She has been exploring the cellular and molecular bases of Niemann-Pick type A, B and C (NPA, NPB and NPC) and Gaucher lipid storage lysosomal diseases and searching for new therapeutic targets involved in hepatic damage and neurodegeneration.

Undergraduate thesis supervision

1 Klein, Andrés.
Title: "Analysis of hepatic expression of NPC2 and its possible role in the hepatic metabolism of cholesterol".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2004
2 Judith, Mariela. Co-direction of thesis. Director: Attilio Rigotti (Medicine Faculty, PUC)
Title: "Post-transcriptional regulation of hepatic HDL receptor SR-BI expression in mice".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2007
3 Tichauer, Juan.
Title: "Analysis of the possible role of mln64 by hepatic overexpression models".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2006
4 Balboa, Elisa
Title: "Relevance of NPC2 protein in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and its secretion to bile",
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2009
5 Galdames, Leopoldo.
Title: "Effect of overexpression of NPC2 and MLN64 proteins on CHO cells".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2010
6 Robledo, Fermín
Title: "Analysis of oxidative stress markers in in vivo and in vitro models of Niemann-Pick type C disease".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2010
7 Yévenes, Fernanda. In co-tutoring with Alejandra Alvarez (Faculty of Biological Sciences, PUC).
Title: "Alterations in intracellular vitamin E trafficking in Niemann-Pick type C disease models".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2011
8 Acuña, Mariana.
Title: "Characterization of transgenic mice of NPC2 protein: effect of hepatic overexpression of NPC2 on cholesterol homeostasis and biliary lithiasis"
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2011
9 González, Lila.
Title: "Effect of wild-type NPC2 proteins and mutants on cholesterol crystallization in bile model".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2012
10 Pinochet, María josé
Title: "Effect of overexpression of MLN64 protein on cholesterol content, mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in hepatocytes".
Institution: UNIVERSIDAD DE LA FRONTERA, Bachelor, 2013
11. María José Pérez
Title: “Characterization of oxidative damage and its temporary relationship with inflammation, fibrosis, and apoptosis in the liver of the mice model of Niemann-Pick type C.”
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2015
12. Sofía Fajardo Callejó.
Title: "New TFEB regulation pathway through c-Abl as a common therapeutic target for Niemann Pick Type A and other sphingolipidoses".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Research Seminar BIO296.
13. José Miguel Rosa Arancibia.
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor 2023
14. Antonio Daniel Moreno Torres
Title: “Identification of TFEB tyrosines phosphorylated by c-Abl kinase and its role in Niemann Pick disease type C.””.
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, Bachelor, 2023

Ph.D. thesis supervision

1 Bravo, Ignacio.
Title: "Determinants of lipoprotein metabolism and generation of Lipoprotein X in extrahepatic obstructive cholestasis".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATHOLICA DE CHILE, PhD, 2005
2 Klein, Andrés. In co-tutoring with Alejandra Alvarez (Faculty of Biological Sciences, PUC).
Title: "Activation of the c-Abl / p73 signal transduction system in Niemann-Pick type C disease".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATHOLICA DE CHILE, PhD, 2008
3 Argüello, Gabriela. Co-tutor. Thesis director: Mauricio González (INTA, U. de Chile)
Title: "Effect of dietary copper supply on metal homeostasis in mice in Niemann-Pick Type C mice".
Institution: UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, PhD, 2014
4 Balboa, Elisa
Title: "Relevance of mitochondrial dysfunction in oxidative damage and,"
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, PhD, 2015
5 Yáñez, María José. In co-tutoring. Thesis director: Alejandra Álvarez (Fac. Cs. Biológicas, PUC).
Title: "Modulation of APP processing by c-Abl kinase and its implication in Niemann-Pick type C disease".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, PhD, 2015
6 Acuña, Mariana.
Title: "The A359D mutation in the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase causing Niemann Pick disease type B: genetic, biochemical study and its implication in hepatic fibrosis",
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, PhD, 2015
7. Contreras, Pablo.
Title: "Tyrosine kinase ABL inhibition activates TFEB and promotes cellular clearance in Niemann-Pick C disease"
Institution: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, PhD, 2019. Thesis director: Alejandra Alvarez (Biological Sciences Faculty, UC). Co-tutor: Silvana Zanlungo. 2019.
8. Oyarzún, Juan Esteban.
Title: "Analysis and modulation of Cathepsins B and D in hepatic fibrosis in in vitro and in vivo Niemann-Pick C models"
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, PhD, 2019
9. Marín, Tamara
Title: "c-Abl kinase in Niemann Pick type a disease : its implication in the pathogenic mechanisms leading to autophagic flux alterations and neurodegeneration".
Institution: PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE, PhD, 2020. Co-tutor: Alejandra Alvarez.
10. Lagos, Jonathan
Title: Regulation of autophagy by inflammatory signs and its impact on the presentation of antigens in lymphocytes B.
Institution: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, PhD, 2021. Thesis director: María Isabel Yuseff (Biological Sciences Faculty, UC). Co-tutor: Silvana Zanlungo. 2021.

Postdoctoral Training:
1Mary Carmen Vázquez (PhD). Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. 2009-2012. Fondecyt Grant 3100026 "Alterations of copper trafficking in Niemann-Pick C disease"

2 Graciela Arguello (PhD).Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. 2015-2018. Fondecyt Grant 1501919. “Effect of activation of the transcription factor TFEB in lysosomal function and autophagy and the progression of Niemann-Pick C disease”

3 Pablo Tapia (PhD). Postdoctorate Fondef D10E1077 . 2019. Preclinical studies of new inhibitors of c-Abl kinase for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Alvarez A (Director) and Zanlungo S (co-director).

4 María José Yáñez (PhD). Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. 2017-2020. Fondecyt Grant 3170710. Relevance of the c-Abl kinase in Gaucher disease neuropathology: cross talk with the necroapoptotic RIPK3 signaling pathway.

5 Miguel Guerra (PhD). Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. 2024-2027. Fondecyt Grant 3240189. Disminución de la neurogénesis hipocampal adulta en la enfermedad de Niemann-Pick tipo A: Contribución de la tirosina quinasa c-Abl.

Regarding outreach, I have been able to disseminate the results of our research in the written press (interviews in Mercurio, section Science and Technology of January 15, 2009 and La Tercera, Trends section of June 29, 2015) and on television (TVN interview 24 hours on June 10, 2015 and Megavision interview in Meganoticias on January 2019)

In relation to academic management, I have contributed to the work of my Department since 2005 as Head of Research, and also to the School of Medicine as the first Chair of the Committee on Bioethics of Laboratory Animal Welfare (CEBA) between 2008 and 2009, Deputy Director of Research between August 2009 and July 2010 and from September 2014 to June 2016 and as Deputy Director of the PhD Medical Sciences Program from the School of Medicine, UC from July 2016 to April 2018.

I have also been able to contribute to other institutions in our country. I worked as a member and Director of the Fondecyt G1 Medicine Study Group between 2009 and 2013 and 2010 to 2013, respectively.