Carlos Vélez-Pardo is a Colombian microbiologist, university professor, and neuroscience researcher at the University of Antioquia. His work focuses on cellular death, oxidative stress, neuroprotection, and molecular mechanisms involved in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, including research on familial neurodegenerative disorders in Antioquia.
Background
Carlos Vélez-Pardo is a Colombian biomedical scientist whose professional life has been centered at the University of Antioquia and its neuroscience research community. His research has developed in close association with studies of familial Alzheimer’s disease in Antioquia and with broader investigations of oxidative stress, programmed cell death, neuroprotection, and Parkinsonian disorders. He has also collaborated extensively with Marlene Jiménez del Río and other members of the University of Antioquia’s Neuroscience Research Group.
Education
Vélez-Pardo trained as a microbiologist at the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia. He subsequently completed master’s-level and doctoral scientific training at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, including work at the Institute of Molecular Biology and in the Department of Protein Chemistry. His postgraduate training established the molecular and cellular research foundation for his later studies of neurodegeneration, oxidative stress, and cell death.
Career
Vélez-Pardo began his academic career at the University of Antioquia, where he has worked since 1997. He became associated with the university’s Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Research, and Neuroscience Research Group, advancing from associate professor to full professor. His research has examined cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, neuroprotection, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuronal loss. He has contributed to investigations of familial Alzheimer’s disease associated with the PSEN1 E280A mutation in Antioquia, Parkinson’s disease genetics and cellular models, neurotoxicology, leukemia-cell apoptosis, and experimental therapeutic strategies. He also coordinates the Neurochemistry area of the Antioquia Neuroscience Group, whose research includes neurodegenerative diseases, molecular biology, cancer and its relationship to neurodegeneration, biomarkers, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to neuroprotection.
Achievements
Research on cellular death mechanisms in neurodegeneration, including oxidative-stress and apoptosis pathways relevant to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Contributions to the study of familial Alzheimer’s disease associated with the PSEN1 E280A mutation in Antioquia and to molecular investigations of neuronal loss and neuroprotection.
Research contribution to the study of Parkinsonian mechanisms, including genetic risk, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and experimental cellular models.
(Co-authored review of the role of β-amyloid as a modulato...)
2001
Membership
Vélez-Pardo has participated in the Neuroscience Research Group of the University of Antioquia and in its area devoted to neurodegenerative diseases, neurochemistry, molecular biology, and cancer-related neurodegeneration. He has also served as an alternate representative of the University of Antioquia’s Faculty of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Group on the university’s central academic-practice committee.
Coordinator of the Neurochemistry thematic area, focused on neurodegenerative diseases, neurochemistry, molecular biology, and cancer-related neurodegeneration.
Neuroscience Research Group, University of Antioquia
,
Colombia
Served as an alternate representative for the Faculty of Medicine and the Neuroscience Research Group.
Central Committee for Academic Practices, University of Antioquia
,
Colombia
2015
Connections
Vélez-Pardo is married to Marlene Jiménez del Río, a scientist and collaborator at the University of Antioquia. The PRABOOK family record identifies Carlos and Yuly as his father and mother, and Carlos, Lorena, and Mauricio as his children. His long-term scientific collaboration with Jiménez del Río has produced research on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuroprotective mechanisms.
Father:
Carlos
Identified in the PRABOOK family record as Vélez-Pardo’s father.
Mother:
Yuly
Identified in the PRABOOK family record as Vélez-Pardo’s mother.
child:
Carlos
Identified in the PRABOOK family record as Vélez-Pardo’s child.
child:
Lorena
Identified in the PRABOOK family record as Vélez-Pardo’s child.
child:
Mauricio
Identified in the PRABOOK family record as Vélez-Pardo’s child.
Wife:
Marlene Jiménez del Río
Scientist and long-term research collaborator at the University of Antioquia.
References
Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga profile
Documents Vélez-Pardo’s training as a microbiologist, master’s and doctoral education at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, professorship at the University of Antioquia, and coordination of a neurodegeneration-focused research area.
ResearchGate researcher profile
Identifies Vélez-Pardo as a full professor and researcher at the University of Antioquia’s Institute of Medical Research and records his research in neurodegeneration, toxicology, and neurology.
Grupo de Neurociencias de Antioquia brochure
Lists Vélez-Pardo in the Neurochemistry area and describes research themes involving neurodegeneration, neuroprotection, oxidative stress, cancer, molecular biomarkers, and neurological care.
