Man

Eugenia Morselli

Profesor Asociado de Planta Ordinaria

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

Santiago de Chile, Chile

Líneas de Investigación


Autophagy; Primari Cilium; Metabolism; Obesity

Educación

  •  Cellular and Molecular Biology, UNIVERSITÉ PARIS-SUD, PARIS XI. Francia, 2010
  •  Medical Biotechnology, UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI MODENA E REGGIO EMILIA. Italia, 2007

Experiencia Académica

  •   Assistant Professor Full Time

    PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

    Chile

    2014 - 2018

  •   Associate Professor Full Time

    PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

    Biological Sciences

    Santiago de Chile, Chile

    2018 - A la fecha

  •   Associate Professor Full Time

    Universidad San Sebastián

    Facultad de Medicina

    Santiago de Chile, Chile

    2022 - A la fecha

Experiencia Profesional

  •   Associate Professor Full Time

    Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

    Santiago de Chile, Chile

    2014 - 2021

  •   Associate Professor Full Time

    Universidad San Sebastián

    Santiago, Chile

    2022 - A la fecha

Formación de Capital Humano


a) UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

1- Carla Narro
Effect of Saturated Fatty Acids on Autophagy and hypothalamic neurons function.
Biology, Universidad Cayetano Heredia (Perú)
August 2018- August 2019 (graduated)

2- Rebeca Contreras
Role of the primary cilium in basal and induced autophagy in hypothalamic neurons.
Biotechnology, Universidad Andrés Bello
June 2019 –August 2020 (graduated)

3- Daniela Pinto
Role of the primary cilium in insulin signaling in hypothalamic neurons
Biochemistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
August 2021-May 2022 (graduated)

b) MASTER STUDENTS

Jasson Espinoza
Stearic Acid impairs autophagy in hypothalamic neurons
Program in Biological Sciences (Physiology)
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
March 2019-June 2021 (graduated)

c) GRADUATE STUDENTS

1- Maria Paz Hernández (graduated, 8th April 2020)
Palmitic acid inhibits the autophagic flux in hypothalamic neurons.
PhD Program in Biological Sciences (Physiology)
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

2- Lilian Toledo (graduated, 16th December 2022)
Palmitic acid activates pro-inflammatory pathways and reduces insulin sensitivity by activating hypothalamic G protein–coupled receptor 40 (GPR40).
PhD Program in Biological Sciences (Physiology)
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

3- Catalina Kreschmar (graduated, 21st April 2023)
Role of the Primary Cilium in TGF-b-induced inflammatory response in hypothalamic neurons
PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences
Universidad de Chile.

4- Lorena Carvajal (graduated, 4th July 2023)
Study of the role of oxLDL in autophagy-dependent invasion and remodeling of trophoblast cells in
preeclamptic pregnancies.
PhD Program in Biological Sciences (Physiology)
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

6- Andreina Arias (graduated – 6th of December 2024)
Study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that cause infertility and cholesterol excess in oocytes
PhD Program in Biological Sciences (Physiology)
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
2019- ongoing

7-Francisco Diaz (graduated - 19th of March 2025)
Role of mitophagy in hypothalamic neurons of lean and obese mice in food intake in response to fasting
PhD Program in Biological Sciences (Physiology)
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
2022- ongoing

8-Patricia Rivera (PhD Candidate)
Study of the cytoskeletal control of glucose transport mediated by autophagy in hypothalamic neurons
PhD Program in Biological Sciences (Physiology)
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
2022- ongoing

9- Javiera Acevedo (PhD Candidate)
The role of the primary cilium in the metabolic response to insulin through mitochondrial regulation
PhD Program in Cellular Biology and Biomedicine
Universidad San Sebastián
2023-ongoing

10- Daniela Pinto (PhD Candidate)
Role of the primary cilium in regulating mitochondrial function and maintaining body weight in agouti related-peptide (AgRP) neurons
PhD Program in Cellular Biology and Biomedicine
Universidad San Sebastián
2024-ongoing

11- Juan Castro (PhD Candidate)
Contribution of Insulin Resistance to Neurodegeneration in Niemann-Pick Type C Disease
PhD Program in Chronic Diseases
Universidad San Sebastián
2024-ongoing

d) POST DOCTORAL FELLOWS

Yenniffer Ávalos, May 2016- March 2021. Postdoctoral Project N°3180209. “Autophagy and Primary Cilium Crosstalk: a new mechanism in the regulation of insulin sensitivity” (2018-2020). Currently Assistant Professor at Universidad de Santiago de Chile.

