Rafael Radi

Rafael Radi
Rafael Radi
	File:Radi Rafael Bahía de MVD.jpg Rafael Radi at the Montevideo Bay
Born	May 7, 1963 (age 61); Montevideo, Uruguay
Citizenship	Uruguay, Italy
Alma mater	Universidad de la República (MD, 1988; PhD, 1991)
Awards	Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences; Howard Medical Institute Alumni; Alexander Von Humboldt Senior Award; Discovery Award, The Society for Redox Biology and Medicine;
	Scientific career
Fields	biochemistry, biomedical sciences
Institutions	Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
Doctoral advisor	Eugenio Prodanov
Other academic advisors	Bruce. A Freeman and Joe S. Beckman (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Rafael Radi is an Uruguayan biochemist and biomedical scientist that has extensively worked to elucidate molecular mechanisms by which free radicals, oxidants and nitric oxide participate in human pathologies. In particular, he has made relevant contributions to unravel how the signal transducing free radical nitric oxide can evolve into toxic species via the formation of secondary nitric oxide-derived oxidants. His work has characterized reactions of oxidizing species with biological targets, the role of mitochondrial dysfunction is the alterations of cellular redox homeostasis and the impact of these biochemical processes in disease states. He has studied the actions of synthetic compounds in redox-based therapeutics, including in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. His work has also contributed to understand the redox biology of host cell interactions with intracellular pathogens and the impact in the control of infectious diseases. His seminal paper related to the biochemical actions of peroxynitrite, a potent oxidant and nucleophile formed secondary to the diffusion-controlled reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide radicals together with Joe S. Beckman, Kent Bush and Bruce A. Freeman in 1991 has been selected as a [1] due to its influence in the field. Radi is currently Professor and Chairman at the Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina and Director of Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO) at Universidad de la República , Montevideo, Uruguay. He is categorized at the highest level of the National Research System of Uruguay ([2]).

Academic career

Radi started studies at Universidad de la República in 1981 and became an MD (General Medicine) in 1988 and PhD (Biochemistry) in 1991. He performed postdoctoral studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Upon his return to Uruguay he became tenured in the Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay and evolved through all the academic positions until becoming Professor and Chairman in 2006. In 2004 we founded the Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO) at Universidad de la República, being his Director. He has adjunct appointments at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Pittsburgh and Vanderbilt University. He has extensively visited and lectured at universities and research centers worldwide and has been scientific advisor of several research institutions.

Awards and honors

Radi has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work. He is the first Uruguayan to be elected as Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences. Other relevant awards and honors include, Howard Medical Institute Alumni, Alexander Von Humboldt Senior Award, Discovery Award of the Society for Redox Biology and Medicine, Guggenheim Fellow, Fulbright Fellow, Morosoli Prize of Science and Technology, Leloir Prize for International Scientific Cooperation, founding member and Secretary of the Academia Nacional de Ciencias del Uruguay, and foreign member of the Argentinian, Brazilian and Developing World (TWAS) Academy of Sciences. He is a former President of the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine and currently the President of the Society for Free Radical Research International.

References