Recently, the Peruvian Council of Science, Technology, and Technological Innovation (Concytec), through ProCiencia, presented the results of the bidding contest ‘Applied Research Projects 2023-02’. This initiative has total funding of more than S/ 22 million.
According to Concytec, “applied research projects aim to contribute to the increase of new scientific knowledge and/or new technologies that is borne out of the needs of society and the productive sectors of the country.”
After receiving 349 applications, 63 proposals were selected at the national level, of which 7 are from PUCP, a fact that reaffirms our commitment to the development of the country.
Here are two testimonials:
Dr. Sandra Pérez indicates that the project ‘Development of devices for biotelemetry, environmental telemonitoring and geolocation based on Internet of Things applied to health and welfare of ruminants in Peru’ arises from the needs of the productive sector to face the climate and food crisis.
Thus, the experience of the Research Group on Medical Devices at PUCP contributes to the development of Precision Livestock Farming as an alternative solution to improve the breeding efficiency of ruminants. “Its purpose is the optimization of resources, allowing a reduction in cost, environmental impact, and increase in production and animal welfare,” says Pérez.
In this way, the project is aimed at designing and developing a non-invasive device capable of measuring parameters of interest in the ruminant population, mainly goats.
Its purpose is the optimization of resources, allowing a reduction in cost, environmental impact, and increase in production and animal welfare.”
Sandra Pérez, Ph.D.
PUCP Professor and Researcher
The device consists of three modules: biotelemetry of physiological variables, geolocation and movements, and environmental telemonitoring. Said measurement will be made continuously and will be sent through wireless communication to a database to be subsequently displayed in a mobile app.
“This project will generate reliable monitoring of livestock in order to improve breeding, milk production, meat and reproduction,” says Pérez.
The validation stage will begin with laboratory tests at PUCP, then it will be implemented as a pilot at the Intap Institute and, finally, at the Lactea S.A stable in the department of La Libertad.
On the other hand, the project ‘Development of the first optical coherence tomography based elastography system in Peru for the early detection of keratoconus and other ocular diseases’ arises, according to Dr. Fernando Zvietcovich, as part of his commitment as a tenure-track professor in the Bioengineering Section of PUCP to develop, for the first time in the country, the areas of biomedical and biophotonic optics.
“We seek to solve the problem of early detection of eye diseases in Peru, as the diagnosis of subclinical keratoconus,” says the professor about the project.
This disease, he adds, affects the biomechanics and structure of the human cornea, which is fundamental for vision and, if it is not detected and stopped in time with the help of some treatment, it can progress to the point of needing a cornea transplant.
We seek to solve the problem of early detection of eye diseases in Peru, as the diagnosis of subclinical keratoconus.”
Fernando Zvietcovich, Ph.D.
PUCP Professor and Researcher
For this purpose, Zvietcovich says, “We are proposing the development of the first optical tomography system for the early detection of this disease.”
“The development of this project will allow to stop the progression of keratoconus well in advance in human corneas, and avoid future corneal surgical treatments that tend to be high cost and do not recover vision by 100%,” says the professor.
In this sense, applied research in the biomedical optics area is fundamental to improve the quality of the ophthalmic health system in Peru. “With the project, in the long term, Peruvians would be prevented from losing the quality of their vision during fundamental stages of their education and professional integration,” he concludes.
