Tokyo and Caracas — The United Nations University (UNU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jaheli Fuenmayor as Programme Coordinator of the UNU Biotechnology Programme for Latin America and The Caribbean (UNU-BIOLAC). Dr. Fuenmayor assumes her new role today, 15 October 2026.
As Programme Coordinator, Dr. Fuenmayor will guide the focus, structure, administration and partnerships of UNU-BIOLAC. She succeeds Dr. Gustavo Fermin.
UNU-BIOLAC supports training and research at the intersection of science, technology and society, demonstrating how modern biotechnology can promote sustainable socioeconomic development. The Programme is supported by the Government of Venezuela and is headquartered in Caracas, Venezuela.
“I feel both honoured and deeply grateful to have been selected to lead such a vital part of UNU’s global work. I am fully committed to reconfiguring development towards a more inclusive and responsible framework — one where humans and ecosystems coexist in harmony. Science, and biotechnology in particular, must stand at the centre of this transformation, offering realistic solutions to address current and future sustainability challenges. Working with the support of highly reputable and experienced institutions dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at UNU will certainly provide a tremendous boost to this aim.”
Dr. Fuenmayor is an Associate Researcher at the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), where she develops antibody-derived molecules of potential immunomodulatory and antitumoral value using both genetic engineering and chemical modifications. She has published her work in academic journals focused on diverse areas such as cancer therapy, nanoparticles, immunology, blood transfusion, and human and veterinary microbiology. Her contributions have been recognized by the Western New York branch of the American Association of Microbiology and the American Association for Cancer Research.
Since 2016, Dr. Fuenmayor has coordinated the Immunology Graduate Programme at the Center for Advanced Studies (CEA-IVIC), demonstrating a steadfast commitment to advanced scientific education and institutional leadership.
Beyond her laboratory research, Dr. Fuenmayor is actively involved in several community-oriented initiatives in her home country, Venezuela. Her broader impact includes driving social projects focused on food sovereignty, as well as promoting gender equality and intersectionality within scientific environments to foster more equitable academic spaces.
She holds a Master’s Degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a PhD from IVIC, and has worked as a visiting scholar in several laboratories in France.
Commenting on Dr. Fuenmayor’s appointment, UNU Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General Tshilidzi Marwala said: “I am delighted to welcome Dr. Jaheli Fuenmayor to the UNU family as Programme Coordinator of UNU-BIOLAC. Her unique blend of expertise in immunology and microbiology, combined with her outstanding record of academic scholarship and leadership, will surely drive UNU-BIOLAC success in supporting a new generation of scientists focused on biotechnology for sustainable development. Dr. Fuenmayor’s dedication to community-focused initiatives across interconnected social issues demonstrates how she will be a perfect fit for UNU’s commitment to the SDGs and to advancing knowledge, partnerships and impact among diverse and under-represented groups, particularly in the Global South.”
Media contacts
Daniel Powell, Acting Head of Communications, United Nations University, Tokyo
powell@unu.edu
Carlos Pelaez, Information and Networking Associate, UNU-BIOLAC, Caracas
carlos.pelaez@unu.edu
