Native Resources. Rubén Esteban Avendaño Herrera.
  • 2024. Molecular characterization of Lactococcus spp. isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) affected by septicemic disease. Project: UAEM ODS2024. Animal Health in Early Life Stages of Salmonids and Native Resources. Rubén Esteban Avendaño Herrera.
  • 2023–2026. Anticipating bacterial co-infections in farmed salmon in Chile. Project ID: 1230068. Funding: FONDECYT. Rubén Esteban Avendaño Herrera, Principal Investigator.
  • 2023–2025. Study on the role of membrane vesicles from Renibacterium salmoninarum grown under iron-limited conditions on pathogenicity in Atlantic salmon (Postdoc Dr. Macarena Echeverría). Project ID: 3230453. Funding: FONDECYT. Postdoctoral sponsor.
  • 2022–2025. Snake venom toxins for drug discovery: identification and evaluation of proteins and peptides with antimicrobial activity. Project ID: 1220921. Funding: FONDECYT. Principal Investigator.
  • 2024. Molecular characterization of Lactococcus spp. in rainbow trout. UAEM ODS2024, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. Principal Investigator.
  • 2021–2024. Production and evaluation of a diagnostic kit and vaccine against Yersinia ruckeri and Weissella ceti. Funding: CONCYTEC Peru (74598-17-2). Principal Investigator.
  • 2019–2023. Comprehensive study of Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi and its virulence factors for prevention strategies. FONDECYT 1190283. Principal Investigator.
  • 2019–2021. Capacity strengthening to evaluate climate change impacts on pink shrimp fisheries in Uruguay. Principal Investigator: Renato Quiñones.
  • 2018–2020. Biological and molecular studies of Piscirickettsia salmonis. FIE 122929. Director.
  • 2018. Detection and evaluation of tenacibaculosis in salmonids. SERNAPESCA Grant ID 1697-79-IN18. Principal Investigator.
  • 2017–2020. Molecular characterization of Streptococcus spp. from rainbow trout. UAEM Project 4489/2018/CI. Principal Investigator.
  • 2016–2018. Aquaculture Health Management Program (SERNAPESCA). Principal Investigator.
  • 2015–2019. Iron uptake system in Renibacterium salmoninarum. FONDECYT 1150695. Principal Investigator.
  • 2015–2018. Quorum sensing and biofilm formation in fish pathogens. FONDECYT Postdoc 3150505. Sponsor.
  • 2013–2017. Bacterial diversity in Antarctic waters and fish species. INACH RT08-13. Director.
  • 2013–2015. Virulence mechanisms of Flavobacterium psychrophilum. Núcleo Project 447.
  • 2013–2015. National database of bacterial isolates for aquaculture. FIA-PYT-2013-0014. General Coordinator.
  • 2012–2017. Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR). FONDAP 15110027. Principal Investigator.
  • 2012–2016. Intensive aquaculture technology for red cusk eel. FONDEF D10I1141. Principal Investigator.
  • 2012–2014. Vaccine efficacy against flavobacteriosis in rainbow trout juveniles. Andrés Bello University Internal Project DI-99-12/R. Principal Investigator.
  • 2011–2013. Phage display immunization strategies in rainbow trout. FONDECYT 1110219. Principal Investigator.
  • 2010–2013. Strengthening academic and research capacity in aquaculture. CONICYT 79090006. Principal Investigator.
  • 2009–2011. Antimicrobial susceptibility in salmonid pathogens. Andrés Bello University Project DI-01-10/R. Principal Investigator.
  • 2009–2011. Pathogenicity factors in Streptococcus phocae. FONDECYT 1090054. Principal Investigator.
  • 2008–2009. Development of vaccines against piscirickettsiosis. INNOVA Project 207-6537. Co-investigator.
  • 2006–2009. Development and production of registered fish vaccines. CONICYT Bicentennial Program IPC19. Principal Investigator (Veterquímica S.A.).
  • 2004–2005. Virulence factors in marine fish pathogens. Project AGL2004-07037, Ministry of Science and Technology, Spain. Research Team Member, University of Santiago de Compostela.