
Biography
Dr. Alejandra Loyola studied Biochemistry at Universidad de Chile, completing her thesis on ICAM-1 induction mechanisms in the lab of Drs. María Rosa Bono and Mario Rosemblatt. In 1997, she entered the joint PhD program of Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (USA), where she worked in Dr. Danny Reinberg’s lab on chromatin assembly factors, graduating in 2003.
She then completed postdoctoral training at the Institut Curie (Paris, France) in Dr. Geneviève Almouzni’s lab, studying histone H3 modifications, supported by Institut Curie and EMBO fellowships. In 2006, she continued her research at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, USA) with Dr. Sharon Dent, focusing on histone-modifying enzymes, supported by an Odyssey fellowship.
In 2008, Dr. Loyola returned to Chile and established the Epigenetics and Chromatin Laboratory at Centro Ciencia & Vida, where she is currently Head of Lab. Her research explores various aspects of chromatin and epigenetics and is funded by national and collaborative grants (including FONDECYT). She has supervised 11 professional degree theses, 6 master’s theses, and 9 PhD theses, and has hosted five postdoctoral investigators. Dr. Loyola is recognized as a leader in chromatin biology in Chile.
Associated research clusters

Viruses, Microbes and Biotechnology
Aims to uncover the principles of viral pathogenesis, microbial adaptation, and biodiversity to advance solutions in infectious disease, sustainable mining, and microbe-based biotechnology.
Explore research cluster
Gene Regulation and Translational Cancer Research
Aims to define the molecular and cellular networks driving cancer progression and treatment response to develop biomarkers and next-generation therapies
Explore research cluster





