Chilean research in health and neuroscience received important international support after Movement Disorders Center (CETRAM), directed by Dr. Pedro Chana, researcher at the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CEDENNA), was selected to receive the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship, granted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which will strengthen his clinical, scientific and training capabilities in the area of movement disorders.
This international recognition will make it possible to consolidate a program that integrates frontier research with specialized medical training, in a dual dimension: supporting the hiring of a physician to train as a clinician-researcher in movement disorders, and strengthening CETRAM’s educational programs, extending their reach to new generations of professionals.
Dr. Pedro Chana highlighted the importance of the recognition: “We are being given funding that allows us to hire a physician-researcher interested in training in the area of movement disorders. This fellowship has a dual dimension: on the one hand, it makes it possible to establish a formal contract with this person for a couple of years, during which they will be able to specialize both in abnormal movements and in research. And, on the other hand, it allows us to strengthen our educational programs in this area. It is not only about addressing movement disorders themselves, but also about developing a dual layer of training: that of the clinician and that of the researcher”.
Diseases such as Parkinson, which affects more than 50,000 people in Chile, as well as conditions such as Huntington’s, ataxias, complex tics and Tourette syndrome, are part of the group of movement disorders that require advanced medical approaches and up-to-date knowledge. These are highly complex conditions that are nevertheless increasingly frequent and widespread in the population.
At CEDENNA, an ANID-funded center of excellence, welcomed the news as part of the path towards integrating scientific knowledge with real applications for people’s well-being.
“Dr. Pedro Chana embodies the spirit of CEDENNA: science with purpose, which crosses disciplines and translates into concrete benefits for society. This alliance is a powerful sign that research in Chile can be recognized and supported by world-leading institutions”, says Dr. Dora Altbir, National Prize for Exact Sciences winner and director of the CEDENNA Foundation.
This funding positions CETRAM as the only center in Latin America to receive the Edmond J. Safra Fellowship granted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, a recognition reserved for institutions with an outstanding track record in clinical training and research in movement disorders. This milestone consolidates Chile as a regional benchmark in neuroscience and opens new opportunities for collaboration between scientific and clinical centers.
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