Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt

Biography

Nutrition Researcher at the Center for Studies in Sensory, Impairment, Aging and Metabolism (CeSSIAM) in Guatemala.Graduated in Nutrition at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala City, and did a Masters Programme on Public Health at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.The work has focused in dietary factors affecting schoolchildren and adolescents’ health. Application of an innovative approach for data collection methodin schoolchildren, based on self-reported pictorial diaries. This work resulted in a series of publications ranging from usual water intake, main sources of nutrients to meal patterns in schoolchildren in theGuatemalan context. Recent research activities include topics, such as Vitamin D status in Mayan populations, polymorphisms on BetaCarotene Monoxigenase I, application of non-invasive screening tools for hemoglobin, and, the use of Gangliosides as vehicles to prevent and treatment of Giardiasis.Memberships: Associated member of the Academy of Medical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Guatemala, member of the Nutrition Leaders Program (NLP) for the Latinamerican region, member of the Guatemalan National Counseling of Science and Technology (CONCYT) (Secretary of the Health Committee). Recipient of the 2010 TWAS prize for GuatemalanYoung Scientist. Research Interests: interactions on hydration, metabolism and long term consequences, non-invasive methods for screening nutritional markers.