For the past six years, the International Physiology Committee has been committed to the mission of supporting the development of the Physiological Sciences in Latin America and of improving the relationship between US and Latin American Physiologists. To accomplish this goal, the International Physiology Committee launched the "Latin American Initiative" under the auspices of the APS council. This initiative has the purpose of annually supporting with $5,000/each, up to four courses and/or symposia related to physiology to be held in Latin America with the participation of APS members. To date, considering the two symposia recommended for approval during the next calendar year, the initiative will have supported 18 courses/symposia in five Latin American countries including six courses in Argentina, four in Brazil, six in Mexico and one each in Venezuela and Guatemala.

The "Latin American Initiative" has grown to become an important source for the support of courses and symposia in the Americas. This is reflected by the number and quality of the applications supported. The challenge for the future consists on expanding the Initiative for supporting fellowships for Latin American graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and young investigators for attending the annual Experimental Biology meeting that is held in the US.

During 2004 the APS funded the following courses/symposia under the "Latin American Initiative":

"Nitric Oxide and Oxygen Free Radicals in the Regulation of Cell Physiology, XII Meeting, International Society for Free Radical Research." Organized by Alberto Boveris (Univ. of Buenos Aires, Argentina), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"Plasticity and Regeneration of the Nervous System; From Neuron to Brain." Organized by Elaine Aparecida Del Bel (University of Sao Paulo, Brazil), held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"Central Neural Control of the Circulation." Organized by Benedito H. Machado (Univ. of Sao Paulo, Brazil), held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"Heart Failure 2004: An Integrated Basic and Clinical Approach, Satellite to World Congress of International Society for Heart Research."  Organized by Alicia Mattiazzi (Univ. of La Plata, Argentina), held in Iguazu Falls, Argentina-Brazil. 

Hector Rasgado-Flores, Chair

Council Actions

• Council accepted the report of the International Physiology Committee.

• Council approved the necessary funding to support the two Committee-approved applications for the "Latin American Initiative" for 2005.

• Council approved the request that $10,000 be used to support 10 fellowships ($1,000/each) for Latin American students and/or young investigators to attend the 2005 IUPS Congress.