Daniel Peña, March 2020- March 2023. Postdoctoral Project N°3200313. “Sucralose inhibits autophagic degradation of Tight and Adherens junctions in in vitro and ex vivo models of periodontitis” (2020-2022). Currently Associate Professor at Universidad San Sebastián.


Difusión y Transferencia


• Interview on the Newspaper “El Mercurio” “Looking for a way to enhance the beneficial effects of estrogens in men”, July 22nd, 2015.
• Coffee with the Doctor (activity realized during the Biochemistry congress, Santiago 2015), July 23rd, 2015.
• Interview to “Canal 13” (TV program “Teletrece AM”) regarding the results published by the World Health Organization on the correlation between meat consumption and cancer, October 27th, 2015.
• Interview on the Newspaper “El Mercurio” “Vegans need a better balance in their diet and require vitamin supplies”, March 23rd, 2016.
• Interview on the Newspaper “El Mercurio” “Intermittent fasting or eating reduced amounts of food have a positive effect on health and state of mind” 4 de May 4th, 2016.

ORGANIZATION OF WORKSHOPS AND SIMPOSIA

- Organizer of the mini-simposium “Round Table: “Autophagy: Expanding the Knowledge”, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Abate Molina, Santiago, Chile, September 21st, 2015.

- Organizer of the Symposium “Key Roles Of Autophagy In Chronic Diseases”, (XXXVIII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Chile), Puerto Varas, Chile, Septiembre 25th 2015.

- Co-organizer of the Workshop “Autophagy: Physiological and Pathological Roles”, Facultad de Cs. Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, November 23rd and 24th, 2016. Workshop financed by the “International Cenre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)”.


Premios y Distinciones

  •   Keystone Symposia Travel Award

    Keystone Symposia

    Estados Unidos, 2014

    Travel award to assist and give a short oral communication to theKeystone Conference "Obesity: A Multisystems Perspective (J2)" Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, CANADA, January, 2014.

  •   Price “Adelina Gutierrez” for Excellence in Science

    ACADEMIA CHILENA DE CIENCIAS

    Chile, 2021

    Premio cuyo objetivo es contribuir a la promoción de la Ciencia en el país e incentivar a las investigadoras jóvenes menores de 40 años

  •   Chilean Society of Cell Biology and GrupoBios, Young Investigator Award

    GrupoBios y Sociedad Chilena de BIología Celular

    Chile, 2023

    Premio de Excelencia Cientifica Para Investigadores menores de 40


 

Article (93)

