Dr Osvaldo Isaias Contreras Saavedra
Conjoint Lecturer

Dr Osvaldo Isaias Contreras Saavedra

PhD in Biological Sciences, m/ Cell and Molecular Biology                                                   01/03/14–16/05/19

Thesis: “Role of mesenchymal fibro/adipogenic progenitors in homeostasis and disease: from signaling to fibrosis.”

Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular and Center for Aging and Regeneration (CARE-ChileUC)

Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Supervisor: Professor Enrique Brandan; Co-supervisor: Professor Fabio Rossi, University of British Columbia, Canada

 

Master in Biological Sciences, m/ Cell and Molecular Biology                                                           01/03/14–20/08/15

Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular and Center for Aging and Regeneration (CARE-ChileUC)

Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Supervisor: Dr Enrique Brandan

 

Bachelor of Biological Sciences                                                                                                      01/03/08–30/08/12

Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Medicine & Health
St Vincent's Clinical School

I’m a Chilean Post-doctoral Scientist working on cell-based strategies for improving our understanding of heart development and regeneration under the supervision of Dr. Richard Harvey at The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia. I completed my undergraduate research under Dr. Juan Larrain studying the developmental role of the Wnt-PCP pathway and Syndecan-4 in neural tube closure in 2013. Then, I concluded my Ph.D. working on tissue-resident fibro-adipogenic progenitor fate, plasticity, and heterogeneity in muscle and heart regeneration/repair in Dr. Enrique Brandan’s Lab with the co-supervision of Dr. Fabio Rossi at the University of British Columbia in 2019. I’ve been focused on comprehending myopathies and myogenic fate determination and differentiation in the context of fibrosis. My career goal is to advance our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating cellular plasticity, heterogeneity, and behavior. I point to a future where we will be able to translate that knowledge into efficient medical applications.
E-mail
o.contreras@victorchang.edu.au
Location
Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Lowy Packer Building, 405 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

