Lourdes J. Cruz
Lourdes J. Cruz is a Filipino biochemist whose research has contributed to the understanding of the biochemistry of toxic peptides from the venom of fish-hunting Conus marine snails. The characterization of over 50 biologically active peptides from the snail's venom had been made possible, in part, by her studies.
She has also contributed to the development of conotoxins as tools for examining the activity of the human brain. For instance, w-conotoxin (widely used for studying neutral calcium channels) and m-conotoxin (used when muscular activity must be controlled to examine events at the synapse).
Education
College: University of the Philippines, Diliman (1962)
Course: Chemistry
Master: Biochemistry, University of Iowa (1966)
Doctorate: Biochemistry
Research
Dr. Cruz has published over 130 academic papers and as a prolific career in research. In 1970, Dr. Cruz worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in 1970. She worked with many biochemists and began her research on Conus geographus, a venomous fish-hunting species found in the waters of Marinduque and Mindoro of the Philippines. This species was known for its stinging property that causes illnesses and even death among fishermen. Dr. Cruz worked on the isolation of peptides from the conotoxins in the snail's venom when their effects were still unknown. Her research shed light on the effects of conotoxins on the central nervous system and how it can cause muscular paralysis, sleepiness, or drowsiness, involuntary motion and more. Today, conotoxin peptides are very important and they are extensively used biochemical probes such as to test calcium channels in neurons and prohibitory of muscular movement when investigation actions at synapses.
Awards
- NAST Outstanding Young Scientist Award, (1981)
- NRCP Achievement Award in Chemistry (1982)
- L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2010)
- Outstanding Women in the Nation's Services Award (Bio-chemistry).
- Academician - National Academy of Science and Technology (1987)
- Professional Achievement Award in Biochemistry - University of the Philippines Alumni Association (1991)
- Sven Brohult Award - International Foundation Science (1993)
- Medal of Distinction (research) - Philippine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1994)
- Outstanding Alumnus - University of the Philippines Chemistry Alumni Foundation (1996)
- Gregorio Y. Zara Award in Basic Science - Philippine Association for Advancement of Science (2000)
- Service Award - Philippine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2001)
- Outstanding ASEAN Scientist and Technologist Award (2001)
- Gawad Chancellor Award for Research (2002)
- Proclaimed as National Scientists - President of the Republic of the Philippines (2006)
References
- Gorgoni, Luis (1998). The Filipino Scientists. Gagalangin Tondo, Manila: Loacan Pub. House. ISBN 971-668-027-9
- Google Scholar Citations https://scholar.google.com.ph/citations?hl=fil&user=u62LgsEAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
- Republic of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology http://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/35-2012-news/228-national-scientist-lourdes-cruz-heads-dost-research-council.html
- Tecson-Mendoza, E.(2010). Philippine Science Letters. National Scientist Lourdes Jansuy Cruz: From Rice to Conus Research - the Journey. https://www.philsciletters.net/2010/20104.pdf
- Tecson-Mendoza, E. (2017) Biosketches: Filipino Trailblazers in Science and Technology. Taguig, Philippines. National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines.
- Vilvestre Jess (2019) Flip Science. Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz: The Pinay Biochemist Who Studied a Deadly Snail. https://www.flipscience.ph/news/features-news/features/national-scientist-lourdes-j-cruz/