Dr. Lorena Michelle Coronado Vasquez

Degrees held:
• Bachelor Science degree in Biotechnology. 2009. UADE University, Argentina.
• PhD in Biotechnology. 2017. Acharya Nagarjuna University, India.
• Post-doctoral in Biophysics and Malaria. 2017-2023. INDICASAT AIP, Panamá
Professional Appointments:

2009- 2010
• Research assistant. Project: “Use of microwaves as an alternative treatment against malaria”. Institute of scientific research and high technology and services. (INDICASAT AIP), Panamá

2016-2017
• Research assistant. Project: “Standardization of an open microwaves irradiation system “microstrip” in Plasmodium falciparum”. Institute of Scientific Research and High Technology and Services. (INDICASAT AIP), Panamá.

2017-2023
• Post-doctoral researcher. Institute of Scientific Research and High Technology and Services. INDICASAT AIP, Panamá.

2023-present
• Junior Researcher. Institute of Scientific Research and High Technology and Services. INDICASAT AIP, Panamá.
Professional / Academic societies the candidate is a member of:
• Member of the National Research System of Panama (SNI). (Since 2018)

• Member of the Global Young Academy. (Since 2024)
Awards and honours:
• Membership of the Global Young Academy (2024-2028)
• Winner of the National L´OREAL UNESCO 2018 prize. “For Women in Science” by L´OREAL UNESCO for her studies in malaria.
• Membership of the National Research System (SNI) in the category of National Researcher II.
• Innovation award “Dr. Arturo Melo” by INDICASAT AIP. Recognition for been in top ten of entrepreneur and technological innovations in SENACYT and CCIAP 2017.
• INDICASAT Scientific Award by INDICASAT AIP. Recognition for impact factor publication above 2.0. February 2016.
• Short term fellowship award by European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) to performed atomic force microscopy experiments at Institute of Photonics, Jena, Germany. 2012.
• Bronze medal by The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) foundation. USA. November 2010.
Citation of major research accomplishments (up to 50 words):
• Dr. Coronado has helped to consolidate a multidisciplinary research group of biologists and engineers to standardize the optimal parameters to inhibit the growth of the parasite that causes malaria using electromagnetic energy without the use of drugs. We are now working on the device to perform the in vivo phase in animals.
• Opens a line of research using Optical Tweezers in Panamá to study mechanical changes in membranes of malaria parasites and cancer cells in response to drug treatments.
Candidate's Details:
Biographical information, including statement of qualifications and principal grounds on which the proposal is made:

As a young scientist, Lorena Coronado have developed her research in Panama, specifically developing new approaches to treat malaria without drugs and in the study of mechanism of action of novel natural and synthetic antimalarial compounds. She also have currently ongoing funded projects in the study of curcumin synthetic derivatives against cancer and in the implementation of malaria sexual transmission assays, but her main line of research is the implementation of optical tweezers and microfluidics for cell membrane biomechanical studies.

As a brief timeline, after completing undergraduate studies in biotechnology at Buenos Aires Argentina, she started working as laboratory technician for a project that was looking for a novel treatment against malaria with the use of electromagnetic parameters, which was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. During this period, Lorena learned several laboratory techniques to achieve the aim of the project, such as flow cytometry, parasite culture, western blots and molecular biology techniques. This technical experience prepared her to the next step in further academic goal. She successfully completed her doctoral studies upon describing the regulated cell death pathways of Plasmodium falciparum after the use of electromagnetic energy. To achieve her challenging aims, Dr. Coronado worked along with engineers to master not only advance methods of cell biology but also concepts and applications on electromagnetism, biophysics and electric engineering. During her post-doctoral training, she worked on the development and validation of a portable device to deliver electromagnetic energy in vivo system (mice).

A major problem in the battle against malaria have been the rapid generation of resistance to the cheapest and most used drugs in this disease. Potentially, the implementation of this electromagnetic device to treat malaria would have an enormous impact in those population under risk due to likely malaria parasite will not generate resistant. Thus, we would contribute in the eradication of this disease worldwide.

