Soledad Ojeda, Journalist UACh.- The director of the FIC 22-22 project and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Austral University of Chile, Dr. Pamela Ehrenfeld, expressed her gratitude to the women who participated and donated blood and saliva samples.
The researcher explained that this new stage seeks to develop an Elisa-type detection test through the generation of polyclonal antibodies or nanobodies, for the early detection of breast cancer in women. “In a first stage, 5 proteins were analyzed as possible biomarkers in breast cancer. One of them showed differences between the healthy population and women diagnosed with breast cancer, and what we are looking for now is to validate the possible usefulness of this biomarker in a larger female population”, she explained. This will allow “women with high levels of this biomarker to be quickly referred for imaging analysis and study of the presence or absence of possible cancer.”
The participants highlighted the importance and impact of this initiative. “We are very happy with the opportunity they have given us to participate. They are Valdivian researchers, Valdivian women, with Valdivian funds, so we are happy to be able to collaborate,” said Soledad Ruiz-Tagle.
Carolina Jaramillo also remarked that “the project that is being developed at the regional level seems very interesting to me. It is a great advance for science, taking into account that the number of women who die from cancer, daily, is 3 women, the work they are doing for this is essential, for early diagnosis”. Likewise, Marta Silva, who also participated in the sampling, remarked that it is “very important because of the relevance of this disease and it is good that the Austral University is leading through its Faculty of Medicine. It is very important for the community that it is being carried out. And she decided to participate out of sorority. We are collaborating and contributing so that progress can be made and there may be a diagnostic test in the future”.
