The Molecular Pathology & Epidemiology Laboratory (MPEL) is located in the Catholic University (Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile) in Santiago, Chile. The laboratory is headed by Alejandro H. Corvalan and the major activity is Translational Cancer Research. The laboratory’s research focus in discovery and validation of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and monitoring disease by epigenetic approaches, mostly DNA methylation. Currently, the laboratory is developing a novel screening and triage test for early detection of gastric cancer based on methylation status of the promoter region of Reprimo, a p53-dependant tumor suppresor gene. In addtion we are investigating the role of Reprimo and p73 (another p53-dependant tumor suppresor gene) in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. Nevertheless, by mortality rate, gastric cancer rank first in Chile and second in the world!
The laboratory also has strong interest in computational biology/bioinformatics to explore cancer heterogeneity and ethnicity by data mining approach. For this approach we use existing databases and open source / in house bioinformatic softwares.

 Current lab members