Our body has a complex system to maintain its internal homeostasis, but at the same time need to response to the permanent pressure of environment factors that challenge the homeostasis maintenance. To command an adaptative response, it must record environmental information into the genome to have a permanent control of gene expression that allows appropriate communication between different tissues. Dr. Kerr's line of research is focused on understanding how the genome-environment interaction regulates the integration of neuroendocrine signals that regulate body energy homeostasis, and how the disruption of this interaction causes the development of diseases such as obesity. In addition, using a mouse model, he is searching for non-pharmacological therapeutic alternatives that allow to attenuate the progression of Rett Syndrome, a devastating neurological disease caused by a disruption of the genome-environment interaction

Dr. Bredford Kerr began his studies with a Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, the one that continued in the Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences, with a mention in Physiological Sciences. Then, he continued his academic training at the Oregon Health and Science University-USA, funded by a Forgarty/NIH felloship. He then returned to Chile and joined the Centro de Estudios Científicos-CECs in the city of Valdivia as a Postdoc, to later continue in that institution with a Tenure Track Position, at the end of which he joined the Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia of Universidad San Sebastián as Associate Professor

Dr. Kerr's research is focused on understanding how genome-environment interaction regulates the integration of neuroendocrine signals that regulate body energy homeostasis. For this reason, he participates in the Human Physiology course for careers in the health area and in the Molecular Pathology course for Biochemistry students. In postgraduate programs, he is Director of the Master's Program in Molecular Biomedicine and Professor of the Doctoral Program in Cellular Biology and Biomedicine where he participates in Cellular Biology, Biomedicine, and Molecular Biology courses. In addition, he has joined the recently created Doctoral Program in Chronic Diseases and participates as a Visiting Professor in the doctoral programs of the Universidad de los Andes, Universidad Católica del Norte and Universidad de Valparaíso