MELISA Institute is a leading Research and Biotechnology Center located in San Pedro de la Paz, specialized in various areas of human life sciences, ranging from basic sciences and epidemiology to clinical medicine.
The institute's Core Facility has advanced areas of proteomics, genomics, chromatography and bioinformatics. Thanks to its state-of-the-art equipment, its specialized techniques and the experience of its team, MELISA Institute has established itself as a national reference in research.
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One of the main research approaches of the MELISA Institute in epidemiology is the use of natural population experimental designs in time series, as well as methodological innovations that incorporate big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Through these approaches, the institute's researchers have conducted several studies that have been published in prestigious scientific journals.
Among the most recent epidemiological studies published by MELISA Institute are:
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"Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on maternal mortality: Case of Chile"
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"Impact of pandemic viruses on maternal health: Case of Argentina"
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"Determinants of maternal health in Mexico"
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"Determinants of maternal health in Chile"
In addition, one of the most relevant projects of MELISA Institute is the study of the mother-embryo dialogue. Through a bidirectional cohort, the institute investigates the proteomic and transcriptomic markers of ultra-early pregnancy, from ovulation to implantation. This innovative approach allows studying the process in vivo, facilitating the identification of ultra-early markers related to pregnancy and embryonic health.
MELISA’s lead investigational therapy, Previfenon®️ (EGCG purified from Camelia sinensis, stabilized and complexed with zinc) is currently being developed as a potential prenatal therapeutic agent for trisomy 21 during the third trimester of pregnancy. It is directed at inhibiting the overdose of DYRK1A to enable an improvement in neurodevelopment after birth. In addition, because EGCG and zinc show important immunomodulatory and antiviral effects, Previfenon is currently being investigated as a broad spectrum chemoprophylaxis method to prevent and control the impact of epidemics caused by emergent viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.