Dr. Úrsula Wyneken Hempel is a Biochemist, holding a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, a Master's degree in Neurobiology and Behavioral Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, all obtained from the University of Chile.

Since 1996, she has been a faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine at Universidad de los Andes, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Neurosciences.

She also leads the Extracellular Vesicles in Nervous System Pathologies Research Group and directs the Neurosciences Program at UANDES.

Her research focuses on communication between the Central Nervous System and the periphery through extracellular vesicles, especially under stress conditions.

She has been recognized for her outstanding research work, receiving awards such as the one granted by Banco Santander and El Mercurio in 2016 for her studies on the effects of maternal stress on fetal neuronal development.

Dr. Wyneken specializes in studying extracellular vesicles as mediators in communication between the Central Nervous System and the periphery, particularly under stress conditions. Her work focuses on the role these vesicles play in nervous system health and disease.

One of her main research areas is how extracellular vesicles participate in cell communication within neurological pathologies, exploring their involvement in various nervous system diseases. This approach aims to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these conditions to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Additionally, she develops methods to identify biomarkers in plasma-derived extracellular vesicles, aiming to improve the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression. She also investigates how maternal stress during pregnancy alters circulating vesicles and the impact on fetal neuronal development, contributing to knowledge about prenatal stress effects on mental health.

Teaches courses in the field of Neurosciences at the Faculty of Medicine of Universidad de los Andes, in both undergraduate and graduate programs. She also leads the Biomedical Research Immersion Program (PiiB), which allows medical students to join research groups, fostering the training of future professionals with a strong foundation in scientific research.