Guanajuato Associates

Dr. Katarzyna Wrobel of the Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Guanjauto received her Ph.D. from the University of Warsaw studying trace element analysis in biological fluids. She did a postdoc at the University of Oviedo and in 1998 did her Habilitation at the University of Warsaw doing elemental speciation in biological fluids. Her first academic leave was with Professor Joe Caruso at the University of Cincinnati. Her principal research interest is in the analysis of metal- and metalloid species in the real-world samples aiming the elucidation of element pathways and specific biological functions in different biological systems. The emerging area referred to as metallomics is related closely with her experience and future studies. Dr. Wrobel will assume responsibility for Center activities in Guanajuato.
 

email: katarzyn@quijote.ugto.mx

Dr. Kazimierz Wrobel of the Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Guanjuato received his Ph.D. from University of Bialystok, Poland Studying physicochemical properties of pharmacologically active collagen breakdown-products. His postdoc was in the area of molecular biology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Spain. His first academic leave was spent with Professor Caruso at the University of Cincinnati. His interest in the analysis of metals/metalloids in biological samples is related with his experience in the area of biochemistry and molecular biology. Based on the interdisciplinary academic trajectory, his scientific contributions have focused the incorporation, distribution and chemical speciation of elements in living organisms. He is concerned that ultimate elucidation of the specific biological functions of elements relies on the total, multielemental characterization of a given biological system, including element interactions and relationships.
 

email: kazimier@quijote.ugto.mx

Dr. J. Felix Gutierrez Corona of the Chemistry Faculty of the Universidad de Guanajuato received his Ph.D. at the National University of Mexico. Dr Gutierrez’s research experiences encompass the study of microbial (fungi and bacteria) mechanisms of interaction of microorganisms with metals such as chromium, cadmium and copper, and the assessment of the biological relevance and the biotechnological applications of these interactions. Current studies are centered on the mechanisms of hexavalent chromium reduction by fungal strains indigenous from contaminated environments.
 

email: felixg@quijote.ugto.mx

Dr. Gustavo Cruz Jiménez is a member of the Chemistry Faculty of the Universidad de Guanajuato. He recently received his Ph.D. from the Chemistry Department, University of Texas at El Paso, studying the toxicity and accumulation of selenium by plant species from the Chihuahua Dessert – an area that fits exceptionally well with the hopes of the Metallomics Center. He is interested in studies of elements that are potentially toxic in different environmental compartments. He has been involved in research on element metabolites in the environment, their bioaccesability and their chemical speciation in plants. Due to environmental pollution with metals in the State of Guanajuato, his studies focus also on phytoremediation. The metallomics approach will add novel and interesting contributions to his studies.
 

email: cruzg@quijote.ugto.mx

Dr. Luis Manuel de Leon Rodriguez, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas,
Universidad de Guanjauto, recently received his Ph.D. in Chemistry at th University of Texas at Dallas studying chemistry for the controlled location of DOTA within a peptide sequence and is now pursuing further studies at Guanajuato. The metallomics approach is important to Dr. Leon, since his interest is in the interactions between metals and biomolecules such as proteins and peptides. In particular, the objectives would be to understand and explain the causes of metal related health disorders such as Alzheimer diseases, cancer, etc. His studies focus on the development of new, peptide based molecular sensors with potential application in the diagnosis of prevalent sicknesses.
 

email: lmdeleon@quijote.ugto.mx