FROM KILLER SNAILS TO BIODIVERSITY
Dr. Lourdes Cruz
Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz is a National Scientist and Professor Emeritus of UP Diliman. Dr. Cruz obtained her BS Chemistry degree from UP Diliman in 1962 and her MS and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Iowa in 1966 and 1968. From 1976 to 2006, she spent 3-6 months every year at the University of Utah, collaborating with Prof. Baldomero M. Olivera on the elucidation of the biochemical and molecular nature of toxins from the venomous Conus marine snail, which are now used as pharmacological tools in the study of brain function and in drug development.
Her international awards include the Sven Brohult Award of the International Foundation for Science (IFS) in 1993, ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist in 2001, the L’Oreal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science in 2010, and the Outstanding Alumnus Award of the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine in 2011.
