Dr. Andrea Gamarnik is Director of the Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA-CONICET) at Fundación Instituto Leloir, Argentina, where she leads the Molecular Virology Laboratory. She obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Buenos Aires, in 1993, and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco, followed by experience in the biotechnology industry in California, before returning to Argentina in 2001.


Her research focuses on infectious diseases of major public health relevance in Latin America, particularly dengue virus. Her laboratory has made seminal contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms of dengue virus replication. In recognition of her scientific achievements, she was elected to the American Academy of Microbiology, the Academy of Sciences of Latin America, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her honors include the L’Oréal–UNESCO International Award for Women in Science (Latin America), the Investigator of the Nation Award, and the Platinum Konex Award in Science and Technology. She was also a member of the Infectious Diseases Program of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).


Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Gamarnik is strongly committed to building regional capacity in virology and to advancing the leadership of women in science. She has mentored more than 30 Ph.D. students and early-career researchers, organized international virology courses and conferences across Latin America, and led efforts to translate fundamental research into practical applications, including the development of diagnostic tools currently used by the public health system.