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Nicole Tischler, PhD

Principal Investigator

Molecular Virology Lab

Dr. Nicole Tischler earned her degree in Biotechnology Engineering in 1999 from Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Her undergraduate thesis focused on a diagnostic method for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. In 2002, she began her PhD in Biotechnology at Universidad Andrés Bello under the guidance of Dr. Pablo Valenzuela, studying humoral immune responses to the Andes virus, developing monoclonal antibodies, and identifying viral fusion proteins.

She continued her research with a postdoctoral fellowship at Fundación Ciencia & Vida and the Millennium Institute for Fundamental and Applied Biology. In 2007, she received her first FONDECYT grant and became Principal Investigator of the Molecular Virology Laboratory at Fundación Ciencia & Vida. Since then, her work has been supported by multiple grants (FONDECYT, FONDEF, Basal Funding, ANR-France) and focuses on hantavirus structure and entry mechanisms, as well as membrane fusion proteins in archaea, funded by Volkswagen Stiftung.

Dr. Tischler has supervised 14 professional degree theses, 5 graduate theses, and 3 postdoctoral researchers. She is a member of the Advisory Council of the International Society of Hantaviruses of which she was elected President (2023–2026). In 2019, she received the Ben Barres Spotlight Award from eLife for her scientific contributions and commitment to inclusion in science.

Grants

FONDECYT 1261422 N. Tischler (PI) 04/2026-04/2030 Hantavirus exit strategies in different host cells: molecular insights into the role of the viral Gn/Gc spikes and cellular factors in viral biogenesis, assembly and egress. FONDEF TA24I10051 N.Tischler (Director) 10/2024-10/2028 A new strategy to prevent hantavirus disease in Chile: virus-like particles including stabilized spikes as immunogens for the development of a vaccine prototype against Andes virus FONDEQUIP EQY200027 (Chile) N.Tischler (Director) 12/2020-05/2028 High-level biocontainment laboratory for human pathogenic viruses and emerging pathogens. BASAL FB210008 (Chile) Lladser, A. (director) 11/2021-10/2026 (PIs: A. González, A. Loyola, A. Matus, E. Brandan, M. T. Perez-Acle, Rosemblatt, MR. Bono, N. Tischler, R. Quatrini, R. Pacheco, C. Tapia) Centro Ciencia & Vida. Volkswagen Stiftung (Germany) Erdmann (coordinator) 05/2022-05/2026 E. Erdmann, E. Roine, J. Huiskonen, J. Eichler, N. Tischler (PIs) A plasmid goes viral: understanding the origin and evolution of viruses by studying a newly discovered virus-like element Past Projects: FONDECYT 1221811 (Chile) N. Tischler (PI) 04/2022-04/2026 Characterization of the conformational dynamics of the hantavirus Gn/Gc spikes and stabilization for the design of next-generation vaccines ANR JCJC “HiPathBunya” (France) J. Reguera (coordinator) 01/2020-01/2024 J. Reguera, H. Malet, N. Tischler, Casuso (PIs) Integrated structural characterization of highly pathogenic bunyavirus replication machineries FONDECYT 1181799 N. Tischler (PI) 04/2018-04/2022 Characterization of Andes hantavirus cell entry and exit mechanisms. BASAL AFB 170004 M. Rosemblatt (director) 05/2018-05/2021 (PIs: A. Loyola, A. Lladser, A. Matus, M. Rosemblatt, MR, N. Tischler, R. Quatrini, R. Pacheco, otros) FONDECYT 1140050 Tischler (PI) 03/2014-03/2018 Characterization of Andes hantavirus cell entry and exit mechanisms. BASAL PFB-16 P. Valenzuela (director) 05/2008-05/2018 Fundación Ciencia & Vida. (PIs: A. Loyola, A. Lladser, M. Rosemblatt, MR, A. Orellana, N. Tischler, R. Quatrini, R. Pacheco, otros) FONDECYT Post-doctoral 3150695 Tischler Sponsor/Mentor 10/2014-10/2017 Characterization of the beta3 integrin receptor in Andes hantavirus infections in vivo FONDEF CA12i10367 N.Tischler (director) 03/2013- 08/2015 Desarrollo de un antídoto profiláctico para prevenir el Síndrome Cardiopulmonar por Hantavirus. FONDECYT 1100756 N.Tischler (PI) 03/2010-03/2014 Characterization and inhibition of the Gc multistep fusion mechanism used by hantaviruses to infect target cells. FONDECYT 11060231 N. Tischler (PI) 03/2007-03/2009 Characterization and inhibition of the hantavirus Gc fusion protein: Towards the development of cell entry inhibitors.

Collaborations

Selected Publications

Featured Publications presents a curated selection of the researcher’s most significant scientific contributions, reflecting their expertise, findings, and the broader impact of their work in advancing knowledge within their field.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Viral shedding and viraemia of Andes virus during acute hantavirus infection: a prospective study
Viral shedding and viraemia of Andes virus during acute hantavirus infection: a prospective study
Cell
High-Resolution Description of the Hantavirus Surface Glycoprotein Lattice and Its Membrane Fusion Control Mechanism
High-Resolution Description of the Hantavirus Surface Glycoprotein Lattice and Its Membrane Fusion Control Mechanism
eLife
Molecular organization and dynamics of the fusion protein Gc at the hantavirus surface
Molecular organization and dynamics of the fusion protein Gc at the hantavirus surface
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Viral shedding and viraemia of Andes virus during acute hantavirus infection: a prospective study
Viral shedding and viraemia of Andes virus during acute hantavirus infection: a prospective study
Cell
High-Resolution Description of the Hantavirus Surface Glycoprotein Lattice and Its Membrane Fusion Control Mechanism
High-Resolution Description of the Hantavirus Surface Glycoprotein Lattice and Its Membrane Fusion Control Mechanism
eLife
Molecular organization and dynamics of the fusion protein Gc at the hantavirus surface
Molecular organization and dynamics of the fusion protein Gc at the hantavirus surface
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