In October 2026, Dr. Jaheli Fuenmayor joined UNU-BIOLAC as Programme Coordinator, with the aim of strengthening the promotion of biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean as a tool for advancing the United Nations mandate on sustainable development.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Fuenmayor earned a degree in Biology from Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB), where she received a Recognition of Excellence for her outstanding academic performance. Her academic achievements earned her a Latin American Scholarship Program of American Universities (LASPAU) scholarship, which supported her graduate studies in Microbiology and Immunology at the State University of New York. During this period, she contributed to research on trypanosomatid parasites, including the identification and characterization of a second mitochondrial DNA polymerase, helping to advance the understanding of mitochondrial DNA replication in these organisms. This work received an honorary mention from a regional branch of the American Society for Microbiology.
After completing her master's degree, she returned to Venezuela to pursue doctoral studies at the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC). Her doctoral research focused on the development of antibody-derived molecules with potential therapeutic applications in breast cancer, work that was recognized by the American Association for Cancer Research.
As her academic and scientific career progressed at IVIC, Dr. Fuenmayor became actively involved in graduate education, contributing to courses in basic and molecular immunology, experimental design and biostatistics, immunogenetics, and related fields. She co-developed the Advanced Program in Biology Applied to Diagnosis at the National Institute of Hygiene and currently serves as Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Immunology at IVIC.
Dr. Fuenmayor continues to conduct research on antibody-based molecules, contributing to the understanding of their mechanisms of action while mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in their research projects. Her scientific and academic contributions have also been recognized by the Venezuelan Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.