Universidad Mayor de San Marcos in Lima received Peru's award for a “Center of Excellence.” The award was given to the Center for Technical, Biomedical and Environmental Research at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, along with an award of 16.7 million soles (equivalent to nearly US$5.6 million). The center is supported by the University of Washington and la Universidad Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil.

United States Ambassador to Peru, Brian A. Nichols, was in attendance to acknowledge the award.

The team that applied for and won this award included Jorge Alarcon, MD, MPH, PhD, Professor at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and Affiliate Professor of Global Health at UW. Alarcon works closely with Joseph Zunt, MD, MPH, UW Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Global Health.  Zunt is currently co-director of four NIH-funded research training programs in Peru that cover a variety of health-related disciplines. He has been working in Peru since 1996.

The award is from the Committee of Science, Techonology, etc. (CONCYTEC) and is the first time the Peruvian government has provided an award for developing a Center of Excellence. They will provide additional center development awards, perhaps annually, to develop new centers. 

The new Center at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, "Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Biomédicas y Medioambientales” (Center for Technical, Biomedical and Environmental Research), will support interdisciplinary health-related research in Peru.

Photo courtesy of Universidad Mayor de San Marcos. Left to right: Rector of UNMSM,  Dr. Pedro Cotillo; President of the Council of Ministers, Ana Jara; President of  CONCYTEC, Dr. Gisella Orjeda;  and U.S. ambassador,  Brian A. Nichols