Estela Maris Muñoz, M.S., Ph.D.

Staff Researcher/Investigador Adjunto
Laboratory of Neurobiology: Section of Chronobiology
Institute of Histology and Embryology of Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos
School of Medicine-National University of Cuyo
Mendoza, Argentina. CC 56. CP 5500.
E-mails: munoz.estela@fcm.uncu.edu.ar/emunoz@conicet-mendoza.gob.ar/cj26me@yahoo.com
Phone: (54+261) 413 5000 (Ext. 2763/16)
Fax: (54+261) 449 4117

EDUCATION

2005-Postdoctoral Degree, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.
1998-Ph.D., National University of San Luis (UNSL), San Luis, Argentina.
1993-M.S. in Biochemistry, National University of San Luis (UNSL), San Luis, Argentina.

RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS

The Chronobiology Laboratory led by Dr. Estela M. Muñoz is a research and educational initiative created by her in 2006 after a 5-year postdoctoral training in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Dr. Muñoz Group studies ontogenetic molecular mechanisms involved in the establishment and maintenance of circadian rhythms via a multidisciplinary approach, and in collaboration with other national and international Groups. This laboratory is also focused on elucidating functions of specific differentiation factors in the development of both the central and peripheral nervous systems, under normal and pathological conditions.

Dr. Muñoz has committed to the development of the local and regional Neuroscience via long-term and project-based collaborations, and to the career enhancement of the students involved in her scientific program.

PERSONNEL:

Director:

Estela M. Muñoz

Ph.D. Students:

Analía E. Castro

Sergio G. Benitez

Undergraduate Students:

Marcos R. Fitt

Jorge Rasmussen

Daniela Galiana

Former Members:

Luis E. Savastano, M.D.

Valentín Ortiz Maldonado, M.D.

From left to right: Valentín, Sergio, Estela, Analía, Luis, Marcos

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (eleven of twenty-seven)

• L.E. Savastano; A.E. Castro; M.R. Fitt; M.F. Rath; H.E. Romeo; E. Muñoz (2010) A standardized surgical technique for rat superior cervical ganglionectomy. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 192(1): 22-33. Awarded by the School of Medicine, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.                

• E. Muñoz; M.J. Bailey; M.F. Rath; Q. Shi; F. Morin; S.L. Coon; M. Møller; D.C. Klein (2007) NeuroD1: Developmental expression and  regulated genes in the rodent pineal gland. Journal of Neurochemistry 102(3): 887-99.

• E. Muñoz; M. Brewer; R. Baler (2006). Potential modulation of BMAL/CLOCK/E-Box complex by a novel CT-rich cis-acting element. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 252(1-2): 74-81.

• M.F. Rath; E. Muñoz; S. Ganguly; F. Morin; Q. Shi; D.C. Klein; M. Møller (2006). Expression of the Otx2 homeobox gene in the developing mammalian brain: Embryonic and adult expression in the pineal gland. Journal of Neurochemistry 97(2): 556-566.

• E. Muñoz; R. Baler (2003). The circadian E-box: when perfect is not good enough. Invited Review. Chronobiology International 20(3): 371-388.

• E. Muñoz; M. Brewer; R. Baler (2002). Circadian transcription: thinking outside the E-box. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 277(39): 36009-36017.

• S. Varas; E. Muñoz; M. Hapon; C. Aguilera Merlo; M.S. Gimenez; G. Jahn (2002). Hyperthyroidism and production of precocious involution in the mammary glands of lactating rats. Reproduction 124: 691-702.

• E. Muñoz; T. Fogal; S. Dominguez; L. Scardapane; R. S. Piezzi (2001). Ultrastructural and morphometric study of the Sertoli cell of the viscacha (L.m.m.) during the annual reproductive cycle. The Anatomical Record 262(2): 176-185. 

• E. Muñoz; C. Calderón; T. Fogal; S. Dominguez; L. Scardapane; J. Guzmán; R.S. Piezzi (1999). Testicular melatonin: role in the reproductive rhythmicity. First Award, III Argentine Congress of Andrology, Buenos Aires. Journal of Argentine Society of Andrology affiliated to International Society of Andrology 8(4): 55-67.

• E. Muñoz; T. Fogal; S. Dominguez; L. Scardapane; J. Guzmán; J.C. Cavicchia; R. S. Piezzi (1998). Stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium of the viscacha (L.m.m.).  The Anatomical Record 252(1): 8-16.

