Pablo DT Valenzuela
Encyclopedia
Pablo DT Valenzuela is a Chilean biochemist
dedicated to biotechnology development. He is known for his genetic studies of hepatic viruses; participated as R&D Director in the discovery of Hepatitis C virus
and the invention of the first recombinant vaccine, against Hepatitis B virus
. He is one of the cofounders of the biotechnology company Chiron Corporation
and of Fundacion Ciencia para la Vida, a private non profit institution where he is currently working.
, did a postdoctoral training at University of California
, San Francisco and held a position as Professor in the Biochemistry Department of that institution. In 1981, together with William J. Rutter
and Edward Penhoet founded the biotechnology company Chiron Corporation
that in 1997 was the second-largest biotechnology company in the world, after Amgen
. As Research Director Pablo Valenzuela developed a variety of biotechnological products, specially in the blood banking industry. The invention of the recombinant vaccine against Hepatitis B virus was chosen by Business Week as one of the three most innovative technological products of the year 1986. In Chile Pablo Valenzuela founded Bios Chile, the first biotechnology company in that country, and in 1997 together with Bernardita Mendez he cofounded Fundacion Ciencia Para la Vida a non profit foundation that carries out scientific and technological research. He is the father of Chilean American singer/songwriter, Francisca Valenzuela
.
Pablo Valenzuela was recipient of the Chilean National Prize in Applied Sciences in 2002 and is member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences.
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
dedicated to biotechnology development. He is known for his genetic studies of hepatic viruses; participated as R&D Director in the discovery of Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis C virus
Hepatitis C virus is a small , enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae...
and the invention of the first recombinant vaccine, against Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B is an infectious illness caused by hepatitis B virus which infects the liver of hominoidea, including humans, and causes an inflammation called hepatitis. Originally known as "serum hepatitis", the disease has caused epidemics in parts of Asia and Africa, and it is endemic in China...
. He is one of the cofounders of the biotechnology company Chiron Corporation
Chiron Corporation
Chiron Corporation was a multinational biotechnology firm based in Emeryville, California that was acquired by Novartis International AG on April 20, 2006. It had offices and facilities in eighteen countries on five continents. Chiron's business and research was in three main areas:...
and of Fundacion Ciencia para la Vida, a private non profit institution where he is currently working.
Biography
Pablo Valenzuela earned his Ph.D. degree (1970) in Chemistry at Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, did a postdoctoral training at University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, San Francisco and held a position as Professor in the Biochemistry Department of that institution. In 1981, together with William J. Rutter
William J. Rutter
William J. Rutter is an American biochemist who cofounded the early biotechnology Chiron Corporation together with Edward Penhoet and Pablo DT Valenzuela...
and Edward Penhoet founded the biotechnology company Chiron Corporation
Chiron Corporation
Chiron Corporation was a multinational biotechnology firm based in Emeryville, California that was acquired by Novartis International AG on April 20, 2006. It had offices and facilities in eighteen countries on five continents. Chiron's business and research was in three main areas:...
that in 1997 was the second-largest biotechnology company in the world, after Amgen
Amgen
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Located in the Conejo Valley, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret,...
. As Research Director Pablo Valenzuela developed a variety of biotechnological products, specially in the blood banking industry. The invention of the recombinant vaccine against Hepatitis B virus was chosen by Business Week as one of the three most innovative technological products of the year 1986. In Chile Pablo Valenzuela founded Bios Chile, the first biotechnology company in that country, and in 1997 together with Bernardita Mendez he cofounded Fundacion Ciencia Para la Vida a non profit foundation that carries out scientific and technological research. He is the father of Chilean American singer/songwriter, Francisca Valenzuela
Francisca Valenzuela
Francisca Valenzuela is an American born Chilean singer, songwriter, poet, instrumentalist, and composer of Pop and Rock songs. She was born and raised in San Francisco, California, where she resided until the age of 12, before moving to Chile. She is considered to be one of the singing...
.
Work
Pablo DT Valenzuela is the scientist responsible for the development of biotechnology products in USA and Chile in the area of international diagnostics, blood banking and pharmaceutical. He is cofounder and responsible of early activities of biotechnology Start-ups in USA and Chile. Pablo Valenzuela is also Professor and Investigator in graduate programs, generating scientific publications and patents.Pablo Valenzuela was recipient of the Chilean National Prize in Applied Sciences in 2002 and is member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences.
Science & Technology Developments in USA
- Cofounder of Chiron CorporationChiron CorporationChiron Corporation was a multinational biotechnology firm based in Emeryville, California that was acquired by Novartis International AG on April 20, 2006. It had offices and facilities in eighteen countries on five continents. Chiron's business and research was in three main areas:...
. - Ten products in the area of international diagnostics and blood banking (Hepatitis CHepatitis CHepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
, AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, Hepatitis B) that have been commercialized by Chiron CorporationChiron CorporationChiron Corporation was a multinational biotechnology firm based in Emeryville, California that was acquired by Novartis International AG on April 20, 2006. It had offices and facilities in eighteen countries on five continents. Chiron's business and research was in three main areas:...
, AbbottAbbottAbbott is a title given to the head of a monastery.Abbott may also refer to:-People:* Abbott , for people named Abbott* Abbott Handerson Thayer , American painter and naturalist-Places in the United States:* Abbott, Arkansas...
and Johnson & JohnsonJohnson & JohnsonJohnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
. - Four products in the pharmaceutical area (Hepatitis B vaccineHepatitis B vaccineHepatitis B vaccine is a vaccine developed for the prevention of hepatitis B virus infection. The vaccine contains one of the viral envelope proteins, hepatitis B surface antigen . It is produced by yeast cells, into which the genetic code for HBsAg has been inserted...
, human insulinInsulinInsulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
, beta-interferon and a wound healing gel based on PDGF) and one product for the food industry (bovine rennin), commercialized worldwide by HansenHansenHansen may refer to:People with the surname Hansen:* Hansen In places:* Hansen, Idaho, town in the United States* Hansen, Wisconsin, town in the United States* Hansen Township, Ontario, CanadaIn music:...
.
Science & Technology Developments in Chile
- Co-Founder and President of Bios Chile and Austral Biologicals.
- Co-Founder and Director of Fundación Ciencia para la Vida.
- Co-Founder and President of Andes Biotechnologies (start-up 2009).
- Biotechnology products, like vaccines for the salmon aquiculture, licensed to NovartisNovartisNovartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
. - Products for human health and blood banking (Chagas, H. pylori, rotavirusRotavirusRotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children, and is one of several viruses that cause infections often called stomach flu, despite having no relation to influenza. It is a genus of double-stranded RNA virus in the family Reoviridae. By the age of five,...
, blood tests). - Responsible Director of the Millennium Institute for Fundamental and Applied Biology, one of 15 centers of excellence in Chile.