Currently she is a junior researcher at INDICASAT AIP in Panamá. Her main line of research is the study of biomechanical changes of red blood cells infected by malaria parasite using optical tweezers and microfluidics. She aims to study the relation between cell rigidity and malaria parasite invasion to use it as a biomarker for drug discovery. The use of biomechanical properties of cells to study the pathobiology of diseases is an innovative approach that can be applied to different lines of research.

In her short professional career she has managed to obtain several national subsidies in Panama through the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) as well as international subsidies (ICGEB) as principal investigator to carry out her projects at INDICASAT and open her line of research in optical tweezers. She also have stablished international collaboration ties with different institutions such as The Institute of micro and nano fluidics in Querétaro and the University of Guanajuato in Mexico for the optical tweezers research line. Another important collaboration is the one achieved with the group of Dr. Matthias Marti at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and the University of Zurich in Switzerland one of the pioneering groups in malaria transmission studies.

The use of high research standards have allow Dr. Coronado to obtained significant contributions to the advancement of science in Panama as well as the establishment of distinct collaborations in education and popularization of science.. Hence, the success of Dr. Coronado was recognized with the L´OREAL UNESCO women's prize in science in 2018. This award was a platform for her professional growth, helping to made her known in the scientific field, and was also the beginning of her passion for science education and dissemination aimed at children and on gender equity issues.

Because of her high international standards and her significant contributions to the advancement of science have been recently recognized as a new member of the prestigious Global Young Academy of Sciences in the 2024 cohort. In this academy she actively participates in the women in science and science education for youth working groups that its aligned with her passion for kids and science and her interests in gender equality.

Together with collaborators from Mexico and Chile, won funding from the Sasha Kagansky Interdisciplinary Grant for the development of the project: “Scientific thinking in preschoolers: a regional challenge”. This project aims to consolidate a tool for assessment of science interventions in schools and help in the development of policies in the ministry of education in terms of science education in Latin American countries.

She is also member of the National Research System of Panama (SNI) and of Gender Parity Initiative (IPG) of the state of Panamá, contributing in mentoring, leadership and participation in professional CTI networks for women programs. Besides to collaborate actively in initiatives sus as “Inspiring Girls”, and “JULIA mentoring program” from SENACYT Panamá among others.

If admitted to this prestigious distinction as a young member affiliated to TWAS, she surely will increase the number of collaborations with other members to develop new research approached to solve common problems, benefiting as well several Panamanian institutions with her character and excellence in science.

Reference links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx5-3wtqn00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZZvU5riPWc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaQVnnw6Wc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cj0DuNkN94

Complete list of Publications:
• Reversible host cell surface remodelling limits immune recognition and maximizes survival of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. Plos Pathogens 2025

• Enhanced Visualization of Erythrocytes Through Photoluminescence Using NaYbF4:Yb3+,Er3+ Nanoparticles. Biosensors 2025

• Insights into the Structural Patterns in Human Glioblastoma Cell Line SF268 Activity and ADMET Prediction of Curcumin Derivatives. Pharmaceutics 2025

• BZ-97: A Promising Compound Against Trypanosoma cruzi. Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy. 2024

• Mechanical Characterization of the Erythrocyte Membrane Using a Capacitor-Based Technique. Micromachines. 2024

