Dr. Libia Vega

Brief Biography:

I was born on may 16th, 1968 in Mexico. I graduated as a Bachelor in Science (Biology, Science faculty, National University of Mexico, UNAM) in November 1991. As a Master in Science, graduated with honors (Biomedical Research, Genetic Toxicology, Basic and Biomedical Research Institute, UNAM) in February 1995. As a Ph. D. (Biomedical Research, Immunotoxicology, Basic and Biomedical Research Institute, UNAM) in March 1998.

From May 1998 to June 1999 I was at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (RTP, NC) in the Immunotoxicoloy lab doing posdoctoral training under Dr. Dori Germolec advisory.

From November 1999 to date I have been working at the Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto politécnico Nacional in Mexico.

From July 2010 to June 2011 I had a sabattical research stay in the laboratory of Dr. Jack Uetrecht, Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, Canada.

I have been awarded with the recognition as a National Researcher by the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico since 1996 to date.

I received a National Award as Young Researcher in 2008 for my contributions to the area of environmental toxicology with my research on arsenic effects on human exposed populations.

Academic positions:

1990-1994  Assistant Professor, Carcinogenesis, Science Faculty, UNAM.

1992-1993  Study of a human population exposed to arsenic, UNAM and EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute, USA). 

1993-1997  Development of new antineoplasic drugs, Medicine Faculty and Chemistry Faculty, UNAM.

1994-1997  Associated Professor, Toxicology, National Institute of Public Health.

1994-1998  Faculty Professor, Carcinogenesis, Faculty of Science, UNAM.

1998-1999 Posdoctoral. Toxicology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, North Carolina, Research Triangle Park, USA.

1999 to date Principal Investigator, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV). Level 3D.

Research interests:

I am currently interested in the modulation of the immune system response by exposure to xenobiotics. How xenobiotics interact with different components of the immune system to induce activation, supression, tolerance or anergy. Also, I am interested in conducting preclinical and basic research directed to identify and characterize active compounds in plants that can be used as immmunomodulators or as potential antineoplastics suitqable for chemotherapy. We conduct research related on how exposure to certain xenobiotics (particularly pesticides, heavy metals and organic solvents) participate in the development of cancer.

What I think of the idea behind WebmedCentral:

I considere the idea of forming WebmedCentral an opportunity to produce an interesting tool available to researchers, schoolars and government agencies in all fields to have direct acces to good quality research that will be helpfull in shaping the future of science and technology. This is an opportunity that I am interested in taking, and a challenge to which I am willing to seriously compromise.