Christian Andrés Rojas Cerón, MD

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Dr. Rojas is a pediatrician graduated from the Universidad del Valle, with a fellowship in child neurology from the Universidad de Antioquia. He is an active member of the Colombian Association of Child Neurology and the Center for Brain Studies of the Universidad del Valle. He is also part of the Research Group in Neonatology, Child Health and Development (INSIDE). He has imparted epilepsy training for primary care providers for the Department of Public Health of Valle del Cauca and has more than 30 publications in medical journals. He is currently a professor at the Department of Pediatrics at the Universidad del Valle and a clinician at the Centro Médico Imbanaco, la Fundación Clínica Club Noel y el Hospital Universitario del Valle.

LUIS IZQUIERDO LÓPEZ, MD, MSC, PHD

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El doctor Luis Izquierdo es el máximo responsable médico de todos los territorios en donde operan los laboratorios Veritas Intercontinental (Europa, Japón, Latinoamérica y Emiratos). Es licenciado en medicina y cirugía por la Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), doctor en obstetricia y ginecología, con Premio Extraordinario de la Facultad de Medicina de la UCM y magister en genética médica por la Glasgow University, formado en unidades de genética dentro y fuera de España. El doctor Izquierdo añade a su currículo más de 25 años de práctica en genética clínica y de laboratorio, y una muy importante actividad científica en campos como el cribado de gestantes con riesgo de Down y otras anomalías cromosómicas, el diagnóstico prenatal, el cáncer familiar o las cardiopatías hereditarias. Con anterioridad a su incorporación en Veritas Intercontinental, el doctor Izquierdo desarrolló su actividad profesional como director del área de genética de Laboratorios Synlab, sin abandonar la práctica clínica como Jefe del Servicio de Genética del Hospital de la Zarzuela y del Hospital Torrejón, ademas de ser consultor en Genética del Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón.

LUIS IZQUIERDO LÓPEZ, MD, MSC, PHD

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Dr Luis izquierdo is the chief medical officer of all the territories (Europe, Japan, Latin America and Emirates) at Veritas Intercontinental Laboratories. He has a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) with a specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology, with an Extraordinary Award from the Faculty of Medicine of the UCM. Master of Science in Medical Genetics from Glasgow University, trained in Genetics units inside and outside of Spain. Dr. Izquierdo adds to his curriculum more than 25 years of practice in clinical and laboratory genetics, and a very important scientific activity in fields such as screening of pregnant women at risk for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities, prenatal diagnosis, familial cancer or hereditary heart disease. Prior to joining Veritas Intercontinental, Dr. Izquierdo developed his professional activity as director of Genetics at ​​Synlab Laboratories, without abandoning clinical practice as Head of the Genetics Service of the Hospital de la Zarzuela and Hospital Torrejón, as well as consultant in Genetics at the Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón.

Yolanda de Diego Otero, PhD

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Dr. Yolanda de Diego Otero graduated with a bachelors in Biology from the Universidad de Sevilla, she is a doctor in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Department of Clinical Genetics at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and at the Department of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad de Málaga. She has been dedicated to study fragile X syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders for almost 30 years. Her research has used a mutant mouse model that manifests fragile X syndrome and the preclinical results showed a possible therapeutic target for the disease by treating brain oxidative stress. She currently coordinates the research group CTS546, based since 2002 at the Hospital Regional Universitario. She has participated as principal investigator in numerous research projects and clinical trials. Their results have been published in high-impact international journals. In addition, she has participated as a speaker, scientific committee and organizer of conferences both in Spain and internationally. She has active participation in societies and associations focused on the study and dissemination of information about fragile X syndrome, autism, and other child development disorders.

Yolanda de Diego Otero, PhD

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La Dra. Yolanda de Diego Otero es licenciada en Biología por la Universidad de Sevilla, es doctora en Biología Molecular y Celular. Realizo su entrenamiento postdoctoral en el Departamento de Genética Clínica en la Universidad Erasmus de Rotterdam (Holanda) y en el Departamento de Farmacología de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Málaga. Ha estado dedicada a la investigación del síndrome X frágil y otros trastornos del neurodesarrollo infantil por casi 30 años. Su investigación tiene como base el modelo de ratón mutante que manifiesta el síndrome X frágil y los resultados preclínicos mostraron una posible diana terapéutica para la enfermedad tratando el estrés oxidativo cerebral. Actualmente coordina el grupo de investigación CTS546, radicado desde 2002 en el Hospital Regional Universitario. Ha participado como investigadora principal en numerosos proyectos de investigación y ensayos clínicos. Sus resultados han sido publicados en revistas internacionales de alto impacto. Además, ha participado como ponente, comité científico y organizadora de conferencias tanto en España como a nivel internacional. Tiene participación activa en sociedades y asociaciones enfocadas en el estudio y la difusión de información acerca del síndrome X frágil, el autismo, y los trastornos del desarrollo infantil.

