Karen León
About me
Ms. Karen León Arcia is a Cuban biochemist and neuroscientist with over 18 years of research experience in molecular neuroscience. She holds a Master's in Neurosciences and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Previously, she served as Head of the Molecular Genetics Department and Principal Investigator at the Cuban Neuroscience Center for more than a decade. Her research is highly focused on neurodegenerative diseases, particularly the development of immunotherapies and vaccine candidates for Alzheimer's disease, evidenced by her leadership on several funded projects and a key patent for a multi-target chimeric antigen.
Ms. León Arcia has a strong publication record in international journals, covering areas from Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's to spinocerebellar ataxia. She is an active member of scientific organizations, including the Cuban Academy of Sciences, and has contributed to the scientific community through teaching, student supervision, and peer review.
Ms. Karen León Arcia is a Cuban biochemist and molecular neuroscientist with over 18 years of experience dedicated to neurodegenerative disease research, focusing on immunotherapy development for Alzheimer’s disease. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Biological Sciences at the Institute of Neurobiology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), building on extensive scientific leadership in Cuba.
Before her doctoral studies, Ms. León Arcia was Head of the Molecular Genetics Department and Principal Investigator at the Cuban Center for Neuroscience (CNEURO) for more than 10 years. She led research teams and managed national grants, notably developing a patented multi-target chimeric antigen designed to elicit immune responses against both amyloid-beta and tau proteins in Alzheimer’s immunotherapy.
Her scholarly contributions include over 25 peer-reviewed articles published in journals such as Vaccine, Movement Disorders, The Cerebellum, and Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. She has also co-authored books and holds patents related to molecular biology methodologies, including pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
Committed to mentoring, Ms. León Arcia supervises undergraduate and master’s theses and teaches postgraduate courses. She has been honored with the Abel Santamaría Medal by the Cuban Council of State and maintains active memberships in the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the DOHaD Cuban Research Group. Her engagement with OWSD highlights her dedication to empowering women scientists in developing countries.
Key Research Areas: Alzheimer’s Disease Immunotherapy; Neurodegenerative Diseases (Parkinson’s, Spinocerebellar Ataxias); Molecular Biomarkers; Recombinant Protein Engineering; Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Education:
Ph.D. Candidate, Biological Sciences | National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) | 2024–Present
M.Sc. in Neurosciences, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | National Center for Scientific Research (CNIC), Cuba | 2009
B.Sc. in Biochemistry | University of Havana, Cuba | 2006
Selected Affiliations:
Full Member, OWSD | 2017–Present
Junior Associate, Cuban Academy of Sciences (Natural Sciences) | 2024–2029
Member, Scientific Committee, Cuban Neuroscience Center | 2016–2024
Contact
Email: klarci@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5143-1642
Degrees:
Havana
Havana
Havana
Havana
Havana
Havana
Havana
Havana
Havana
Mexico
Italy
Havana