{"id":3408,"date":"2025-08-08T12:30:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T18:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/immunotherapynk.com\/?page_id=3408"},"modified":"2025-08-08T13:43:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T19:43:53","slug":"jorge-cadena-iniguez-ph-d","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/immunotherapynk.com\/es\/acerca-de-nosotros\/nuestro-equipo\/jorge-cadena-iniguez-ph-d\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Jorge Cadena I\u00f1\u00edguez"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

orge Cadena I\u00f1\u00edguez, Ph.D., is a botanist and plant genetic resources specialist whose work has shaped modern understanding of Sechium<\/strong> diversity, phytochemistry, and value chains in Mesoamerica. A Professor\u2013Researcher at the Colegio de Postgraduados<\/strong> (Campus San Luis Potos\u00ed), he combines academic leadership with field-driven innovation, from taxonomic and population studies to varietal development, nutraceutical exploration, and technology transfer with smallholder producers. He founded the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Sechium edule<\/em> in Mexico (GISeM)<\/strong> and led the establishment of the Chayote Germplasm Bank<\/strong>\u2014reported as the only collection of its kind worldwide\u2014consolidating a national platform for conservation, breeding, and bioactive compound discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic background and appointments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Cadena earned his Ph.D. in Botany<\/strong> (2005) and M.Sc. in Botany (2000) from the Colegio de Postgraduados, after his B.Sc. in Agronomy at Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Chiapas (1985). He is Professor\u2013Researcher (Associate)<\/strong> at Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus San Luis Potos\u00ed, and a Level I member of Mexico\u2019s National System of Researchers (SNI)<\/strong>. He also serves as Editor (Editor responsable)<\/strong> of the peer-reviewed journal Agro Productividad<\/strong> (since 2011). His ORCID is 0000-0002-6427-0646. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research focus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Cadena\u2019s research integrates plant systematics<\/strong>, population diversity<\/strong>, domestication<\/strong>, and participatory breeding<\/strong> with postharvest biology<\/strong> and phytochemistry<\/strong> of Sechium<\/em> species. Early landmark work documented infraspecific variation<\/strong> in S. edule<\/em> across Veracruz, Mexico (Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 2008), laying a morphological and anatomical baseline that enabled subsequent breeding and germplasm management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the biochemical front, his group has characterized flavonoids<\/strong>, phenolic acids<\/strong>, and cucurbitacins<\/strong> associated with antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities. Recent studies evaluate Sechium<\/strong> genotypes and hybrids as sources of bioactive metabolites, including the HD-Victor<\/strong> hybrid, and analyze how processing (e.g., drying) affects metabolite stability\u2014findings germane to nutraceutical development and standardization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridging discovery and delivery, Dr. Cadena co-developed microencapsulation<\/strong> strategies (e.g., chitosan microspheres) to protect and release Sechium<\/em> extracts with antineoplastic<\/strong> activity, supporting the translation of laboratory evidence to candidate delivery systems. Complementary clinical collaborations have investigated Sechium edule<\/em> supplementation in older adults with metabolic syndrome<\/strong>, reporting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and mechanistic ties to Nrf2<\/strong> pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programs and leadership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the lab, Dr. Cadena has directed multi-institutional initiatives that connect biodiversity with regional development. Highlights include an IICA-supported project<\/strong> to develop \u201ctayota\u201d for export in the Dominican Republic; a Mexico\u2013Japan model<\/strong> for implementing the Nagoya Protocol<\/strong> on access and benefit-sharing; and a national strategy for in situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity<\/strong>. These efforts complement his long-standing role as Editor of Agro Productividad<\/strong>, a venue that disseminates applied agricultural research in Latin America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selected publications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n