• According to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, less than 30% of researchers in the world are women
• The pandemic enabled you women working in the health sector in Colombia and around the world to stand out for their research and leadership during that situation.

Medellín, March 8, 2022  – as part of the celebration of International Woman’s Day, and almost a month after the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we still feel the need to vindicate gender equality in professional and everyday life were recognizing women’s empowerment has been a challenge.

According to the Ministry of science, technology, and innovation, less than 30% of scientific researchers in the world are women, and in Colombia the representation is 38%. This is why over the past several years global organizations, women’s collectives, and different companies have made an effort to work for gender equality from different angles, including making the role of women in science more visible.

In addition, and with the arrival of COVID-19, looked to those who worked in science and health, and highlighted some of the women who stood out for mitigating the negative impacts of the pandemic. One such example is the Hungarian biochemist Katalin Karikó, which is not consider the “mother of the vaccine” against coronavirus for her research on messenger RNA in vaccines and treatments, which a decade ago did not have the financial backing of the regulators.

Colombia has not been an exception in this respect. The presence and leadership of women in areas in which they were not previously recognized as becoming more relevant. Thus, behind the consolidation of VaxThera, a company that is an expert in biotechnology, which will enable the production, importation, and commercialization of vaccines against infectious diseases in the country and the region, there are two benchmarks: Natalia Muñoz Durango and Leonor Hidalgo, women who have placed their lives at the service of health.

Natalia Muñoz Durango, as a professional Microbiologist, has worked in health and immunology and is currently the Clinical Tests and Regulatory Affairs Director for the company, where she leads the regulatory strategies for the research products developed by the company’s R&D Department. She holds a Master of Science degree in Basic Biomedical Sciences and a PhD in Biological Sciences. After working as an applications specialist in clinical research in various organizations in Colombia and in Chile. She came to VaxThera with the conviction that it is possible to build a safer and more equitable country on the basis of science.

Leonor Hidalgo Ciro, an Attorney with a master’s degree in political studies, is working as Innovation and Business Development Director. From her area of study, she is contributing to the sanitary security of the country and of Latin America. Her experience includes leading projects and policies in science, technology, and innovation, with ample experience as consultant in technological development for different organizations, such as the Ministry of Defense and Ruta N. At VaxThera, she is working to create opportunities for the company’s long-term sustainable growth and its introduction into new markets.

“We have a major challenge in Colombia in terms of transnational science. Our team consists of scientists and people from other disciplines, with many years experience among which we highlight passionate leaders, willing to contribute to the health sector” points out Natalia Muñoz. Leonor Hidalgo also says that “Furthermore, we are convinced of the importance of nurturing human talent to promote scientific work in order to contribute to more inclusive public health”.

The gender gap is not foreign to Seguros SURA’s new company. This is why, currently, three of the four directorates in the organization are led by women, plus we expect that, of the more than 500 jobs that the company will create in the country and our percentage will be filled by women from different specialties. The company will also establish business policies to promote social transformation in the creation of an egalitarian society.

According to the Ranking PAR 2019, in Colombia, 34% of the leadership and management positions in organizations are held by women. This shows the challenge that we still face in terms of gender equality. Natalia and Leonor stand out as leaders in one of the country’s most important projects of the past several years, which is developing a vaccine against COVID – 19 which is expected to be available in 2023 to look for independence in terms of biologicals and contribute to the sanitary security of the region.

About VaxThera
VaxThera is a Colombian science-based company dedicated to research and development of biologicals for the world. The company aims to achieve sanitary independence through research, development, and innovation in biotechnology and health. The company was born from the articulation between SURA and world-class researchers in the areas of biotechnology and human health.

Press contact:
Eliana Siegert
esiegert@vaxthera.com