San Francisco, CA, June 11, 2001-- Ten promising young biomedical researchers from Latin America have been named 2001 Pew Latin American Fellows in the Biomedical Sciences by The Pew Charitable Trusts of Philadelphia.

In selecting this eleventh group of Latin American Fellows, The Pew Charitable Trusts continue their commitment to support young investigators for postdoctoral training in the United States. The Program is intended to serve as a nucleus of scientific exchange and collaboration between investigators in the U.S. and Latin America. Each of the Fellows, who have not had previous postdoctoral training outside of their home country, were initially reviewed by regional nominating committees in Mexico, Central and South America. Final selection was completed by the National Scientific Advisory Committee in the United States chaired by Torsten N. Wiesel, M.D., Director, The Shelby White and Leon Levy Center, The Rockefeller University. Fellows are selected on the basis of their promise as outstanding investigators, as well as the scientific merit of their research proposal, their record of training, and how well their interests coincide with the host laboratory in the United States.

An award of $50,000 will be provided as a salary stipend for the fellow during the two year fellowship. Upon the fellows' return to his or her home country, the program will issue an additional $35,000 award for the purchase of supplies and equipment to establish their own laboratory.

The following is a complete list of the 2001 Pew Scholars in the Biomedical Sciences:

Arighi, Cecilia N., Ph.D. Home Country: ARGENTINA Laboratory of: Juan S. Bonifacino, Ph.D. National Institutes of Health Cellular Biology Figueroa, Pablo, Ph.D. Home Country: CHILE Laboratory of: Xing-Wang Deng, Ph.D. Yale University Cell Biology Haskel, Ariel, Ph.D. Home Country: URUGUAY Laboratory of: Stephen J. Lippard, Ph.D Massachusetts Institute of Technology Potassium Channels Landeira-Fernandez, Ana M., Ph.D. Home Country: BRAZIL Laboratory of: Barbara A. Block, Ph.D. Stanford University Evolutionary, cellular and molecular physiology Lorca, Graciela L., Ph.D. Home Country: ARGENTINA Laboratory of: Milton Saier Jr., Ph.D. University of California, San Diego Microbiology/Physiology/Genetics/Bioinformatics Padrón-Pérez, David, Ph.D. Home Country: MEXICO Laboratory of: Michael G. Roth, Ph.D. UT Southwestern Medical Center Membrane Traffic

Peña, Fernando, Ph.D. Home Country: MEXICO Laboratory of: : Jan-Marino Ramirez, Ph.D. University of Chicago Neurobiology Reisenman, Carolina E., Ph.D. Home Country: ARGENTINA Laboratory of: John G. Hildebrand, Ph.D. University of Arizona Insect behavior/Neurobiology Ribeiro, Sidarta T.G., Ph.D. Home Country: BRAZIL Laboratory of: Miguel A.L. Nicolelis, Ph.D. Duke University Neurophysiology Silva, Adriana R., Ph.D. Home Country: BRAZIL Laboratory of: Thomas M. McIntyre, Ph.D. University of Utah Lipid Biochemistry

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