About us
The MELISA Institute is the result of an academic research initiative of the same name that integrates modern clinical epidemiology methods with advanced techniques of molecular biology. MELISA is an acronym for Molecular Epidemiology for Life Sciences Accountability. MELISA Institute was founded in the city of Concepción, Chile, at the Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC).
One of the main goals of the Institute is to see the human embryo as a patient. To this end, the Institute is under the umbrella of the Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health at the UCSC. The fundational goal of the MELISA Institute is to generate the technology to identify the presence of the human embryo early during pregnancy and non-invasively investigate its natural environment in order to develop embryonic therapies in utero during the first weeks of human development.
In addition, the MELISA Institute is committed to advance epidemiological research on other landmark subjects, such as maternal health, fertility, regenerative medicine with adult stem cells, and cardiovascular research.
We are located at the Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health of the Faculty of Medicine of the UCSC.
If you need additional information, please contact Ms. Lea M. Parks, our Public Relations Officer by clicking here.
One of the main goals of the Institute is to see the human embryo as a patient. To this end, the Institute is under the umbrella of the Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health at the UCSC. The fundational goal of the MELISA Institute is to generate the technology to identify the presence of the human embryo early during pregnancy and non-invasively investigate its natural environment in order to develop embryonic therapies in utero during the first weeks of human development.
In addition, the MELISA Institute is committed to advance epidemiological research on other landmark subjects, such as maternal health, fertility, regenerative medicine with adult stem cells, and cardiovascular research.
We are located at the Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health of the Faculty of Medicine of the UCSC.
If you need additional information, please contact Ms. Lea M. Parks, our Public Relations Officer by clicking here.
RESEARCH TEAM
ELARD KOCH, MPH PhD(c)
Director, MELISA Institute
Co-Director, Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile
Click here for a list of research awards and honors
Director, MELISA Institute
Co-Director, Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile
Click here for a list of research awards and honors
MARCELO LAGOS, MD Ob/Gyn
Director
Clinical Hospital UCSC
Co-Director
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Director
Clinical Hospital UCSC
Co-Director
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
DONNA HARRISON, MD
Associate Researcher in Maternal Health and Pharmacology
MELISA Institute
Director of Research and Public Policy
AAPLOG
Associate Researcher in Maternal Health and Pharmacology
MELISA Institute
Director of Research and Public Policy
AAPLOG
JUAN F. STECHER, MD Ob/Gyn
Supervisor of Clinical Protocols
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Supervisor of Clinical Protocols
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
CRISTIÁN VARGAS, MD PhD(c)
Director, Superior Institute of Bioethics
Institute of Theology, UCSC
Expert in Bioethics
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Institute of Theology, UCSC
Director, Superior Institute of Bioethics
Institute of Theology, UCSC
Expert in Bioethics
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Institute of Theology, UCSC
LUIS RIFO, QF MSc
Expert in Ethics and Theology
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Institute of Theology, UCSC
Expert in Ethics and Theology
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Institute of Theology, UCSC
PAULA ARACENA, PhD
Expert in Redox Protein Biochemistry
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Expert in Redox Protein Biochemistry
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
SEBASTIÁN GATICA, BSc
Expert in Molecular Biology
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Associate Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Expert in Molecular Biology
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Associate Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
MIGUEL BRAVO, BSc
Expert in Epidemiological Databases
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Associate Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Expert in Epidemiological Databases
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Associate Researcher, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
FERNANDO CHUECAS, MD Hematology
Director, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Expert in Adult Stem Cell Research
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine UCSC
Professor, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine UCSC
Director, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Expert in Adult Stem Cell Research
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine UCSC
Professor, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine UCSC
FERNANDO VERBAL, MD Cardiology
Expert in Heart Failure Diseases
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Expert in Heart Failure Diseases
MELISA Institute
Center of Embryonic Medicine and Maternal Health
Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
Professor, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, UCSC
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATORS
BYRON C. CALHOUN, MD FACS FACOG MBA
Professor Women & Children's Hospital Medical Office Building Charleston, WV, USA 
ALEJANDRA HUERTA-ZEPEDA, PhD
Professor School of Medicine Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla Puebla, Mexico 
JOHN THORP, MD
Hugh McAllister Distinguished Professor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC, USA |
MONIQUE V. CHIREAU, MD MPH BA
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Duke University School of Medicine Durham, NC, USA 
RALPH MIECH, MD PhD
Associate Professor Emeritus Alpert Medical School Brown University Rhode Island, RI, USA |
