Dr. Jorge Meléndez Zajgla: Leader in Genomic Medicine in Mexico

Dr. Jorge Meléndez Zajgla is a prominent Mexican scientist in the field of genomics and oncology. He is currently a Medical Sciences Researcher 'F' at the Functional Genomics Laboratory of the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN). He is also a Level 3 member of the National System of Researchers (SNI) and a full member of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2007, he initiated the 'Functional Genomics' research line at INMEGEN, encompassing projects aimed at elucidating the genomic bases of human diseases. This line has made significant contributions, including elucidating the role of the NFkB signaling pathway in the apoptosis and drug resistance of cancer cells, the involvement of microRNAs in the regulation of cancer stem cells, the first genomic descriptions of various neoplasms such as cervical, head and neck cancer, and the first diagnosis of a Mendelian syndrome in Mexico through exome sequencing. Dr. Meléndez Zajgla leads the Mexican Initiative for Oncogenomics in collaboration with the University of California to bring genomic testing to pediatric cancer patients. He has published over 120 research articles in national and international journals and 8 book chapters. He is a professor or tutor in the postgraduate programs in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, and Medical Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and is currently the Titular Professor of the High Specialty Course in Precision Genomic Medicine in Cancer at UNAM/INMEGEN. He is also an editor for the journals Scientific Reports, Clinical and Translational Oncology, Frontiers in Genetics, and Frontiers in Oncology, among others. His interests include Genomic Medicine, Cancer, Genetic Editing, Cell Death, Stem Cells, and Signaling Cascades.