A low-cost, portable device for the study of the malaria parasite’s growth inhibition via microwave exposure E Rua, L Coronado, CAD Morcillo, R Correa, L Solís, C Spadafora, HardwareX 2024
• Optical tweezers to measure the elasticity of red blood cells: A tool to study the erythrocyte response to antimalarials. D Dorta, P Padmore, R Correa, L Pineda, C Spadafora, LM Coronado. Frontiers in Malaria 2, 1362644 1. 2024
• P. falciparum Invasion and Erythrocyte Aging. MF Alves-Rosa, NM Tayler, D Dorta, LM Coronado, C Spadafora. Cells 13 (4), 334. 2024
• Mechanical Characterization of the Erythrocyte Membrane Using a Capacitor-Based Technique. D Dorta, C Plazaola, J Carrasco, MF Alves-Rosa, LM Coronado, R Correa, ...Micromachines 15 (5), 590. 2024
• BZ-97: A Promising Compound Against Trypanosoma cruzi. MM Botacio, MF Alves-Rosa, N Escala, M Ng, LM Coronado, J Carrasco, ...Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy 18 (2), 1745-1764. 2024
• Microwaves can kill malaria parasites non-thermally. LM Coronado, JA Stoute, CT Nadovich, J Cheng, R Correa, K Chaw, …Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 13, 955134. 2023
• Antiplasmodial activity, structure–activity relationship and studies on the action of novel benzimidazole derivatives. N Escala, LM Pineda, MG Ng, LM Coronado, C Spadafora, E Del Olmo. Scientific Reports 13 (1), 285. 2023
• Semisynthesis, antiplasmodial activity, and mechanism of action studies of isocoumarin derivatives. L Coronado, XQ Zhang, D Dorta, N Escala, LM Pineda, MG Ng, ... Journal of Natural Products 84 (5), 1434-1441. 2021
• Evaluation of the in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial effect of water treated with Photonic Multiphase Modulators (PMM) designed with Advanced Physics System Engineering (APSE …RC De Jesús, L Coronado, R Izos, L Pineda, J Lavergne, ...Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology 223, 112283. 2021
• Antiplasmodial activity of Cocos nucifera leaves in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. NM Tayler, R De Jesús, R Spadafora, LM Coronado, C Spadafora. Journal of Parasitic Diseases 44 (2), 305-313. 2020
• Analysis of the antiparasitic and anticancer activity of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L. ARECACEAE) from the natural reserve of Punta Patiño, Darién.Tayler NM, Boya CA, Herrera L, Moy J, Ng M, Pineda L, Almanza A, Rosero S, Coronado LM, Correa R, Santamaría R, Caballero Z, Durant-Archibold AA, Tidgewell KJ, Balunas MJ, Gerwick WH, Spadafora A, Gutiérrez M, Spadafora C. PLoS One. 2019 Apr 2.
• Extracellular vesicles carrying lactate dehydrogenase induce suicide in increased population density of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Correa R, Coronado L, Caballero Z, Faral P, Robello C, Spadafora C. Sci Rep. 2019 .
• “Pumilacidins from the Octocoral-Associated Bacillus sp. DT001 Display Anti Proliferative Effects in Plasmodium falciparum.” Torres-Mendoza D, Coronado LM, Pineda LM, Guzmán HM, Dorrestein PC, Spadafora C, Gutiérrez M. Molecules 2018.
• “Volatile organic compounds associated with Plasmodium falciparum infection in vitro.” Correa R, Coronado LM, Garrido AC, Durant-Archibold AA, Spadafora C. Parasite and Vectors 2017.
• “Blood Stage Plasmodium falciparum exhibits biological responses to DC electric fields”. Coronado LM, Montealegre S, Chaverra Z, Mojica L, Espinosa C, Almanza A,Correa R, Stoute JA, Gittens RA, Spadafora C. PLoS One. 2016 Aug
• “Malarial Hemozoin: From target to tool”. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) -General Subjects, 2014. Coronado LM, Nadovich CT, Spadafora C
• "Separation of Plasmodium falciparum Late Stage-infected Erythrocytes by Magnetic Means". Journal of Visualized Experiments, JoVE. 2013. Lorena Michelle Coronado, Nicole Michelle Tayler, Ricardo Correa, Rita Marissa Giovani, Carmenza Spadafora
• Automated Synchronization of P. falciparum using a Temperature Cycling Incubator. Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy. 2011. Alejandro Almanza, Liuris Herrera, Nicole Tayler, Lorena Coronado, Carmenza Spadafora.
• "DNA Repair Mechanisms as Drug Target in Prokaryotes". Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy 2011. Lorena M. Coronado, Carolina I De La Guardia, Yisett S González, Carlos M Restrepo and Nicole M Tayler.