Pew's Strategic Investment Aims to Reverse Latin America's Brain Drain

PHILADELPHIA, PA – June 30, 2026 – In a significant move to strengthen the scientific landscape of Latin America, The Pew Charitable Trusts has awarded 16 leading biomedical researchers a $20,000 Advancement Award each. The one-time grants, totaling $320,000, are designed to accelerate the work of scientists who, after completing prestigious postdoctoral training in the United States, have returned to the region to establish their own independent laboratories.

The funding targets alumni of the Pew Latin American Fellows Program in the Biomedical Sciences, a 35-year-old initiative dedicated to fostering scientific leadership. These awards will provide crucial resources for purchasing equipment and expanding research efforts in labs across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay, directly combating the resource scarcity that often hinders innovation.

"Pew Latin American fellows are among the best and brightest biomedical scientists in the region," said Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Pew's senior vice president for Philadelphia and scientific advancement. "For 35 years, they have honed their skills in U.S. labs, with many returning to home to help strengthen scientific communities across countries. With this award, these 16 fellows will have new opportunities to follow their curiosity and help expand global scientific discovery."

A Landscape of Challenge and Opportunity

This investment arrives at a critical juncture for biomedical research in Latin America, a region characterized by both persistent challenges and burgeoning potential. While scientific output has been on an upward trajectory—with indexed publications growing by nearly 29% between 2015 and 2019—the infrastructure supporting this growth remains uneven.

Researchers frequently grapple with significant funding gaps. Many Latin American countries invest less than 1% of their GDP in research and development, resulting in governmental grants that are often insufficient for cutting-edge science. A typical grant for a research group might range from $5,000 to $40,000 annually, a fraction of what is available in more developed nations. This financial constraint is compounded by inadequate laboratory infrastructure, the high cost of imported reagents, and limited access to state-of-the-art equipment.

Despite these hurdles, the region is ripe with opportunity. Latin America is a fertile ground for patient recruitment in clinical trials and is developing specialized expertise in key fields like infectious diseases, genomics, and biotechnology. Organizations like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are actively working to strengthen ethical research governance and build a more resilient health research ecosystem. It is into this complex environment that Pew’s targeted funding injects vital support, empowering individual scientists to overcome local barriers and realize their potential.

A Strategic Strike Against 'Brain Drain'

The Pew Latin American Fellows Program is engineered to be a powerful antidote to the phenomenon of 'brain drain'—the exodus of highly skilled professionals to countries with more resources. For decades, Latin America has lost some of its most promising scientific minds to labs in North America and Europe. Pew’s model directly confronts this issue by design.

The program not only funds postdoctoral training in top U.S. labs but also incentivizes the return journey. By offering additional funding as a launchpad for fellows who choose to establish independent labs back home, the program has cultivated a remarkable 'brain gain'. Nearly 70% of all participants have returned to Latin America, a statistic that underscores the program's success.

The Advancement Awards are a key component of this strategy, providing tangible support at a make-or-break moment for an early-career scientist. The $20,000 grant can be transformative, enabling the purchase of a critical piece of equipment or the funding of a pilot study that can lead to larger, more substantial grants down the line. This approach doesn't just fund research; it invests in the creation of a sustainable scientific ecosystem led by 'homecoming heroes' who can train and inspire the next generation of local talent.

The Power of Philanthropy in Building a Global Network

Pew's initiative, supported by Biohub, highlights the essential role that philanthropic organizations play in the global scientific community. In regions where public R&D funding is constrained, private philanthropy can step in to fill critical gaps, foster innovation, and promote international collaboration. Biohub, likely referring to the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, aligns with this mission, as it seeks to understand the fundamental mechanisms of disease and develop new technologies through collaborative research.

By creating a network of highly trained, interconnected researchers, these programs build a more resilient and equitable global scientific enterprise. The connections forged during postdoctoral training in the U.S. are not severed upon return; instead, they become bridges for ongoing collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mentorship. This fosters a dynamic where scientific progress is not confined by national borders, allowing discoveries made in Buenos Aires or São Paulo to contribute to global health challenges.

Meet the Scientists Driving Discovery

The 16 recipients of the 2026 Advancement Award represent a diverse cohort of researchers poised to make significant contributions to the biomedical sciences. They are:

• Rodrigo A. Aguilar, Ph.D. (2016 Fellow), Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile
• Fernando J. Bustos, Ph.D. (2015 Fellow), Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile
• Daiana A. Capdevila, Ph.D. (2016 Fellow), Fundación Instituto Leloir, Argentina
• Juan-Pablo Castillo, Ph.D. (2015 Fellow), Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Chile
• Victor H. Cornejo, Ph.D. (2018 Fellow), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
• José Duhart, Ph.D. (2019 Fellow), Fundación Instituto Leloir & Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina
• Andres A. Herrada, Ph.D. (2013 Fellow), Universidad de Concepción, Chile
• Bruno Manta, Ph.D. (2015 Fellow), Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay
• Karla F. Meza-Sosa, Ph.D. (2015 Fellow), Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico
• Rafik Neme, Ph.D. (2017 Fellow), Universidad del Norte, Colombia
• Priscilla C. Olsen, Ph.D. (2016 Fellow), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Ana S. Peinetti, Ph.D. (2017 Fellow), Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires), Argentina
• Hugo Sepúlveda, Ph.D. (2018 Fellow), Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas - Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile
• José E. Soto, Ph.D. (2017 Fellow), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico
• Paulo José P. L. Teixeira, Ph.D. (2013 Fellow), Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Brazil
• Daniela Paula de Toledo Thomazella, Ph.D. (2014 Fellow), Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

These scientists are now better equipped to pursue their research questions, from neuroscience and molecular biology to plant science and disease mechanisms, strengthening the intellectual capital of their home institutions and countries. Their success, supported by strategic philanthropic investment, is a testament to the power of a model that values both global training and local impact.