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 of his class. He went on to earn a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Basic Biomedical Research with a specialization in Immunology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), graduating with honors.
He is currently a Professor and Researcher (Titular “C”) at UAM, Xochimilco Campus, a position he has held since 1996. Since March 2023, he has also served as Director of Research at UAM’s General Rectorship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a pivotal role on UAM’s Interinstitutional Commission, overseeing scenario planning and safe return protocols, as well as coordinating major health and seroepidemiological surveys.
Previously, he held the position of Head of the Department of Immunology at the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez for over two decades and served as Deputy Director of Planning and Evaluation at CONACyT(2018–2019).
Dr. Bojalil has taught over 400 undergraduate and graduate-level courses and has supervised numerous doctoral theses in areas such as immunology, neurodevelopmental disorders, obesity, lupus, liver disease, and cancer.
He has been a member of the National System of Researchers (SNI) since 1997 and currently holds the 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. His work has garnered over 3,400 academic citations, and he has an h-index of 31, reflecting his significant contributions to international scientific literature.
Beyond academia, Dr. Bojalil is a prominent science communicator and public intellectual. He has organized and participated in major symposia and forums on science, public health, and academic freedom. He has published opinion pieces in leading media outlets, including Nexos, Reforma, and Milenio.
Dr. Bojalil is widely recognized for his unwavering commitment to science, public health, and higher education, making him a key figure in immunology and science policy in Mexico.
Information provided by the academic staff
