Sustainable Development Goals
Research interests
• Inflammation
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Coronary and valvular disease
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Autoimmune diseases
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Sepsis
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Neurodevelopmental immunology
Profile
Dr. Rafael Bojalil Parra is a physician who graduated from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Xochimilco Campus, where he achieved the highest GPA in his graduating class. He later earned both a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Basic Biomedical Research, specializing in Immunology, from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), graduating with honors in both programs.
He has been a Professor and Researcher (Titular “C”) at UAM’s Xochimilco Campus since 1996. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was an active member of UAM’s Intercampus Commission for COVID-19 Response, contributing to the development of institutional protocols for the safe return to campus and leading health impact and seroepidemiological surveys.
His professional career includes serving as Head of the Department of Immunology at the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez for more than two decades, Deputy Director of Planning and Evaluation at CONACyT (2018–2019), and Director of Research and Graduate Studies at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (2023–2026).
Dr. Bojalil has taught more than 400 undergraduate and graduate courses and has supervised numerous doctoral dissertations in fields including immunology, neurodevelopment, obesity, lupus, liver disease, and cancer.
He has been a member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI) since 1997 and currently holds its highest distinction, Level III (2014–2035). He is a member of both the Mexican Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico. He was elected to serve as Vice President of the Mexican Academy of Sciences beginning in August 2026 and will serve as its President for the 2029–2032 term. His scientific work has received more than 3,400 citations, and he has an h-index of 31, reflecting his significant contributions to the international scientific literature.
Beyond academia, Dr. Bojalil has organized and participated in major symposia and forums on science, public health, and academic freedom. He has also published opinion articles in leading Mexican media outlets, including Nexos, Reforma, and Milenio.
Dr. Bojalil has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to advancing science, public health, and higher education, establishing himself as a leading figure in immunology and science policy in Mexico.
Information provided by the academic staff
