Wikipedia:Translation/Rafael Ernesto Flores-Obando

Rafael Ernesto Flores-Obando was born in Granada, Nicaragua in February 17h, 1974. He is a researcher of the Center of Molecular Biology of the Central American University (UCA) since November of the 1999. In 1996 he received the degree of B.S. in Clinical Bioanalisis from the Autonomous University of Nicaragua in Managua where he graduated as the best student of the graduation. Subsequently, he worked at the National Institute of the Cancer (NCI) / National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States investigating the role of the tumor suppressor gene PML (ProMyelocytic Leukaemia) in the process of tumorigenesis in skin cancer. He also has a collaboration with Dr. Bruce Budowle, Leader of the Forensic Science Investigation Unit of the FBI, who has advise him in themes related with forensic genetics. Upon his return to Nicaragua, he started to work in the genetic characterization of the Nicaraguan population as a collaborative effort along with other colleagues of the Center of Molecular Biology. He established, for the first time in Nicaragua, the first genetic database of the Nicaraguan population. This work was prized with the First Prize for the best paper in the Encuentro Magazine 2002 contest. This pioneering work served as a foundation for its immediate application in the solution of forensic and paternity cases. The potential of applicability of this work allow him to receive along with Dr. Jorge Huete the Prize to the Innovation for the Human Development from the Nicaraguan Counsel of Science and Technology (CONICYT). Currently, he is a Fulbright Scholar conducting Ph.D. studies at the Department of Human Genetics at the Graduate School of Public Health of the University of Pittsburgh. He is member of the following organizations: Nicaraguan Scientific Society, International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG), American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) and the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).

His research interests includes: molecular markers for human identification, population genetics, molecular diagnosis of diseases, forensic genetics, DNA damage response and cancer and the application of molecular and classical cytogenetics.