The Center
The Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV) is a research center located in the Universidad de Valparaiso (UV). Its main focus is to understand how the nervous system adapts to its everchanging environment. CINV brings together biophysicists, physiologists, neurobiologists and experts in genomic, bioinformatics and molecular simulation to develop scientific and outreach activities in an academic environment of research excellence. Currently, the main research areas in the center are focused on the study of the molecular and electrical basis of cellular signaling, neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, neural circuit development and function, all of which are neurobiological mechanisms that underlie sensory perception and cognition that go awry in in neurodegenerative and behavioral disorders.
In 1999, a group of investigators from the Universidad de Valparaiso founded the first Center of Neuroscience of Valparaíso (CNV) to promote neuroscience research outside the capital. Ten years later, after incorporating new researchers with diverse expertise in neuroscience, as well as new biological models, the Center became the Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience of Valparaiso (CINV) with the goal of creating a center of research excellence with national and international impact. In 2011, the CINV became the first Millenium Institute awarded to a public university outside the capital. The Millenium Institute status has propelled the CINV to become a major contributor to scientific advancement globally as well as to the revitalization of the city of Valparaíso, from an educational, scientific and cultural perspective.
