Galaxia Cortés Hinojosa

A veterinarian graduate from the Universidad de Chile with a master's in marine sciences and a Ph.D. under the Aquatic Animal Health program from The University of Florida. Galaxia has been working in the ecology of marine vertebrates since 2005 and in marine mammals pathogens discovery since 2010. Dr. Cortés-Hinojosa is currently an assistant professor of veterinary virology and zoological medicine at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile. Her research focus is on pathogen surveillance and discovery in marine vertebrates, One Health, and Conservation Medicine. She has an ongoing project investigating the virus diversity in South American pinnipeds (Otaria Byronia and Arctocephalus australis) in remote locations with minimal anthropogenic intervention. The results obtained from the current proposal will be used to further understand the diversity of pathogens in South America pinniped populations and the effect of proximity to population areas on pathogens diversity as well as the zoonotic potential of the interaction of tourist with sea lion pups.

May 2021