Synaptic plasticity; Aging; Redox signaling

1. 2025- present: Postgraduate Thesis: Joaquin Gómez “Effect of Astaxanthin on mitochondrial calcium in HT22 cells”. Master's Program in Biomedical Sciences, mention in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Valparaíso. Function: advisor.

2. 2025- present: Postgraduate Thesis: Makarena Munoz “Effect of Astaxanthin on ryanodine receptor DNA methylation in aged rats”. Master's Program in Biomedical Sciences, mention in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Valparaíso. Function: advisor, co-advisor: Dr. Mario Párraga, Universidad de Valparaíso.

3. 2025- present: Postgraduate Thesis: Jonathan Rojas “Potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic effect of a Leptocarpha rivularis nanoemulsion in a cellular model of Alzheimer's disease”. PhD Program in Sciences and Engineering for Health, Universidad de Valparaíso; Chile. Function: advisor; co-advisor; Dr. Iván Montenegro y Dr. Jaime Mella, Universidad de Valparaíso.

4. 2025 Postgraduate Thesis: José Luis Marcos " Basic Clinical Study of Neuroinflammation in the Hippocampus-Lateral Septum-Lateral Hypothalamus Pathway and Its Role in Obesity" PhD Program in Sciences and Engineering for Health, Universidad de Valparaíso; Chile. Function: co-advisor; advisor; Dr. Ramón Sotomayar Zárate.

5. 2025 Postgraduate Thesis: Javiera Illanes “Contribution of the Pannexin 1 channel to AMPA receptor trafficking in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease” PhD program in Neuroscience. Universidad de Valparaíso. Function: co-advisor; advisor: Dr. Álvaro Ardíles.

6. 2025 Postgraduate Thesis: André Gómez “Sensory stimulation in older adults and cognitive improvement” PhD Program in Sciences and Engineering for Health, Universidad de Valparaíso; Chile. Function: co-advisor; advisor: Dr. Wael Elderedy.

7. 2025 Postgraduate Thesis. Astrid Cancino “Impact of inflammation and oxidative stress on local neuroimaging markers during an acute ischemic stroke and its relationship with clinical outcome at 6 months”. PhD Program in Sciences and Engineering for Health, Universidad de Valparaíso; Chile. Function: co-advisor; advisor: Dra. Steren Chabert.

8. 2025 Undergraduate Thesis: Tomás Santis “Effect of phototherapy on cultured neuronal cells” Thesis for Biomedical Engineering University of Valparaiso. Function: coadvisor; advisor: Dra. Débora Buendia (Universidad de Valparaíso).

9. 2025 Undergraduate Thesis. Diego Mauriz “Effect of Astaxanthin on synaptic plasticity, neurovascular unit, and neuroinflammation in an aging rat model”. Thesis for Biochemistry. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. Function: advisor; co-advisor: Dra. Marcela Julio.

10. 2024 Postgraduate Thesis: Camila Uribe, “Effect of astaxanthin on nlrp3 inflammasome and mitochondrial function in a mouse hippocampal line”. Master's Program in Biomedical Sciences, mention in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Valparaíso. Function: Advisor. Co-advisor: Dr. Álvaro Ardíles, Universidad de Valparaíso.

11. 2024- present: Postgraduate Thesis: Jorge Arriagada “Metformin modulates the oxidation status of RyR2, improving excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity in a model of Alzheimer's disease.” PhD program in Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Chile. Function: advisor.

12. 2024- present: Postgraduate Thesis: Daniel Contreras “Effect of Astaxanthin on NFAT activation in a HT22 cell excitotoxicity model”. Master's Program in Biomedical Sciences, mention in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Valparaíso. Function: Advisor. Co-advisor: Dr. Joan Villena, Universidad de Valparaíso.

13. 2023 Undergraduate Thesis. Macarena Ponce “Effect of Astaxanthin on the transcriptional mechanisms that mediate neuroprotection against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in primary mouse culture “. Thesis for Molecular Biotechnology Engineering. Function: advisor; co-advisor: Dra. Tatiana Adasme. Universidad de Chile

14. 2023 Postgraduate Thesis: Paula Montaña, “Chronic exposure to a high-fat, high-sucrose diet promotes the development of neuroinflammation in animal models and primary cultures” Master's Program in Biomedical Sciences, mention in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Valparaíso. Function: Advisor. Co-advisor: Dr. Ramón Sotomayor, Universidad de Valparaíso.

15. 2022 Postgraduate Thesis: Debora Buendía, “Effect of phototherapy on the nervous system in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease” PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering, Universidade Anhembi Morumbi (Brasil). Function: Coadvisor; Advisor: Dr. Retano Zangaro, CITÉ, Universidade Anhembi Morumbi.

16. 2021 Undergraduate Thesis. May Providell, Katherine Allende, Juan Pinochet, “Analysis of the effect of astaxanthin on neuroplasticity”; Thesis for Medical Technologist. Universidad de Valparaíso; Chile;
Function: advisor; co-advisor: Dr. Álvaro Ardíles.