A primary cilia-autophagy axis in hippocampal neurons is essential to maintain cognitive resilience
Hypothalamic obesity: from basic mechanisms to clinical perspectives
A single bout of resistance exercise triggers mitophagy, potentially involving the ejection of mitochondria in human skeletal muscle
PKD2 regulates autophagy and forms a protein complex with BECN1 at the primary cilium of hypothalamic neuronal cells
Targeting the immunoproteasome in hypothalamic neurons as a novel therapeutic strategy for high-fat diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysregulation
The autophagy process and oxidized LDL independently modulate the invasion and differentiation of extravillous trophoblastic cells to an endothelial-like phenotype in normoxia
Impact of short and long exposure to cafeteria diet on food intake and white adipose tissue lipolysis mediated by glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor
Methods for studying primary cilia in heart tissue after ischemia-reperfusion injury
Novel insights into the non-canonical roles of PSMD14/POH1/Rpn11 in proteostasis and in the modulation of cancer progression
The CB1 cannabinoid receptor regulates autophagy in the tibialis anterior skeletal muscle in mice
Autophagy in aging-related oral diseases
Editorial: Free Fatty Acids as Signaling Molecules: Role of Free Fatty Acid Receptors and CD36
Integrating the effects of sucrose intake on the brain and white adipose tissue: Could autophagy be a possible link?
Limited Heme Oxygenase Contribution to Modulating the Severity of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium Infection
Palmitic acid control of ciliogenesis modulates insulin signaling in hypothalamic neurons through an autophagy-dependent mechanism
Palmitic and Stearic Acids Inhibit Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy (CMA) in POMC-like Neurons In Vitro
The Role of the Paraventricular-Coerulear Network on the Programming of Hypertension by Prenatal Undernutrition
Autophagy Process in Trophoblast Cells Invasion and Differentiation: Similitude and Differences With Cancer Cells
Editorial: New Roles of Autophagy Pathways in Cancer
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)
Mechanobiology of Autophagy: The Unexplored Side of Cancer
Brain site-specific regulation of hedonic intake by orexin and DYN peptides: role of the PVN and obesity
Palmitic acid reduces the autophagic flux in hypothalamic neurons by impairing autophagosome-lysosome fusion and endolysosomal dynamics
PKD2/polycystin-2 induces autophagy by forming a complex with BECN1
Role of Autophagy in the Microenvironment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Fibroblast Primary Cilia Are Required for Cardiac Fibrosis.
Palmitic Acid Reduces the Autophagic Flux and Insulin Sensitivity Through the Activation of the Free Fatty Acid Receptor 1 (FFAR1) in the Hypothalamic Neuronal Cell Line N43/5
Polycystin-2 Is Required for Starvation- and Rapamycin-Induced Atrophy in Myotubes.
Autophagy and oxidative stress in non-communicable diseases: a matter of the inflammatory state?
Autophagy and oxidative stress in non-communicable diseases=> A matter of the inflammatory state?
Impact of estrogens and estrogen receptor-alpha in brain lipid metabolism
Polycystin-2-dependent control of cardiomyocyte autophagy
Polycystin-2-dependent control of cardiomyocyte autophagy.
Polycystin-2-dependent control of cardiomyocyte autophagy.
Autophagy and Its Impact on Neurodegenerative Diseases: New Roles for TDP-43 and C9orf72
Hyperosmotic stress stimulates autophagy via polycystin-2
New Roles of the Primary Cilium in Autophagy
Sex Hormones and Cardiometabolic Health: Role of Estrogen and Estrogen Receptors
The effects of oestrogens and their receptors on cardiometabolic health
A sexually dimorphic hypothalamic response to chronic high-fat diet consumption.
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition)
Regulation of cardiomyocyte autophagy by calcium
Sex and Gender: Critical Variables in Pre-Clinical and Clinical Medical Research
Sex and Gender: Critical Variables in Pre-Clinical and Clinical Medical Research.
Sexually dimorphic brain fatty acid composition in low and high fat diet-fed mice
AGPAT2 deficiency impairs adipogenic differentiation in primary cultured preadipocytes in a non-autophagy or apoptosis dependent mechanism
Maternal high-fat diet is associated with impaired fetal lung development
ER? upregulates Phd3 to ameliorate HIF-1 induced fibrosis and inflammation in adipose tissue
Hypothalamic PGC-1 alpha Protects Against High-Fat Diet Exposure by Regulating ER alpha
Regulation of Autophagy by Cytosolic Acetyl-Coenzyme A
Estrogen, astrocytes and the neuroendocrine control of metabolism.
Direct molecular interactions between Beclin 1 and the canonical NFκB activation pathway.
Evaluation of rapamycin-induced cell death.
Phosphoproteomic analysis of cells treated with longevity-related autophagy inducers.
Prognostic impact of vitamin B6 metabolism in lung cancer.
BH3 mimetics activate multiple pro-autophagic pathways.
Inhibition of autophagy by TAB2 and TAB3
Longevity-relevant regulation of autophagy at the level of the acetylproteome
Mitochondrial liaisons of p53.
Oncosuppressive functions of autophagy.
p53 inhibits autophagy by interacting with the human ortholog of yeast Atg17, RB1CC1/FIP200
Spermidine and resveratrol induce autophagy by distinct pathways converging on the acetylproteome
Autophagy regulation by p53.
Caloric restriction and resveratrol promote longevity through the Sirtuin-1-dependent induction of autophagy
Defective autophagy control by the p53 rheostat in cancer.
IKK connects autophagy to major stress pathways.
miR-181a and miR-630 Regulate Cisplatin-Induced Cancer Cell Death
Mitochondrial gateways to cancer
The IKK complex contributes to the induction of autophagy
The life span-prolonging effect of sirtuin-1 is mediated by autophagy.
Upregulation of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial LON protease in HAART-treated HIV-positive patients with lipodystrophy: implications for the pathogenesis of the disease
Viral strategies for the evasion of immunogenic cell death.
Viral strategies for the evasion of immunogenic cell death.
Anti- and pro-tumor functions of autophagy.
Autophagy mediates pharmacological lifespan extension by spermidine and resveratrol.
Control of autophagy by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring cell death in higher eukaryotes.
Nutlin kills cancer cells via mitochondrial p53
Stimulation of autophagy by the p53 target gene Sestrin2
Targeting post-mitochondrial effectors of apoptosis for neuroprotection
The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor regulates autophagy through its interaction with Beclin 1
A dual role of p53 in the control of autophagy.
Hierarchical involvement of Bak, VDAC1 and Bax in cisplatin-induced cell death.
Life, death and burial: multifaceted impact of autophagy.
Mechanisms of p53-mediated mitochondrial membrane permeabilization
Mutant p53 protein localized in the cytoplasm inhibits autophagy
p53 represses autophagy in a cell cycle-dependent fashion
Regulation of autophagy by cytoplasmic p53
Senescence, apoptosis or autophagy?
Senescence, apoptosis or autophagy? When a damaged cell must decide its path--a mini-review.
Targeting p53 to mitochondria for cancer therapy
Viral Control of Mitochondrial Apoptosis
Chronic High Fat Diet Consumption Impairs Metabolic Health of Male Mice.

