Pioneer in the global biotechnology industry. Development of vaccines and products for human health, food industry and blood banking. Currently, his research focuses on the development of a novel drug for cancer treatment.

Investigator and graduate professor with academic trajectory:

- Professor participating in doctorate programs at various Chilean universities
- Director of Ph.D. Program in Biotechnology at Universidad Andrés Bello.
- Member of the Directive Board Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.
- Creator of strong ties with the University of California in San Francisco, with which he maintains an academic exchange in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Cancer Center.
- Author of more than 130 international publications in molecular biology and biotechnology and named inventor in more than 50 international patents.

* Scientist with ample experience in the direction and management of science and technology in the U.S. Co-founder and VP of R&D at the Chiron Corporation (1981-1996), one of the 3 early emblematic biotechnology companies in the U.S. This management included directing scientific and technological investigations, hiring scientists and engineers, and preparing and executing budgets, reports, and presentations for boards, investors, members of investment banks, and NASDAQ analysts.

* Scientist and entrepreneur with extensive experience in intellectual property and technology transfer. Has participated in the licensing and transfer of Chiron Corporation’s technologies to several companies (Pharmacia, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, etc.) and in the transfer of technologies from the Fundación Ciencia y Vida to an international company (Novartis). An inventor in more than 50 patent applications in Chile and abroad. Director of research activities resulting in more than 200 patent applications in which he is not an inventor.

* Responsible for the development of multiple technologies and biotechnology products (in the USA) using genetic engineering, among them:
- ten products in the area of international diagnostics and blood banking (Hepatitis C, AIDS, Hepatitis B).
- four products in the pharmaceutical area (Hepatitis B vaccine, human insulin, beta-interferon and a wound-healing factor) and one product for the food industry (bovine rennin).
These products, which are commercialized by Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novo-Nordisk, Abbott and Gist Brocades, command today more than 15 billion dollars in sales.

* Responsible for the development of multiple technologies and biotechnology products (in Chile), among them:
- vaccines for the salmon aquaculture (one product already on the market).
- products for human health and blood banking (Chagas, Helicobacter, rotavirus, blood tests, viral antigens, etc.).
All these products are commercialized in Chile and Latin America, with current sales of approximately 15 million dollars per year.

* Co-founder and responsible for the initial activities of biotechnology start-ups (Chiron Corporation, Ventria Biosciences, Austral Biologicals, GrupoBios S.A., Phytotox S.A., Andes Biotechnologies S.A.) and BiosCell with a market value of more than 5 billion dollars.

* Entrepreneur with experience in financing biotechnology start-ups through angel investors, venture capital, and initial public offerings. Has participated in the early financing and capital increases of companies mentioned above (Chiron Corporation, GrupoBios S.A., Ventria Biosciences, Applied Imaging, Phytotox S.A., and Andes Biotechnologies S.A.) for a total of nearly 100 million dollars.

* Under his administration, Fundación Ciencia & Vida has developed a “Science and Business Park” with more than 15 participating institutions, such as the foreign companies Austral Biologicals, The Tree Lab, Medivation Inc., Green Pacific Biologicals, EvolveMol Inc., Sanivation Inc. and Ventria Bioscience, as well as the Chilean start-ups Phage Technologies S.A., GrupoBios S.A., Zentynel Ltda., Digital Education S.A., BiosCell S.A. and Invitae.

* National Chilean Prize in Applied Sciences and Technology (2002)