Speaker

Maite A. Castro Gallastegui

Biography :

ChatGPT said: Maite A. Castro, PhD Maite A. Castro, PhD, is a Full Professor at the Institute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Austral de Chile, and a Visiting Scientist at the Janelia Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She also serves as Director of the International Affairs Office at Universidad Austral de Chile. Dr. Castro earned her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Universidad Austral de Chile and her degree in Biochemistry from Universidad de Concepción. Her research focuses on cellular signaling, brain metabolism, and the interactions between neurons and glial cells. Her work examines how neuron–glia communication regulates energy metabolism in the healthy brain and how these processes are altered during aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Her research has addressed metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, glucose transport, antioxidant mechanisms, and neuronal energy regulation, with particular relevance to disorders such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases. Dr. Castro uses a multidisciplinary approach combining electrophysiology, advanced microscopy—including confocal, TIRF, and two-photon imaging—with biochemical and molecular techniques. Her research is conducted using brain slices, primary cell cultures, and in vivo transgenic mouse models. Through her research, academic leadership, and international collaborations, Dr. Castro contributes to advancing our understanding of brain metabolism and neuron–glia communication, with the long-term goal of identifying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.