# Fanny Casado

Fanny Lys Casado Peña (born 1980, Iquitos) is a Peruvian scientist specializing in toxicology and bioengineering. She serves as a principal professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and is a principal researcher at the Institute of Omic Sciences and Applied Biotechnology at the same university. She has developed a prototype container for sputum sample collection to prevent contamination in the pre-analytical phase of tuberculosis diagnosis.

## Biography

Fanny Casado Peña was born in Iquitos and completed her early studies in that city. She later moved to Trujillo and subsequently to Lima, where she finished her secondary education. Her interest in science emerged through the influence of her father, a chemical engineer, and a chemistry teacher who encouraged her to explore the subject in greater depth.
She obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Toxicology from the University of Rochester, United States, where she also completed a Master of Science. Additionally, she holds a Master of Science in Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology from Michigan Technological University. Prior to this, she earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.

## Career

After completing her doctorate, Casado pursued postdoctoral research in stem cells and cancer at McMaster University in Canada, and at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany. She currently leads interdisciplinary projects focused on implementing safe technologies for people and the environment. Her work integrates methodologies for the design, development, and validation of drugs, cell therapies, and medical devices.
Casado has explored the intersection between bioengineering and medicine, developing technologies to improve human health. One of her most significant projects has been the implementation of a negative pressure therapy system designed to accelerate wound healing in patients with chronic injuries, particularly those with diabetes. This device aims to optimize tissue regeneration by reducing bacterial load and promoting an environment conducive to cellular recovery.
Another area of her research involves the application of advanced biomaterials in regenerative medicine. She has developed compounds based on functionalized chitosan, exploring their potential to neutralize pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Her multidisciplinary approach combines nanotechnology, biochemistry, and toxicology to assess the biocompatibility of these materials and their potential clinical applications.
Additionally, she has led studies on the impact of nanomaterials on biological systems, evaluating both their toxicity and their applicability in medical devices and innovative therapies. Her work has contributed to the development of new approaches in the fabrication of biomaterials that balance therapeutic efficacy with biological safety.
She has participated in the development of scientific innovations, including Utility Model Patent No. 001995-2022, a "Semi-Solid Sample Container" designed to enhance the diagnostic process for diseases such as tuberculosis. This project was recognized with the "Academic Innovation Award 2023" from the National Society of Industries.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was part of the Masi project, which facilitated the manufacture and donation of over 250 mechanical ventilators to MINSA hospitals. As of 2022, she was leading a laboratory producing ventilators and COVID-19 tests.

## Publications

She has published more than 75 scientific articles in indexed journals, as well as several book chapters on toxicology and bioengineering.
Among the most relevant publications are:
* "Ethics of research involving human subjects in Peru: An outstanding challenge". In this article, published in the Journal of the Faculty of Human Medicine at Ricardo Palma University, Casado addresses ethical challenges in research involving human subjects within the Peruvian context.
* "Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by functionalized chitosan derivatives". This study focuses on chitosan functionalization with peptides that interact with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, aiming to neutralize the virus and prevent its cellular internalization.
* "Development of a prototype container for sputum sample collection to prevent contamination in the pre-analytical phase of tuberculosis diagnosis". This project seeks to improve sputum sample collection by designing a container that minimizes contamination, thereby optimizing tuberculosis diagnosis.

### Selected publications

* Casado, Fanny L.; Singh, Kameshwar P.; Gasiewicz, Thomas A. (2011-10-01). "Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation in Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells Alters Cell Function and Pathway-Specific Gene Modulation Reflecting Changes in Cellular Trafficking and Migration". Molecular Pharmacology. 80 (4): 673–682. doi:10.1124/mol.111.071381. ISSN 0026-895X. PMC 3187533. PMID 21791576.
* Casado, Fanny L. (2016). "The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Relays Metabolic Signals to Promote Cellular Regeneration". Stem Cells International. 2016 (1): 4389802. doi:10.1155/2016/4389802. ISSN 1687-9678. PMC 4987465. PMID 27563312.
* Naemi, Roozbeh; Romero Gutierrez, Stefano E.; Allan, David; Flores, Gilmer; Ormaechea, Juvenal; Gutierrez, Evelyn; Casado-Pena, Jessica; Anyosa-Zavaleta, Sharon; Juarez, Mauricio; Casado, Fanny; Castaneda Aphan, Benjamin (2022-03-01). "Diabetes Status is Associated With Plantar Soft Tissue Stiffness Measured Using Ultrasound Reverberant Shear Wave Elastography Approach". Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. 16 (2): 478–490. doi:10.1177/1932296820965259. ISSN 1932-2968. PMC 8861805. PMID 33095039.
* Chang, Javier; Acosta, Augusto; Benavides-Aspiazu, Jorge; Reategui, Jaime; Rojas, Christiam; Cook, Jordi; Nole, Richard; Giampietri, Luigi; Pérez-Buitrago, Sandra; Casado, Fanny L.; Castaneda, Benjamin (2021-04-01). "Masi: A mechanical ventilator based on a manual resuscitator with telemedicine capabilities for patients with ARDS during the COVID-19 crisis". HardwareX. 9: e00187. doi:10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00187. ISSN 2468-0672. PMC 7925236. PMID 33681539.
* Marin, Laura; Casado, Fanny (2023-06-22). "Prediction of prostate cancer biochemical recurrence by using discretization supports the critical contribution of the extra-cellular matrix genes". Scientific Reports. 13 (1): 10144. Bibcode:2023NatSR..1310144M. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-35821-1. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 10287745. PMID 37349324.

### Chapters

* Gonzalez, Eduardo; Casado, Fanny L.; Castaneda, Benjamin (2019-11-27). "Chapter 3: Clinical applications of elastographic methods to improve prostate cancer evaluation". In Alam, S. Kaisar; Garra, Brian S. (eds.). Tissue Elasticity Imaging: Volume 2: Clinical Applications. Elsevier. pp. 47–66. ISBN 978-0-12-809684-0.

## Awards and recognitions

Casado Peña has also been recognized as a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and has received the Outstanding Professional Award 2023 from the College of Chemists of Peru. She was also a finalist in the National Inventions Competition 2022 organized by INDECOPI and has obtained postdoctoral research scholarships, including one awarded by the Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst in Germany.

## Awards

* Gold Medal, Korea Women Invention Association (2024)
* Silver Medal, International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (2022)
* Academic Innovation Award 2023 - First Place, Peru's National Society of Industries
* Mondialogo Engineering Award – Honorable Mention, awarded by UNESCO and Daimler-Chrysler
* 2019 Research Recognition Award, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
* 2020 Research Recognition Award, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
* Outstanding Women in Research Award
* 2018 University Teaching Innovation Award