• Doctor en Biología Celular y Molecular, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
• Entrenamiento postdoctoral en la Universidad de Stanford y el Instituto Weizmann de Ciencias.

Intereses

Mi principal interés es descubrir genes modificadores de procesos biológicos, especialmente relacionados con enfermedades lisosomales. Para ello realizo estudios en múltiples cepas de ratones y en muestras humanas. Utilizamos estrategias de la biología de sistemas, donde se integran fenotipos clínicos con datos genéticos, transcriptomas, biología celular, entre otros. Nuestro  objetivo es diseñar terapias personalizadas para cada paciente basado en su propia biología.

Interests

My main interest is uncovering modifier genes of  biological processes specially related to lysosomal-associated diseases. To this end we carry-out studies in multiple inbred mouse strains and in humans’ samples. We use systems biology strategies, where we integrate clinical phenotypes with genetic data, transcriptomes, cell biology, among other high-throughput data. Our goal is to design tailored therapies for each patient based on his own biology.

Reconocimientos

• 2008 Beca CONICYT para estudios doctorales.
• 2009-2011 Pew Latin American Fellow in the Biomedical Sciences.
• 2009-2011 Beca Postdoctoral de la Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation.
• 2011-2013 Beca Postdoctoral de la UK Gaucher Association.
• 2013: Elegido como uno de los 5 chilenos menores de 35 años más innovadores del año por la revista Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) technology reviews: http://www2.technologyreview.es/tr35chile/1433/andres-klein/
• 2013: Elegido uno de los 100 líderes jovenes del año por la Revista del Sábado, del diario El Mercurio.
• 2017-2020: Asesor científico (Scientific Advisory Board) de Cures Within Reach. (http://www.cureswithinreach.org/)

Investigador Principal

• 2018-2022:  Proyecto Fondecyt N 1180337 «Uncovering modifier genes of lysosomal biology by exploiting the natural genetic variation of inbred mouse strains».
• 2014-2016: Identification of novel genes that modify the severity of Gaucher disease. Rosetree of Trust UK.
• 2016-2017: Unraveling the role of cellular clearance in GM2 gangiosidosis.  Grant from Cure and Action for Tay-Sachs (CATS) Foundation, UK.
• 2017-2021: LysoMod: Genetic and Small Molecule Modifiers of Lysosomal Function. Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchanges (RISE), Horizon 2020 program, Research Executive Agency, European Union.

Publicaciones destacadas

• Klein AD, Mazzulli JR. Is Parkinson’s disease a lysosomal disorder? Brain 2018, In Press. doi:   10.1093/brain/awy147
• Calderon JF, Klein AD. Controversies on the potential therapeutic use of rapamycin for treating a lysosomal cholesterol storage disease. Mol Gen and Metabol Rep, 2018; 15:135-136
• Klein AD, Modeling diseases in multiple mouse strains for precision medicine studies. Physiol Genomics 2017, 49(3):177-179.
• Klein AD, Ferreira NS, Ben-Dor S, Duan J, Merrill Jr AH, Hardy J, Cox T, Futerman AH. Identification of modifier genes in a mouse model of Gaucher disease. Cell Rep 2016; 6(10):2546-53.
• Klein AD, Alvarez AR, Zanlungo S. The unique case of the Niemann-Pick type C cholesterol storage disorder. Pediatr Endocrinol Rev. 2014;12 Suppl 1:166-75
• Vitner EB, Salomon R, Farfel-Becker T, Meshcheriakova A, Ali M, Klein AD, Platt FM, Cox TM, Futerman AH. RIP3 as a novel therapeutic target for Gaucher disease. Nat Med. 2014; 20(2):204-8.
• Klein AD, Futerman AH. Lysosomal Storage Disorders: Old diseases, present and future challenges. Pediatr Endocrinol Rev. 2013; Suppl 1:59-63.
• Parra J*, Klein A*, Castro J, Morales MG, Mosqueira M, Valencia I, Cortés V, Rigotti A, Zanlungo S. Npc1 deficiency in C57BL/6J genetic background enhances Niemann-Pick type C spleen pathology. *both as first authors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2011; 413(3):400-6.
• Alvarez AR*, Klein A*, Castro J, Cancino GI, Amigo J, Mosqueira M, Vargas LM, Yevenes FL, Bronfman FC, Zanlungo S (2008). Imatinib therapy blocks cerebellar apoptosis and improves neurological symptoms in a mouse model of Niemann Pick type C disease. Faseb Journal 22(10):3617-27. *both as first authors.
• Klein A, Amigo L, Retamal MJ, Morales MG, Miquel JF, Rigotti A, Zanlungo S (2006). NPC2 is expressed in human and murine liver and secreted into bile: potential implications for body cholesterol homeostasis. Hepatology., 43:126-33.