This MSCA allowed the fellow to develop a deeper understanding and mastering of cutting-edge cell biology techniques such as CRISPR genetic engineering and super-resolution microscopy. It has also allowed the fellow to understand the importance and apply bio-informatic tools to analyze existing datasets to guide bench work much more efficiently. This learning and specialization are fundamental for the initial establishment of the fellow as an independent researcher in south america (Argentina) and the subsequent consolidation of the research group. As an independent researcher, the fellow will be responsible of student's initiation in science and cell biology research and subsequently in PhD careers. In addition, as an independent researcher in Argentina, the fellow will be required to share this knowledge and experiences with other researchers of the institute, country and region as well as to engage in events to disseminate scientific knowledge to the general public.
The fellow is now engaged in an initiative to promote research of understudied proteins, starting with the results and forthcoming publications of this action. This initiative has important researchers supporting it as evidenced by a recent open letter (Kustatscher et al. 2022). Future actions of the fellow are expected to increase the awareness of other researchers on the importance of dedicating efforts and resources to understand the functions of understudied proteins in all fields of cell biology. The impacts of this actions might have deep and highly ramifying societal implications as most current scientific publications are focused on a very narrow set of genes (@matthewhirschey).
The specific results and actions derived of this specific MSCA are also expected to rise scientist's and general public's awareness on the importance of understanding mucus formation in a time when air pollution has real impacts on human health.