17. 2020. Postgraduate Thesis: Tatiana Guncay; “Role of the Ryanodine Receptors in presynaptic long- term plasticity”; Master's Program in Biomedical Sciences, mention in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Valparaíso. Function: Advisor. Co-advisor: Dr. Genaro Barrientos, Universidad de Chile.

18. 2020 Undergraduate Thesis. Macarena Oyanedel, University of Valparaiso. Thesis for Biomedical Engineering “Effect of phototherapy on neuronal electrophysiological properties in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease” Function: coadvisor; advisor: Dra. Débora Buendia (Universidad de Valparaiso).

19. 2018 Postgraduate Thesis: Alejandra Ponce; “Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on recognition memory, oxidative stress and inflammation in aged rats”; Master's Program in Biomedical Sciences, mention in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Valparaíso. Function: Advisor. Co-advisor: Dra. Cecilia Hidalgo, Universidad de Chile.

20. 2018 Undergraduate Thesis: Karla Cataldo, Patricio Farías; Daniela Meza; “Effect of Astaxanthin on the Translocation of Nuclear Factor kappa B in Hippocampus of Aging Rats and in PC12 Cells”; Universidad de Valparaíso; CHILE; Thesis for Medical Technologist. Function: advisor; co-advisor: Dra Tatiana Adasme, Faculty of Health, Universidad Bernardo O´Higgins.

21. 2016 Postgraduate Thesis: Ismael Valdés, “Transcriptional regulation of the ryanodine receptor in synaptic plasticity” PhD program in Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Chile. Function: co-advisor; advisor: Dra. Cecilia Hidalgo, Universidad de Chile.

22. 2015 Postgraduate Thesis: Alejandra Arias, PhD program in neuroscience, University of Valparaiso, University of Valparaíso. “Participation of the ryanodine receptor object recognition memory during the aging” Function: advisor; coadvisor: Dra. Cecilia Hidalgo, Universidad de Chile.

23. 2013 Postgraduate Thesis: Ignacio Negrón “Short- and long-term effects of chronic stress on the anxiety and the fear conditioning, and its relationship with synaptic alterations and the expression of BDNF in the prefrontal cortex” PhD program in Neuroscience, University of Valparaiso. Function: Advisor.

24. 2013 Undergraduate Thesis: Oriana Ramírez; “Synaptic Plasticity induces changes on methylation and binding of MeCP2 protein in the gene for reelina”; Thesis for Engineering in Biotechnology UNAB. Function: Advisor.

25. 2012 Undergraduate Thesis: Paula Díaz, “Role of TRPV1 in the neuroprotection mediated by estrogen and anandamide against oxidative stress” Thesis for Engineering in Biotechnology, Iberoamerican University of Science and Technology. Function: coadvisor; advisor: Dr. Pablo Olivero, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaíso.

26. 2012 Undergraduate Thesis: Carolina Estay and Andrea Vera, Nutrition, University of Valparaiso. Thesis for nutritionist “Effect of antioxidants of natural source, content in a nanofibra, in the nervous system of rats”. (This thesis was awarded a project FONDEF-VIU 2012) Function: advisor; coadvisor: Dra. Elisa Zuñiga, UMCE.

27. 2012 Undergraduate Thesis: Pedro Coronado, University of Valparaiso. Thesis for pharmaceutical chemist. “Effect of antioxidants of natural source, content in a nanofiber, in the nervous system of rats”. Function: coadvisor; advisor: Dra. Elisa Zuñiga, UMCE.

28. 2012 Undergraduate Thesis: Constanza Molina and Claudia Legua, Thesis for nutritionist “Effects of polyphenols in grape (Vitis vinifera) in the synaptic plasticity in rats” Universidad de Valparaiso. Function: advisor; coadvisor: Dra. Mariane Lutz, Universidad de Valparaiso.

29. 2009 Postgraduate Thesis: Pablo Lizana “Changes in the methylation status in the gene of relina in synaptic plasticity” Master's Program in Neuroscience, Universidad de Valparaiso. Function: Coadvisor; Advisor: Dr. Adrián Palacios, Universidad de Valparaiso.

30. 2009 Undergraduate Thesis. Mauricio Aspé and Sebastián Contreras, University of Valparaiso. Thesis for psychologist “Expression and methylation status in the promoter of the exon I of BDNF gene associated with spontaneous objects recognition task in perirrinal cortex of Sprague Dawley rats” Function: coadvisor; advisor: Dr. Adrián Palacios, Universidad de Valparaíso.

31. 2009 Undergraduate Thesis: Carolina Herrera and Francisca Zenteno, Thesis for pharmaceutical chemist Universidad de Valparaiso. “Neuroprotective Effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) against oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in PC12 cells” Function: coadvisor; advisor: Dra. Mariane Lutz, Universidad de Valparaiso.

32. 2008 Undergraduate Thesis: Paola Paredes and Laura Sanchez, “Evaluation of the oxidative effect on gene expression of the BDNF and Relina, by changes in the methylation status of its promoters, in hippocampal slices”. Thesis for Medical Technologist Universidad de Valparaiso. (Awarded with Best Undegraduate Thesis in medical technology 2009). Function: Advisor.