Name Lourdes Cruz | ||
 | ||
Awards L'Oreal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science People also search for Alejandra Bravo, Rashika El Ridi, Elaine Fuchs | ||
UP TALKS | From Killer Snails to Biodiversity | Dr. Lourdes Cruz
Lourdes J. Cruz is a biochemist whose research has contributed to the understanding of the biochemistry of toxic peptides from the venom of fish-hunting Conus marine snails. The characterization of over 50 biologically active peptides from the snail's venom had been made possible, in part, by her studies. She also contributed to the development of conotoxins as tools for examining the activity of the human brain. For instance, w-conotoxin is widely used for studying neutral calcium channels and m-conotoxin is used when muscular activity must be controlled to examine events at the synapse. Dr. Cruz' scientific awards include: the NAST Outstanding Young Scientist Award,1981; the NRCP Achievement Award in Chemistry, 1982; the l'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science, 2010 and the Outstanding Women in the Nation's Services Award (Bio-chemistry).
Contents
- UP TALKS From Killer Snails to Biodiversity Dr Lourdes Cruz
- Lourdes j cruz philippines women in science awards 2010
- Life and education
- Research
- References
Lourdes j cruz philippines women in science awards 2010
Life and education
Cruz was born on May 19, 1942, in Tanza, Cavite. Cruz received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1962 where she researched trypsin inhibitors. She later traveled to the United States to receive her master's and doctorate in biochemistry from University of Iowa in 1966 and 1968 respectively. Cruz worked at the International Rice Research Institute after completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees. She also completed a five-month postdoctoral position at Kansas State University.
Research
Cruz has published over 130 academic papers and as a prolific career in research. In 1970, Cruz worked as an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. She worked with many biochemists and began her research on Conus geographus, a venomous fish-hunting cone snail found in the waters of Marinduque and Mindoro of the Philippines whose sting can result in death in humans.[6] Her work focused on the isolation of peptides from the conotoxins in the snail's venom while their effects were still unknown. Her research shed light on the effects of conotoxins on the central nervous system and their connection to muscular paralysis, sleepiness, or drowsiness, involuntary motion and more. Today, conotoxin peptides are very important and they are extensively used biochemical probes such as to test calcium channels in neurons and prohibitory of muscular movement when investigation actions at synapses. For example, two classes of conotoxins are used as analytical agents: ω-conotoxin has been widely used for studying neuronal calcium channels and μ-conotoxin has been used when controlling muscular activity to observe events at the synapse.
Cruz has also pursued research in connecting science and technology to poor and indigenous rural communities. In 2001, she initiated the Rural LINC Program, enabling indigenous women in the Philippines to gain employment at a fruit-processing facility as a means to alleviate poverty. Furthermore, she is actively involved as the project leader for the Future Earth Philippines Program. This program is dedicated to mitigating unsustainable activities such as deforestation, coral reef damage, pollution, and the unsustainable practices within mining and agriculture in the Philippines.