Maribel Hernandez

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Maribel Hernandez es Especialista en Alcance Comunitario en el Centro de Recursos del Centro para la Excelencia en Discapacidades del Desarrollo (CEDD) del MIND Institute. Maribel brinda recursos, apoyo y educación a las familias, asegurando que los recursos sean cultural y lingüísticamente apropiados. Entre sus muchos roles, Maribel facilita “Vamos a platicar”, que es una serie de seis semanas realizada completamente en español para padres de niños con discapacidades para compartir sus experiencias, aprender sobre el diagnóstico y las necesidades de sus hijos, y ayudarlos a alcanzar su máximo potencial. También facilita el grupo “Junta para la Comunidad” y es la coordinadora de la conferencia anual en español del MIND Institute “Aprendiendo Juntos”. Maribel es madre de 2 adultos jóvenes que viven con autismo y ha estado en el CEDD por los últimos 8 años.

Maribel Hernandez

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Maribel Hernandez is a Community Outreach Specialist in the MIND Institute’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CEDD) Resource Center. Maribel provides resources, support, and education to families, ensuring that resources are culturally and linguistically appropriate. Among her many roles, Maribel facilitates the parent-group Vamos a platicar (Let’s Talk), which is a six-week series conducted entirely in Spanish for parents of children with disabilities to share their experiences, learn about their child’s diagnosis and needs, and help them achieve their full potential. She also facilitates the group Meeting in the Community and is the coordinator of the MIND Institute’s annual Spanish language conference “Aprendiendo Juntos.” Maribel is a parent of 2 young adults living with autism and has been with the Center for 8 years.

Patricia Soto-Icaza, PhD

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Dr. Patricia Soto-Icaza is a professor and researcher at the Center for Research in Social Complexity (CICS) of the Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD), Santiago, Chile. She is a psychologist, she graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile . She has a master’s degree in clinical psychology, with a doctorate in neuroscience from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. She has more than 20 years of experience in patient care as a clinical psychologist and more than 15 years dedicated to autism research. She has focused her studies on her on her on her on her in the area of ​​neurodevelopment of the social brain with special emphasis on the precursors of the development of social skills in childhood.She currently leads research projects on children with special educational needs and autism in women. She is an author in publications in scientific journals and books.

 

Patricia Soto-Icaza, PhD

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La Dra. Patricia Soto-Icaza es profesora e investigadora en el Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social (CICS) de la Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD), Santiago, Chile. Es psicologa egresada de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Es magíster en psicología clínica, con un doctorado en neurociencias de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Cuenta con más de 20 años de experiencia en atención de pacientes como psicóloga clínica y más de 15 años dedicada a la investigación en autismo. Ha profundizado sus estudios en el neurodesarrollo del cerebro social con especial énfasis en los precursores del desarrollo de habilidades sociales en la niñez. Actualmente lidera investigaciones en niños y niñas con necesidades educativas especiales y autismo en mujeres. Con publicaciones en revistas científicas y participación en libros.

Dilian Francisca Toro Torres

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Dr Toro is a physician. She graduated from the Universidad Libre Cali, Colombia. Specialist in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in Health Administration of the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. She was Mayor (1992-1994) of the Municipality of Guacarí, Valle del Cauca; she served as Health Secretary of the Department and Health Consultant of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). In 2002 she was elected Senator.  In 2006, she served as President of the Congress and in 2010, as President of the Constitutional Seventh Permanent Commission. Advocate for health issues and author of the Reform to Law 100, the Human Resource on Health Act, the Anti-Smoking Law, Non-Violence against Women Law and the Orphan Diseases Law. She was a panelist at the UN General Assembly. She has received several distinctions as the Order of Congress of the Republic for her work as president of the Senate; José Vicente Huertas Order of Merit of the Colombian Cancer Institute and the Award for Leadership and Excellence in Smoke-Free Environments policies from The Global Smoke Free Partnership. She was Governor of the Valle del Cauca for the period 2016-2019. During her period, she was elected best Governor in categories 1 and 2, distinction awarded by the Colombia Leader Foundation to the Best Mayors and Governors for the period 2016-2019.