Neurobiology and neuroendocrine aspects of glial cells; Neuroinflammation; Mitochondria; Menopause; Hormonal therapy; Biological role of brain-targeted drugs

Undergraduate Students

María Santos Galindo. Effects of early treatment with estrogenic compounds in glial reactivity in a model of brain injury (B.Sc. in Biology), Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. (Director: George E. Barreto) (Period: 2006-2007)

Sara Rodriguez. Effects of late treatment with estrogenic compounds in glial reactivity and proliferation after brain injury (B.Sc. in Biology), Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. (Director: George E. Barreto) (Period: 2007-2008)

Ana Carla Araújo de Souza. Analysis of the expiratory peak and 6-minutes walking test in smokers (B.Sc. in Physical Therapy). Southeastern State University of Bahia. Brazil, 2010. (Director: George E. Barreto)

Altair Brito dos Santos. Influence of sleep disorders and cognition in Parkinson’s Disease (B.Sc. in Physical Therapy). Southeastern State University of Bahia. Brazil, 2010. (Director: George E. Barreto)

Guillermo Villamil. 3D structure prediction and functional characterization of the proteoglycan phosphacan following brain injury (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2011. (Director: George E. Barreto)

Andrés Tolosa. Mapping of the H1N1 sequences and mutations and their relation to specific binding sites in drugs (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2011.

Angelica Sabogal. Molecular dynamics of sea anemone neurotoxins and potassium channels (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2012.

Viviana Barreto. In-silico prediction of structural and functional aspects of a hypothetical protein Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2012.

Samuel David Suarez. Tertiary structural prediction of phospholipase A2 and binding interactions with nifedipine (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2012. (Director: George E. Barreto)

Omar Sierra Bello. Mapping of mutations in Amyotrophic Lateral Syndrome (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2012. (Director: George E. Barreto)

Daniel Torrente. Neuroprotection by mesenchymal stem cells following brain injury: An in vitro, in vivo and in silico study (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. (Director: George E. Barreto) (Period: 2013-2014)

Nicolas Toro Urrego. Effects of testosterone on glucose deprived cells. (B.Sc. in Microbiology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2015. (Director: George E. Barreto)

Daniel Sandoval. TSPO-induced steroidogenesis by chlorodiazepam to reduce oxidative stress in astrocytes (B.Sc. in Microbiology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2015. (Director: George E. Barreto)

Juan Camilo. Potential neuroprotective role of nicotine analogues in an in vitro model of Parkinson´s Disease (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2015. (Director: George Barreto). Grade: Summa Cum Laude.

Angie Valeria Garzón. Effects of tibolone on cell viability and nuclear translocator protein NF-kB in astrocytes submitted to glucose deprivation (B.Sc. in Bacteriology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2016. (Director: George E. Barreto).

Diego Julián Vesga. Evaluation of the effects of raloxifene in an astroglial model of glucose deprivation (B.Sc. in Biology). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia, 2016. (Director: George Barreto).

Graduate Students

Diego Salazar Barreto. Metabolic pathways in mucopolisacaridosis: A secretome study (M.Sc. in Biological Sciences) Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. (Co-Director: George E. Barreto) (Period: 2013-2014)

Cynthia Martin Jiménez. Genomic Scale metabolic reconstruction of human astrocyte: Application to brain ischemia (M.Sc. in Biological Sciences). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. (Co-Director: George E. Barreto) (Period: 2015-2016)

Marco Fidel Ávila-Rodriguez. Cellular and molecular mechanisms induced by estradiol and tibolone on an astroglial model of glucose deprivation (Ph.D. in Biological Sciences). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. (Director: George E. Barreto). (Period: 2011-2016) Calification: Laureate.

Jenny Natalia Areiza Mazo. Effects of extracts from Physalis peruviana and bioactive compounds in the response of astrocytes to neurotoxic stimuli with rotenone (M.Sc. in Food Science and Human Nutrition). University of Antioquia, Colombia. (Director: George E. Barreto). (Period: 2017-2018) Calification: Excellent

Oscar Alejandro Hidalgo Lanussa. Neuroprotective effects of tibolone in microglial cells stimulated with palmitic acid (M.Sc. in Biological Sciences). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. (Director: George E. Barreto; Co-Director: Luis Miguel Garcia-Segura). (Period: 2016-2017). Calification: Laureate

Ricardo Julián Cabezas Perez. Mecanisms of protection exerted by PDGF-BB upon neurotoxic damage induced by rotenone in astrocytes (Ph.D. in Biological Sciences). Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. (Director: George E. Barreto). (Period: 2011-2017)

Eliana Baez Jurado. Potential effect of the conditioned medium of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue on human astrocytes under an in vitro model of scratch and glucose deprivation. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. (Director: George Barreto). (Period: 2014-2018). Calification: Laureate and Summa Cum Laude.

Natalia Alicia Aguilef Barría. Contraceptive use and its effects on women's cognition and memory. Autonomous University of Chile. M.Sc in Neurosciences. (Director: George E. Barreto). Period: 2018-2019.

Paola Gajardo Ametínez. Sex differences in the anatomy and function of the brain: Actions of estrogens on mitochondria. Autonomous University of Chile. M.Sc in Neurosciences. (Director: George E. Barreto). Period: 2018-2019.

Yeimy González. Molecular mechanisms involved in the protective effects of tibolone in astrocytic cells treated with palmitic acid. Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. (Director: George Barreto). (Period: 2015-2019). Calification: Laureate and Summa Cum Laude

Postdoctoral Fellows

Diego Gómez, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow. Astrocytes-neurons crosstalk as a protective mechanism in brain injuries: An in silico approach. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. Mentor: George E. Barreto (Period: 2014-2015).

Biviana Barrera-Bailón, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow. Use of natural estrogenic-like compounds derived from Physalis peruviana as therapeutic approaches against cytotoxic damage. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. Mentor: George E. Barreto. (Period: 2017-2018).