Conferencistas Invitados 2027
USA USA
Dr. Facundo M. Fernandez
Mónica Cala leads the Metabolomics Core Facility (MetCore) and serves as Head of Core Facilities at Universidad de los Andes. She is a founding member of the Latin American Metabolic Profiling Society (LAMPS) and, since 2025, a member of the Metabolomics Society Board of Directors. Her research focuses on mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and lipidomics applied to human health and food science. In biomedicine, her work addresses chronic diseases, longevity, gut microbiota, and exercise physiology, while in food science, it focuses on understanding and improving industrial food processes. She has played an active role in promoting the development, visibility, and adoption of metabolomics across Latin America. At MetCore, she leads core facility services, collaborative research projects, and training initiatives that expand access to mass spectrometry-based metabolomics technologies throughout Colombia and the Latin American region. Mónica has received several recognitions for her contributions to advancing metabolomics in the region, including the 2023 President’s Award from the Metabolomics Society. In 2024, she was also selected as one of 18 C&EN Trailblazers from 150 profiles nominated by readers, an initiative recognizing Latin American chemists making a significant impact in the region through their scientific contributions.
USA USA
Dr. Nicolás M. Morato Gutiérrez
Prof. Facundo M. Fernández is a Regents’ Professor and Vasser-Woolley Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He earned his MSc in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires' College of Exact and Natural Sciences in 1995, followed by his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the same university in 1999. From 2000 to 2001, he conducted postdoctoral research with Richard N. Zare at Stanford University’s Department of Chemistry. Later, from 2002 to 2003, he worked as a senior postdoc and research scientist with Vicki Wysocki in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Arizona. Renowned globally for his contributions to bioanalytical chemistry, he develops tools for analyzing small-volume samples, tissues, and single cells, which are applied to studying diseases such as cancer, CF, and IBD. He has authored over 240 peer-reviewed publications and received numerous awards.
BRA BRASIL
Dr. Norberto Peporine Lopes
Research Assistant Professor at Purdue University, affiliated with the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research and the Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on mass spectrometry, ambient ionization, rapid chemical analysis and high-throughput approaches for chemical and biological applications. He has contributed to the development of DESI-MS and automated high-throughput platforms, with applications including cancer research, drug discovery and reaction screening. His work combines mass spectrometry, microdroplet chemistry and automation to develop new analytical strategies.
COL COLOMBIA
Dra. Mónica Cala
Professor Titular at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, and Deputy Pro-Rector for Innovation at USP. He holds a degree in Pharmacy, a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Inputs, a Ph.D. in Chemistry and postdoctoral training in Mass Spectrometry at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on natural products chemistry, mass spectrometry, chemical ecology and biodiversity valorization. He coordinates the INCT Nature program and has extensive experience in the development and application of mass spectrometry for natural-product research.
SWE SUECIA
Dr. Francisco Javier Vilaplana
Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, working within the Glycoscience division. His research focuses on the biochemistry of complex carbohydrates and polysaccharides, with applications in food, health and sustainable bioeconomy. He studies the structure, functionality and transformation of complex carbohydrates and their role in biological and food systems. Since 2024, he has also served as Director of PLENTY, a national centre focused on developing a circular and symbiotic food system. His work combines glycoscience, food science and biotechnology to address challenges related to sustainable food systems.
Dra. Diana Sinuco León
Profesora Asociada de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Es Química, Magíster y Doctora en Ciencias–Química. Sus líneas de investigación incluyen metrología química, aseguramiento de la calidad y acreditación de laboratorios bajo ISO 17025, cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas, química de aromas, volatolómica y metabolómica. Su trabajo aborda particularmente el análisis de compuestos volátiles y metabolitos en matrices de interés alimentario, incluyendo cacao. También desarrolla actividades relacionadas con la implementación y validación de métodos analíticos y el aseguramiento de la calidad de resultados.
COL COLOMBIA
Dr. Ian Castro Gamboa
Professor at the Institute of Chemistry of São Paulo State University (UNESP), in the Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry. He holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of Costa Rica and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Federal University of São Carlos. His research focuses on natural products, bioactive secondary metabolites, metabolomics and dereplication strategies. He has coordinated the NMR platform at UNESP and has worked on the application of MS and NMR and computational approaches for the characterization and in situ identification of bioactive metabolites from natural sources.
BRA BRASIL
Dr. Andy Perez de Armas
Professora Titular at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo. Her research focuses on marine natural-products pharmacology and the discovery of new anticancer compounds from Brazilian biodiversity, particularly marine microorganisms. Her work combines natural-products chemistry, metabolomics, metagenomics, functional metagenomics, dereplication and molecular approaches to investigate mechanisms of action. She has contributed extensively to the discovery and characterization of bioactive compounds and to the evaluation of anticancer activity, including studies involving cellular and animal models.
CHI CHILE
Dra. Leticia Veras Costa Lotufo
Dr. Andy J. Pérez de Armas is an academic at the Department of Instrumental Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, Chile, where he is Director of the PhD Program in Analytical Science and Technology. He holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences and Technology from the University of Cádiz, Spain. His research focuses on plant metabolomics, LC-MS-based metabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging, with particular interest in understanding metabolic reprogramming in plants in response to biotic and abiotic stimuli. His work integrates untargeted metabolomics, high-resolution mass spectrometry and MALDI-MS imaging to investigate plant–environment interactions and spatially resolved chemical responses.
BRA BRASIL
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