CRUSA Foundation

⊄144.3 million colones for five scientific projects

The use of genetic analysis to detect acute leukemia, the search for new antimicrobial substances produced from microorganisms not resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics and the study of new fruit species that can be incorporated into the human diet are three of the five research projects that the CRUSA Foundation and the Centro Superior de Investigación Científica de España (CSIC) (Spanish Council for Scientific Research) plans to support with a contribution of 144.3 million colones.

The other two projects that will receive funding through the CRUSA – SCIC Cooperation Agreement, signed on July 17 of last year, involve the formulation and analysis of snake antivenins and the search for alternative fuels.

The five proposals selected were submitted jointly by Costa Rican and Spanish institutions.  All the projects have a duration of 24 months and each initiative will receive a contribution of 28.8 million colones.

The selection of the beneficiaries was carried out over a two-month period to enable the scientific institutions to submit their research projects and compete for these non-reimbursable funds.
A total of 24 proposals were submitted, all of which were evaluated by two panels of experts in each of the topics.  One of the panels was convened in Costa Rica and the other in Spain.

“Once again, this year another call for proposals will be issued under the CRUSA – CSIC Agreement.  On this second occasion, in addition to receiving the joint contribution of 144.3 million, internships between Costa Rican and Spanish scientific institutions will be promoted in order to create and strengthen new partnerships”, said Hermann Faith, the Executive Director of the CRUSA Foundation.

Leveraging resources from third parties and fundraising to promote the sustainable development of Costa Rica are aspects of the new cooperation system that the CRUSA Foundation will be implementing, starting this year, in its four areas of interest: environment, science and technology, education and strategic capacity.

Supporting projects in these priority areas and promoting large-scale initiatives, partnerships and networking, are the Foundation’s two strategic orientations. In the last ten years, CRUSA has allocated 6.5 million dollars to the Area of Science and Technology.

“CRUSA has decided to transcend its bi-national character by signing cooperation agreements or forming partnerships with official institutions or NGOs in third countries.  The CRUSA – CSIC Cooperation Agreement is the first effort in this direction, an effort whose fruits we consider satisfactory”, concluded Faith.

Details of the projects selected

1- Project name:
Detection of genetic markers for the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of acute leukemia in a Costa Rican population using molecular biology techniques.
Institution executing the project in Costa Rica: Asociación Lucha contra el Cancer Infantíl (Children’s Cancer Association)

2- Project name:
New anti-microbials produced by microorganisms of Costa Rica
Institution executing the project in Costa Rica: National Biodiversity Institute (INBio)

3- Project name:
Genetic diversity of Chirimoyo and Soncoya in Costa Rica: Implications of optimizing their in situ and ex situ conservation”
Institution executing the project in Costa Rica: University of Costa Rica

4- Project name:
Snake venomics and antivenins of biomedical interest in Costa Rica and the Central American region.
Institution executing the project in Costa Rica: Clodomiro Picado Institute

5- Project name:
Catalyzer engineering (chemical and biological) for the integrated use of lignocellulosic residues: fine chemistry products.
Institution executing the project in Costa Rica: National Biodiversity Institute (INBio)