Our Commitment to Healthspan and Longevity

At CardenasLab, we are committed to making a tangible impact on healthspan and longevity by addressing the multifaceted aspects of inter-organellar calcium communication. Our research aims to improve therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients and enhance the quality of life during aging, advancing our understanding of these complex signaling networks.

Unlocking the Secrets of Calcium Signaling

We’ve dedicated the past decade to unraveling the intricate role of calcium as a second messenger, critical in balancing life and death within cells. Our research focuses on the calcium release mediated by the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R), which plays a pivotal role in the calcium communication between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. One of our groundbreaking discoveries show that cancer cells are addicted to this communication and selectively died when it is disrupted. More recently, we discover that senescence cells rewired it calcium tool kit and its ER mitochondrial communication.

The Cardenas Lab

Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism, Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.