Dr. Cheril Tapia's laboratory studies the dysfunction of synaptic mitochondria during aging in the cerebral hippocampus, which mediates learning and memory processes. Synaptic mitochondria are more vulnerable to damage than non-synaptic ones and her laboratory studies the causes of this sensitivity, studying factors such as the accumulation of phosphorylated tau (PHF-1: Ser396-Ser404) in the mitochondria, or the loss of function of mitochondrial proteases such as the Lonp1 protease, and potential therapeutic targets. To do this, it has primary culture of mouse hippocampal neurons, organotypic culture, and aged C57BL6 and SAMP8 mice.

Dr. Cheril Tapia Rojas is a Biochemist from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and completed her doctorate in Biological Sciences with a Major in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Upon completion, he completed a postdoctoral degree in the ANILLO ACT1411 Project, “Research Center for the Study of Alcohol Consumption Behavior in Adolescents (CIAA): from the molecule to brain function and peripheral metabolism”, Autonomous University of Chile. PUC. He joined the San Sebastián University (USS), as an assistant professor in the Biochemistry program in 2018, when he was awarded a project from the Advanced Human Capital Attraction and Insertion Program, in its first National Call for Installation Subsidy in the Academy (PAI77170091-ANID), the same year in which a FONDECYT Initiation project was awarded (11170546-ANID). Since then he has been leader of the Neurobiology of Aging Laboratory (NBA-Lab) at the Center for Cellular Biology and Biomedicine (CEBICEM), at the USS. Currently, he is part of the faculty of the Doctorate in Cellular Biology and Biomedicine, the Doctorate in Biotechnology and Bioentrepreneurship and the Master of Molecular Biomedicine of the USS.

Dr. Cheril Tapia is a professor of the courses of Comprehension and Communication in Spanish, Knowledge Management, Research Units, Professional Practice and Degree Seminar, of the Biochemistry career, of the Faculty of Medicine and Science; In addition, he is part of the faculty of the Doctorate in Cellular Biology and Biomedicine, the Doctorate in Biotechnology and Bioentrepreneurship and the Master of Molecular Biomedicine of the USS, where he teaches classes in the different core and elective courses of these programs, and directs research units, bibliographic seminars and Doctoral Theses.