BookSection (3)

Loss of autophagy in hypothalamic neurons may be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity
Aging
Mutant p53 Located in the Cytoplasm Inhibits Autophagy

BookWhole (1)

New emerging roles of Polycystin-2 in the regulation of autophagy

Correction (1)

Impact of short and long exposure to cafeteria diet on food intake and white adipose tissue lipolysis mediated by glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (vol 14, 1164047, 2023)

EditorialMaterial (2)

IKK connects autophagy to major stress pathways
The life span-prolonging effect of sirtuin-1 is mediated by autophagy

Letter (1)

Evidence of autophagic vesicles in a patient with Lisch corneal dystrophy

Proyecto (11)

RCAN1 trisomy and the control of PINK1 levels in the survival of human Down's syndrome induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Autophagy and Primary Cilium Crosstalk=> a new mechanism in the regulation of insulin sensitivity
Mechanisms of Autophagy in Obesity
Autophagy, primary cilium and inflammation in neurons and astrocytes
Autophagy, primary cilium and inflammation in neurons and astrocytes
Polycystin2-Beclin-1: a novel protein complex in autophagy regulation
Polycystin2-Beclin-1=> a novel protein complex in autophagy regulation
Red Internacional para el estudio de la Autofagia
Saturated fatty acids activate the fatty acid receptor GPR40: implication in autophagy, inflammation and insulin sensitivity
Saturated fatty acids activate the fatty acid receptor GPR40=> implication in autophagy, inflammation and insulin sensitivity
International Network for the Study of Autophagy

Review (8)

Enhancing adipose tissue functionality in obesity: senotherapeutics, autophagy and cellular senescence as a target
Interplay between the brain and adipose tissue: a metabolic conversation
Role of lipids in the control of autophagy and primary cilium signaling in neurons
Implications of High-Density Cholesterol Metabolism for Oocyte Biology and Female Fertility
Mechanoautophagy: Synergies Between Autophagy and Cell Mechanotransduction at Adhesive Complexes
Updates on the neurobiology of food reward and their relation to the obesogenic environment
A sexually dimorphic hypothalamic response to chronic high-fat diet consumption
Oncosuppressive Functions of Autophagy
1
Gareth Owen

Profesor Titular

Fisiologia

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE

Santiago, Chile

1
Guillermo Díaz

Académico

Química Farmacológica y Toxicológica

UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS QUÍMICAS Y FARMACÉUTICAS

Santiago, Chile

12
SERGIO LAVANDERO

Director

Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS)

UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, FAC CIENCIAS QUÍMICAS Y FARMACÉUTICAS

Santiago, Chile

2
Mario Chiong

Profesor

Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Andrew Quest

Full Professor

Biologia Celular y Molecular

FACULTAD DE MEDICINA, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

Santiago, Chile

1
Susan Bueno

Profesor Asociado

Genética Molecular y Microbiología

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

Santiago, Chile

5
PATRICIA BURGOS

Associate Professor Programa de Doctorado en Biología Celular y Biomedicina CEBICEM

