Dr. María Elisa Drago Serrano obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Chemistry at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), her Master’s degree from the Faculty of Medicine at UNAM, and her Doctorate from the Faculty of Sciences at UNAM. She worked at the Children's Hospital of Mexico and at the National System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF). For 34 years, she has been a full-time professor at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus since September 21, 1988.

In 2012, she was awarded membership in the National System of Researchers (SNI) by the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT), obtained SNI Level II in 2019, and reaffirmed SNI Level II in 2023. She received a five-year tenure scholarship from UAM on February 16, 2023 (CDA03.009.22). Her activities are based on basic research focused on the regulation of intestinal homeostasis components influenced by factors such as stress and by immunomodulatory agents like bovine lactoferrin, in collaboration with researchers from the School of Medicine (ESM) at the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) and the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMEX). This research line has contributed to the training of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students under CONACyT projects.

She is the principal investigator of the research project “Effect of Bovine Lactoferrin on the Severity of Ulcerative Colitis in Stressed Mice,” in collaboration with Dr. Marycarmen Godinez-Victoria (ESM, IPN) and Dr. Fabiola Guzmán-Mejía (CONACyT Postdoctoral Fellow). She was also responsible for the research protocol “Evaluation of the Modulatory Effect of Stress and Bovine Lactoferrin on Parameters Related to Intestinal Homeostasis in BALB/c Mice,” registered on 14/05/2014, updated on 29/05/2017, and with a final report submitted on 03/07/2023. She participated in exercise and Kawasaki disease protocols led by Dr. Marycarmen Godínez Victoria and is part of the Academic Body “Study of Virulence Factors of Fungi and Bacteria and Their Role in Host-Parasite Interactions,” regulated by PROMEP during its formation (14/11/2013 and 07/11/2016) and consolidation (26/11/2019).

Her work in scientific dissemination is based on presenting posters at research conferences and publishing a popular science article in the “Avance y Perspectiva” journal in 2023. In August 2023, she participated in the organization and experimental activities for the science dissemination event “ConCiencia.” In scientific outreach, she has published articles in Mexican journals cited globally, such as “Bioactive Components of Functional Foods of Plant Origin” (Rev Mex C Farm 2006; 27(4): 58-68).

In teaching, she has participated in committees for the undergraduate modules “Fundamental Cellular Processes” and “Energy and Consumption of Fundamental Substances” of the Core Curriculum of the Division of Biological and Health Sciences (DCBS). She co-authored the laboratory manual “Basic Methods for the Isolation and Identification of Enterobacteria from Water” for the module “Fundamental Cellular Processes.” She was part of the committee for reviewing adaptations to the Core Curriculum modules (20/07/2012) and for the pedagogical design of the module “Energy and Consumption of Fundamental Substances” (29/09/2022).

In the QFB program, she participated in the committee for the extensive development of the module “Prevention and Control of Microbial Propagation” (Dec 16, 2015), in the accreditation of the QFB course before the Mexican Council for the Accreditation of Pharmaceutical Training, Civil Association (11/04/2015), and in the analysis of the productivity of the areas of the Department of Biological Systems at UAMX (19/12/2019). She participated in the Interview Committee for student admission to the Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences at UAMX (24/10/2019) and in the Institutional Development Committee convened by the UAMX Rectory (20/01/2020).