Mariana Maccioni is an Argentinian researcher who graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Sciences at the National University of Córdoba, first as a biochemist and later with a PhD in chemical sciences.
Maccioni’s research area is immunology, and she is a member of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET).
Throughout her career, the Argentinian researcher has held various positions in academia as well as in scientific research and management.
She is the author of numerous publications related to immunology, biochemistry, cells, and autoimmunity.
Maccioni and her connection to science
In addition to her early steps in academia, Maccioni also conducted postdoctoral research in France, in the city of Strasbourg.
Regarding her professional career, Maccioni carries out research in the fields of biochemistry and immunology, framing her studies within the area of medical sciences.
Biochemistry is dedicated to the study of living organisms. Immunology, in turn, is the discipline that focuses on the immune system, meaning how the body responds to bacteria, viruses, and other agents.
This medical specialty studies diseases related to the immune system and the functions of organs, tissues, and cells. Within immunology, Maccioni conducts research on tumor immunology.
Tumor immunology studies the immune system and tumors. In this field, Maccioni is part of both the Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology Research Center (CIBICI) and the Scientific and Technological Center CONICET, both located in the province of Córdoba.
While the first focuses on research in immunology, cell and molecular biology, and ecotoxicology, the second promotes scientific and technological research.
In addition, the Argentinian biochemist maintains her link with the National University of Córdoba as a professor of immunology and researcher at the Department of Biochemistry of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences.
An award-winning research
Maccioni focuses her studies on tumor cells and the receptors present in them that could activate a response from the immune system.
In her research on the relationship between the immune system and tumors, the Argentinian biochemist analyzes how these receptors function and how they could enable the future design of antitumor drugs.
These receptors are called Toll-like receptors. They are part of the immune system and recognize specific features of pathogenic agents.
Thanks to this research, the Argentinian researcher has received several awards, such as the L’Oréal-UNESCO Prize and the Houssay Award.
The L’Oréal-UNESCO Prize was awarded to Maccioni in the category “For Women in Science.” This award honors women scientists and their contributions to the scientific field.
The Houssay Award, on the other hand, is granted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in recognition of scientific contributions within Argentina.
The field of immunology
The importance of immunology lies in the essential role of the immune system and how the body seeks to protect itself from diseases caused by various microorganisms.
Viruses, bacteria, and other parasitic organisms are met with an immune response from the body.
Among the main functions of the immune system are the detection of pathogens and their subsequent destruction.
Some of the diseases that immunology can identify include multiple sclerosis, lupus, and myasthenia gravis. Likewise, studies focused on the immune system examine cellular and genetic mechanisms.
Among the diseases associated with these cellular and molecular mechanisms are cancer, allergies, and others. Research related to cancer, better known as tumor immunology, analyzes the immune responses to tumor cells.
These studies are important not only because they enable the recognition and control of tumor cells, but also because they improve the understanding of antitumor immune responses.
Among the researchers making contributions in the fields of biochemical, biological, and medical sciences, Maccioni stands out as one of the leading biochemists from Córdoba conducting research in these scientific areas.
In relation to the immune system and tumor development, as well as in the pursuit of antitumor research and drug design, Maccioni is one of the researchers actively contributing.
Within Argentina, the Argentinian biochemist is recognized as one of the scientists generating contributions in the field of immunology, especially in tumor immunology.
