During his FONDECYT postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Ahumada focused on unraveling the early mechanisms that establish the cellular senescence phenotype, with particular attention to the regulation of mitochondrial calcium uptake mediated by the anti-apoptotic proteins BCL-XL and BCL-W. Despite significant advances in understanding cellular senescence, little is known about the initial events occurring within the first few hours of senescence phenotype development and the mechanisms enabling cellular survival under conditions of damage. His work provided novel evidence on these early survival mechanisms. Currently, Dr. Ahumada is investigating the molecular mechanisms within the inner mitochondrial membrane that prevent calcium overload during cellular senescence. At the same time, he is studying another type of cell cycle arrest associated with aging, cellular quiescence, exploring how anti-apoptotic proteins like BCL-XL regulate this process and its impact on calcium signaling between organelles.

Dr. Ulises Ahumada Castro is a Medical Technologist and holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, both degrees obtained from the University of Chile. During his doctoral training, he completed a research internship in Judith Campisi's laboratory at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in California, USA, where he enhanced his expertise in aging research. Subsequently, he conducted two postdoctoral fellowships: one associated with the FONDAP GERO Center and another at the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Chile. As an independent researcher, Dr. Ahumada has explored the molecular mechanisms involved in calcium signaling released from the endoplasmic reticulum and its communication with mitochondria and lysosomes, in the contexts of cancer and aging.

Dr. Ahumada is a Researcher and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry and Rehabilitation Sciences of the Universidad San Sebastián. He teaches Histology and Embryology courses to undergraduate students in dentistry, health sciences bachelor's programs, and obstetrics, contributing to the comprehensive education of future healthcare professionals.