UNIVERSIDAD SAN SEBASTIÁN

Santiago, Chile

1
María García

Profesor Titular

Biología Celular

UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCIÓN

Concepción, Chile

2
Vicente Torres

Associate Professor

Institute for Research in Dental Sciences

FACULTAD DE ODONTOLOGÍA - UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

Santiago, Chile

1
Luis Constandil

Profesor Titular

Biología

Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Andrea Leiva

Profesor Asociado

Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud

Universidad San Sebastián

Santiago, Chile

1
Ivan Alfaro

Associate Professor

Faculty of Medicine

Universidad del Desarrollo

Santiago, Chile

1
Ramón Sotomayor

Full Professor

Institute of Physiology

UNIVERSIDAD DE VALPARAÍSO, FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS, DEPARTAMENTO DE FISIOLOGÍA

Valparaíso, Chile

2
Mariana Cifuentes

Professor

Instituto de Nutricion y Tecnologia de los Alimentos

INTA UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

Santiago, Chile

1
Victor Cortes

Associate professor

Nutrition, Diabetes and Metabolism

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Pablo González

Associate Professor

Molecular Genetics and MIcrobiology

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

37
Alfredo Criollo

Associated Professor

Research Institute in Dental Sciences

Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Dolores Busso

Associate Professor

Centro de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica

Universidad de Los Andes

Santiago, Chile

1
Roberto Bravo

Assistant Professor

Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

4
Mauricio Budini

Assistant Professor

Facultad de Odonotología

UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE

Santiago, Chile

84
Eugenia Morselli

Profesor Asociado de Planta Ordinaria

Fisiología

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

Santiago de Chile, Chile

1
Melissa Calegaro

Principal Investigator, head lab

Research Vice Presidency

Universidad Mayor

Santiago, Chile

1
Patricio Silva

Investigador Principal FONDEF

Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular

Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Jorge Toledo

Investigador

Centro de Investigacion Clinica Avanzada CICA

Universidad de Chile, Hospital Clinico Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

3
Yenniffer Ávalos

Profesor Asistente

Departamento de Biología

Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Cheril Tapia

Profesor Asistente

Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia

Universidad San Sebastián

Santiago, Chile

1
Omar Vallejos

Lab Manager y Coordinador

Genética Molecular y Microbiología

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Amelina Albornoz

Profesor Asistente

Virología Molecular

Fundación Ciencia & Vida/USS

Santiago, Chile

2
CESAR RAMIREZ

Assistant Professor

Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

4
Rodrigo Troncoso

Associate Professor

Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos

Santiago, Chile

1
Zully Pedrozo

Associated Professor

Physiology and Biophysical

Universidad de Chile

SANTIAGO DE CHILE, Chile

6
Claudio Perez

Profesor Asociado

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Catalina Pardo

Profesor Asistente

Dpto. de Salud del Niño y Adolescente

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Region Metropolitana, Chile

1
Carlos Sepulveda

Investigador Postdoctoral

Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile.

Santiago, Chile

1
Arturo Grau

Oftalmólogo

Oftalmología

Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

3
Cristina Bertocchi

Assistant Professor

Department of Physiology

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Jorge Cancino

Associate Professor

Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina

Universidad San Sebastián

Santiago, Chile

1
FELIPE MELO

Profesor Asistente

Ciencias Biológicas

Universidad Andrés Bello

Santiago, Chile

1
Fabián Segovia

Associate professor

Department of Cell Biology

Universidad de Concepción

Concepción, Chile

1
Hianara Bustamante

Profesora Auxiliar

Instituto de Microbiología Clínica

Universidad Austral de Chile

Valdivia, Chile

6
Daniel Peña

Investigador postdoctoral

Departamento de Fisiología

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
PABLO TAPIA

Investigador postdoctoral

Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM)

Universidad San Sebastián

Santiafgo, Chile

1
Eduardo Silva

Investigador Postdoctoral

Universidad Mayor

Santiago, Chile

10
Maria Hernandez

Investigador Post Doctoral

Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

3
Montserrat Reyes

Profesor Asistente

Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

5
Catalina Kretschmar

Research assistant

Universidad de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Liliana Yantén

PhD Student

Facultad de Medicina

Universidad de Los Andes

Santiago, Chile

2
Nicolas Albornoz

Investigador postdoctoral

Universidad San Sebastián

Puerto Monnt, Chile