Margarita del Val facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margarita del Val
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| Born | 1959 (age 65–66) |
| Alma mater | Autonomous University of Madrid |
| Spouse(s) | Enrique J. de la Rosa |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Spanish National Research Council, Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre |
| Doctoral advisor | Eladio Viñuela Díaz |
Margarita del Val Latorre (born in 1959) is a Spanish scientist. She is an expert in chemistry, immunology (the study of the body's defense system), and virology (the study of viruses). She helps lead a big project called Salud Global (which means "Global Health"). This project is run by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Margarita del Val was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1959. Her parents, Manuel del Val and Consuelo Latorre, were both chemists.
She started studying at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) in 1976. This was during a time when Spain was changing to a democracy. There were many protests at universities against the old government. In 1973, all Spanish universities went on strike. This strike was still happening when Margarita started college.
Because there were no classes, Margarita and other students read books and played games. One book she read explained how cells make proteins. This made her decide to study biochemistry, which is the study of the chemical processes inside living things. She finished her main research project in 1985.
Margarita del Val's Career
In the 1980s, Margarita del Val began working at the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre. This is a research center in Madrid. It is run by the UAM and the CSIC.
After earning her doctorate degree in 1986, she moved to West Germany. She spent two years researching at a center for virus diseases in animals. Then, she spent three years at the University of Ulm.
Margarita del Val returned to Spain in the 1990s. While abroad, she helped create a new way to design vaccines. These vaccines were based on tiny parts of cells called T-cell epitopes. After returning to Spain, she also worked at the National Institutes of Health in the United States and McGill University in Canada. She then spent twenty years at the Carlos III Health Institute in Spain.
In April 2020, Margarita del Val helped start the Salud Global ("Global Health") program. This is a CSIC project that helps over 300 Spanish research groups work together. They focused on studying COVID-19. Margarita del Val has shared her ideas about Spain's experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also asked for a review of how Spain managed the pandemic.
Awards and Honors
Margarita del Val has received several awards for her important work.
- In 2015, she became a member of the Royal Academy of Pharmacy.
- In 2021, she received the "Medalla de Honor a los Valores Sociales" (Medal of Honor for Social Values). This award was from the Menéndez Pelayo International University. She received it for her work in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Personal Life
Margarita del Val is married to Enrique J. de la Rosa. He is also a biologist. They met at the UAM in 1977. They have a son and a daughter.
See also
In Spanish: Margarita del Val para niños
