Lorena Michelle Coronado Vásquez

Institution

INDICASAT AIP

Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases

Panamá, Republic of Panamá

Clayton, City of Knowledge

Building 208

Postal Code 0843-01103, Panamá 5

Research Interests

Malaria, Plasmodium invasion, Optical tweezers research, Plasmodium falciparum biomechanics, Drug discovery and novel mechanisms of action.

Topics to speak on:

Malaria, Natural products, Bioprospection, Woman and Girls in Science.

Words of Wisdom

Brick walls are there for a reason: to show us how badly we want things

Biography

Lorena Michelle Coronado Vásquez is a junior researcher at The Institute of Scientific Research and High Technology Services of Panama (INDICASAT). She received her BSc in Biotechnology from the UADE University in Argentina and earned a Ph.D in Biotechnology form Acharya Nagarjuna University. Her main line of investigation involves the biophysics of the malaria parasite Plasmodium and is interested in the use of optical tweezers to study the mechanical changes that the membrane of the erythrocytes infected with P. falciparum undergoes under various treatments. She also works in drug discovery, studying novel mechanism of action of natural products against malaria and cancer. She was the proud 2018 recipient of the L´Oreal/UNESCO for Women in Science Award in Panama. She is an active member of the National System of Science (SNI) of Panama.

Dr. Coronado is an advocate of the role of women and girls in science.