IIBCE

The IIBCE is a public institution for biological research under the governance of the Ministry of Science and Culture. It has two main commitments: scientific research and postgraduate scientist training. The IIBCE was founded in 1927 by Clemente Estable, a direct pupil of Santiago Ramon y Cajal, initially as a neuroscience lab which later expanded in many other areas of biology. Now, the IIBCE hosts over 100 full time researchers and 60 post graduate students, half of them having expertise in the different disciplines that compose neuroscience (from molecular biology to behavior studies). The IIBCE has good facilities for biological imagery (confocal microscope and electronic microscopy, mass spectrometry and flow cytometry) which may be used by all the Scientists of the Institute. The IIBCE runs at present 60 nationally or internationally funded research programs. The Department of “Neurociencias Integrativas y Computacionales” (DNIC), was created in 1999. It has state-of-the-art facilities for studying sensory systems, in particular sensory processing and sensorimotor integration in electric fish. This Department has had long term cooperation (more than 20 years) with the other members of the WP5, financed in FP4 by a grant for International Cooperation and by International Cooperation grants sponsored by the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the German Research Council.

Key personnel for DNIC

Dr. Angel Caputi Head of the Department and Full Professor of Neuroscience of the National Post Graduate Program (PEDECIBA). His research addresses the study of the action-perception loops, having as a principal model of study the active electrosensory system of electric fish. Dr.Caputi has a broad formation, having 27 years of experience in basic and clinical aspects of Neuroscience. Dr. Caputi is the author or co-author of 40 international scientific papers in ISI journals and has directed the theses of 3 PhD and 4 MSc students.

Dr. María Castelló is Associate Scientist at the DNIC and Assistant Professor of Neuroscience of the National Post-Graduate? Program (PEDECIBA). Her main research interests are in the fields of neuroanatomy and neural development. She is the author or co-author of 15 international scientific papers in ISI journals.

Dr. Pedro Aguilera is Assistant Scientist of the DNIC. His main research interests are in the fields of electrophysiology. He is author or co-author of 10 international scientific papers in ISI journals.

References

• http://www.iibce.edu.uy/

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