Our country could soon add a new one The Nobel Prize although this time related to science.
That’s since the Chilean scientist Ricardo Maccioni has two nominations for Nobel Prize in Medicine 2021 for their contributions to the knowledge of the disease Alzheimer’s.
The doctor of science is an academic at the University of Chile and has led the International Center for Biomedicine for more than 30 years, dedicated to finding a cure for this neurodegenerative disease.
The famous researcher took the time to talk BioBioChile of different subjects, where obviously the pandemic could not be absent. Although he claims that it has become a difficult time for everyone, he admits that it was a productive time for him and his team.
“Last year we made seven scientific publications during the pandemic, which is a record for the publication of scientific papers in high-impact journals. It means that during the pandemic there was a very coordinated work. I now work in my office from 7 in the morning and I just turned 76, began to show.
The arrival of the first vaccines in our country makes the Chilean scientist see the future in an optimistic way. “A pandemic is something that has unfortunately happened, but pandemics have appeared in humanity many times,” he says.
“The problem is that in the future, as people are vaccinated, there will be a chance to slow the progression of the disease. It’s like when you have a car downhill and you brake and brake until you get down and everything is under control, “he said.
In this regard, Dr. Maccioni emphasizes that the recommendation is to get vaccinated. “And we hope that there are all the facilities so that people can access the vaccine. I saw a little more confusion in people “, Add.
“There is no justification for not wearing masks. You have to use them and keep your social distance, that’s clear. I hope when I see people crowded in supermarkets, it can’t be. Now, obviously, if a vaccination policy is made, from a scientific point of view it proves that it works “, he continues.
In this regard, the researcher emphasizes that “all vaccines work”, mentioning the case of diseases that were controlled by inoculation such as measles or smallpox.
“All these great advances have been for vaccines. There is no medical reason to believe that vaccines do not work. This unwarranted fear that vaccines can lead to autism is unfounded. They’re kind of crazy coming out of nowhere and they have no scientific basis. “, express.
“The government is taking the right measures. People are the ones who have to use them properly somehow. If I say that in supermarkets there is a capacity of people who can enter, they cannot be full. It is not possible, because it is summer, all the people arrive on the beaches, because there are thousands of people in a small area, without any kind of control “, he argues.
“You have to be more aware. It is not a matter of government or ordinances. Maybe we should be a little firmer than in countries like that New Zealand, where they practically extinguished the virus. It is a little smaller than Chile, but it is comparable, it is isolated like us “, he says.
From an early age, Dr. Maccioni was interested in studying Alzheimer’s“When nothing or very little was known. It’s a topic that interested me from the beginning “, he explains.
After graduating with a degree in biochemistry from the University of Chile, he graduated as a biochemist in 1969, after which he completed his postgraduate studies in biomedical sciences at the same university, graduating in 1975. He was there when he became a research colleague at the University of Chile. Colorado Health Sciences Center, United States.
Among other important advances, the scientist led the development of a test that will diagnose Alzheimer’s with a blood sample.
“It’s a non-invasive test called Alz Tau, which in one or two months will be available to the entire Chilean population, from Arica to Punta Arenas, to do it, “he said. All this is based on detecting the behavior of a key molecule in the development of the disease: the TAU protein.
Specifically, it is a system consisting of two kits. The first is to prepare platelet protein, while the second kit is to perform the analysis that indicates the value of these variants of the TAU protein.
Thus, this scientific proposal is positioned as a unique alternative in the world which, through a simple technology, allows to have accurate and predictive information, not only for diagnosis, but also for early detention, up to 10 years in advance.
The test is based on the presence of a high or low molecular weight of this protein, all hand in hand with algorithms. In this respect, the biomarker consists in the calculation of high molecular weight and low molecular weight species of TAU protein, which indicates that in cases of Alzheimer’s is dominated by higher species and has a correlation of about 90%.
Currently, the biochemist continues his research activity. It will be published in the journal Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease his new studio called New frontiers in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, which proposes an integrated approach that includes preventive factors and pharmacological approaches for future disease control.
The academic has his expectations set by the fact that, through a multitarg therapeutic approach, which goes to different goals, the disease can be controlled.
“But not with a simple medicine, I’ve said that many times. If you are trying to cure Alzheimer’s with a drug against some brain enzyme, you will never control it, because it is one of the ten events that take place in the brain modified by the disease. So you can control some, but not all. The idea is to control at different levels “, he claims.
A third Chilean Nobel?
Dr. Maccioni admits that any scientist would experience great joy in being nominated for the Nobel Prize. “Finally, it is a recognition of years of work. Scientists have very little recognition, but if they do, they are logically welcome, ”he admits.
“It would be a great honor for me and my research team, because I do not work alone. And, on the other hand, it would be an honor for Chile, because it would be a unique event for our country, which has never won the Nobel Prize in Medicine, has never had an award in hard sciences. This would put Chile in the world sphere, in a position of importance.
Finally, he sent a message to those young people starting out in the world of science. “First of all, we have to assume that doing science in Chile is not easy, we have to double our efforts in terms of what scientists are doing in countries like the United States,” he says. “You have to be reluctant, which means you have a very strong spirit to deal with attacks,” he added.
In addition, he emphasizes the importance of perseverance and hard work. “I got there by working 20 hours a day for a long time. I am now 76 years old and I work not 20, but 16 hours. Legally, I have a month-long vacation, but I am at the base of the canyon, working, “he said.
In the meantime, he explained that you have to be honest and think about the sea. “You must never shrink. Projects can be done. Everyone who has been trained in my laboratory has that stamp. “, he concludes.