Ramón Latorre

Professor Latorre has held positions at the University of Chicago (1975-1977) and Harvard Medical School (1977-1983). He is, at present, a Professor at the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Center of the University of Valparaíso (CINV), and from 2008 to 2021, he was the CINV’s Director. The main scientific interest of Prof. Latorre is the molecular workings of ion channels, the proteins that, located in the cellular membranes, act as the doors of perception. He has published over 200 original articles and has edited or co-edited 7 books. In 1989, he obtained the Elizabeth R. Cole Award bestowed by the Biophysical Society, USA, for "A significant advance in biophysics which is accepted and used by others in the field". In 2002 received the National Prize in Natural Sciences given by the Government of Chile. In 2003, he was named Robert F. Kennedy Professor of Latin American Studies by Harvard University, and in 2007, he was conferred with the Mexican Prize in Science and Technology. In 2012, he was distinguished with the Juan Negrín Award bestowed by the Physiological Spanish Society in recognition of his contribution to Biophysics. In 1999, he was named Foreign Associate of the National Academy of the USA and, in 2023, was named International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences of the USA. Prof. Latorre helped to create the Society of Latin American Biophysicists and was elected its first President in 1986.