• E. Muñoz; T. Fogal; S. Dominguez; L. Scardapane; J. Guzmán; R. S. Piezzi (1997). Seasonal changes of the Leydig cells of viscacha (L.m.m.). A light and electron microscopy study. Tissue & Cell 29(1): 119-128.

Book

Piezzi R.S., Fornés M.W. Nuevo Atlas de Histología Normal de Di Fiore (New Atlas of Normal Histology). Contribution: Testicular Images. Ed.: Ateneo. 2005.

FUNDING (last five years)

2011-2012: Fullbright-CONICET. Funded Investigator: Dr. Estela Muñoz.

2011: RC-2011-191, National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCyT), Argentina. Grant for the XXVI Annual Meeting of the Argentine Society for Research in Neuroscience-SAN 2011, Huerta Grande, Córdoba, Argentina. Principal Investigator: Dr. Estela Muñoz.

2010-2012: CH/09/10, Program of Scientific and Technological Cooperation between MINCyT (Argentina) and CONICYT (Chile). Directors: Dr. Estela M. Muñoz (Argentina); Dr. M.L. Concha (Chile).

2009-2012: PICT-2007-682, National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCyT), Argentina. Principal Investigator: Dr. Estela Muñoz.

2008-2011: PICT-2006-451, National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (ANPCyT), Argentina. Principal Investigator: Dr. Alicia Seltzer.

DIRECTOR OF THESES

2009-Present: Ph.D. Thesis. Student: Sergio G. Benitez. Ph.D. Program in Biology, Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
2008-Present: Ph.D. Thesis. Student: Analía E. Castro. Ph.D. Program in Biology, Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
2007-2008: M.S. in Molecular Biology. Student: Analía E. Castro. National University of San Luis, San Luis, Argentina.

CURRENT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

2010-Present: Stephen Noctor, Ph.D. UCDavis, M.I.N.D. Institute, Sacramento, CA, USA.
2008-Present: Miguel Concha M.D., Ph.D. Laboratory of Experimental Ontogeny (LEO), School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
2006-Present: David Klein, Ph.D. Section on Neuroendocrinology, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
2003-Present: Morten Møller, Ph.D.; Martin Rath, Ph.D. Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

SELECTED INVITED LECTURES

• Symposium of Neurosciences. Lecture: “Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanisms Involved in the Establishment and Maintenance of Circadian Rhythms”. II Joint Meeting of the Societies of Biology of Argentina, San Juan, Argentina. August 2011.
• Symposium of Neurosciences. Lecture: “Unraveling the Genetic Networks Controlling the Development and Function of the Nervous System”. Institute of Histology and Embryology of Mendoza, School of Medicine, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina. October 2009.
• Symposium: “Chronobiology, Circadian Systems and Affective Disorders”, Lecture: “Genetic Bases of the Definition and Function of the Circadian Timing System”, VI World Congress of Depressive Disorders, International Symposium on Addictive Disorders, Mendoza, Argentina. September 2006.
• “Advances in Transcriptional Control of Circadian Rhythms”, 2nd Conference in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National University of San Luis, San Luis, Argentina. June 2006.
• Session: “Regulation of Gene Expression”, Lecture: “Pandora’s E-Box”, Gordon Research Conference on Pineal Cell Biology, The Queen’s College, Oxford, UK. August 2004. Highlighted by the European Pineal and Biological Rhythms Society (EPBRS), Newsletter 0412, vol. 46, page 10, December 2004 (http://www.ebrs.info/Newsletter0412.pdf).

MEMBER OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

2008-Present: Argentine Society for Research in Neuroscience (SAN), Argentina. Member of the Organizing Committee of SAN2011. International grants: SFN, TWAS, IBRO-LARC, ISN, THE COMPANY OF BIOLOGISTS, Société des Neurosciences. National grants: CONICET, ANPCyT (PI: Dr. Estela Muñoz), Embassy of France in Argentina, MINCYT-CBA., UNC, ABCAM.
                       
2006-Present: Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSDW). Formerly the Third World Organization for Women in Sciences (TWOWS), c/o TWAS.

1993-Present: Society of Biology of Cuyo, Argentina. 1994-1998-2006-2009: Member of the Organizing Committee.

RECENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES

2010: Invited Professor, Postgraduate Course in Cellular and Molecular Biology, PROBIOL (Ph.D. Program in Biology), School of Medicine, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.

2008: Invited Professor, Physiology, School of Medicine, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.

2006: Teaching Assistant, Area of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.

Actualizado Diciembre 2011