Publications

  • Journal articles | 2021
    Contreras O; Córdova-Casanova A; Brandan E, 2021, 'PDGF-PDGFR network differentially regulates the fate, migration, proliferation, and cell cycle progression of myogenic cells', Cellular Signalling, vol. 84, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110036
    Journal articles | 2021
    Theret M; Rossi FMV; Contreras O, 2021, 'Evolving Roles of Muscle-Resident Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors in Health, Regeneration, Neuromuscular Disorders, and Aging', Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.673404
    Journal articles | 2021
    Theret M; Low M; Rempel L; Li FF; Tung LW; Contreras O; Chang CK; Wu A; Soliman H; Rossi FMV, 2021, 'In vitro assessment of anti-fibrotic drug activity does not predict in vivo efficacy in murine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy', Life Sciences, vol. 279, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119482
    Journal articles | 2021
    Contreras O; Rossi FMV; Theret M, 2021, 'Origins, potency, and heterogeneity of skeletal muscle fibro-adipogenic progenitors—time for new definitions', Skeletal Muscle, vol. 11, pp. 16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13395-021-00265-6
    Journal articles | 2021
    Theret M; Low M; Rempel L; Li FF; Tung LW; Contreras O; Chang C-K; Wu A; Soliman H; Rossi FMV, 2021, 'Targeting fibrosis in the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy mice model: an uphill battle', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.20.427485
    Journal articles | 2020
    Contreras O; Soliman H; Theret M; Rossi FMV; Brandan E, 2020, 'TGF-β-driven downregulation of the transcription factor TCF7L2 affects Wnt/β-catenin signaling in PDGFRα+ fibroblasts', Journal of cell science, vol. 133, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.242297
    Journal articles | 2020
    Riquelme-Guzmán C; Contreras O, 2020, 'Single-cell revolution unveils the mysteries of the regenerative mammalian digit tip', Developmental Biology, vol. 461, pp. 107 - 109, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.02.002
    Journal articles | 2020
    Contreras O, 2020, 'Hic1 deletion unleashes quiescent connective tissue stem cells and impairs skeletal muscle regeneration', Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, vol. 14, pp. 131 - 133, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12079-019-00545-3
    Journal articles | 2020
    Contreras O; Soliman H; Theret M; Rossi FMV; Brandan E, 2020, 'TGF-β-driven downregulation of the Wnt/β-Catenin transcription factor TCF7L2/TCF4 in PDGFRα+ fibroblasts', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.05.895334
    Journal articles | 2019
    Rebolledo DL; González D; Faundez-Contreras J; Contreras O; Vio CP; Murphy-Ullrich JE; Lipson KE; Brandan E, 2019, 'Denervation-induced skeletal muscle fibrosis is mediated by CTGF/CCN2 independently of TGF-β', Matrix Biology, vol. 82, pp. 20 - 37, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matbio.2019.01.002
    Journal articles | 2019
    Contreras O; Cruz-Soca M; Theret M; Soliman H; Tung LW; Groppa E; Rossi FM; Brandan E, 2019, 'Cross-talk between TGF-β and PDGFRα signaling pathways regulates the fate of stromal fibro-adipogenic progenitors', Journal of cell science, vol. 132, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.232157
    Journal articles | 2019
    Contreras O; Rossi FM; Brandan E, 2019, 'Adherent muscle connective tissue fibroblasts are phenotypically and biochemically equivalent to stromal fibro/adipogenic progenitors', Matrix Biology Plus, vol. 2, pp. 100006, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mbplus.2019.04.003
    Journal articles | 2019
    Contreras O, 2019, 'First person – Osvaldo Contreras', Journal of Cell Science, vol. 132, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/JCS.238485
    Journal articles | 2018
    Riquelme-Guzmán C; Contreras O; Brandan E, 2018, 'Expression of CTGF/CCN2 in response to LPA is stimulated by fibrotic extracellular matrix via the integrin/FAK axis', American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, vol. 314, pp. C415 - C427, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00013.2017
    Journal articles | 2018
    Contreras O; Villarreal M; Brandan E, 2018, 'Nilotinib impairs skeletal myogenesis by increasing myoblast proliferation', Skeletal Muscle, vol. 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13395-018-0150-5
    Journal articles | 2017
    Gonzalez D; Contreras O; Rebolledo DL; Espinoza JP; Van Zundert B; Brandan E, 2017, 'ALS skeletal muscle shows enhanced TGF-β signaling, fibrosis and induction of fibro/adipogenic progenitor markers', PLoS ONE, vol. 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177649
    Journal articles | 2017
    Contreras O; Brandan E, 2017, 'Fibro/adipogenic progenitors safeguard themselves: a novel mechanism to reduce fibrosis is discovered', Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, vol. 11, pp. 77 - 78, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12079-016-0372-4
    Journal articles | 2016
    Contreras O; Rebolledo DL; Oyarzún JE; Olguín HC; Brandan E, 2016, 'Connective tissue cells expressing fibro/adipogenic progenitor markers increase under chronic damage: relevance in fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation and skeletal muscle fibrosis', Cell and Tissue Research, vol. 364, pp. 647 - 660, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00441-015-2343-0
    Journal articles | 2015
    Gutiérrez J; Droppelmann CA; Contreras O; Takahashi C; Brandan E, 2015, 'RECK-mediated β1-integrin regulation by TGF-β1 is critical for wound contraction in mice', PLoS ONE, vol. 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135005
    Journal articles | 2015
    Cofre C; Acuña MJ; Contreras O; Morales MG; Riquelme C; Cabello-Verrugio C; Brandan E, 2015, 'Transforming growth factor type-β inhibits Mas receptor expression in fibroblasts but not in myoblasts or differentiated myotubes; Relevance to fibrosis associated to muscular dystrophies', BioFactors, vol. 41, pp. 111 - 120, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biof.1208
    Journal articles | 2015
    Cofre C; José Acuña M; Contreras O; Gabriela Morales M; Riquelme C; Bader M; Santos R; Cabello-Verrugio C; Brandan E, 2015, 'Erratum for: Transforming growth factor type-β inhibits Mas receptor expression in fibroblasts but not in myoblasts or differentiated myotubes; Relevance to fibrosis associated to muscular dystrophies [BioFactors, 2015 March/April; 42(2); 111-120, doi: 10.1002/biof.1208]', BioFactors, vol. 41, pp. 209 - 209, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biof.1220
    Journal articles | 2013
    Escobedo N; Contreras O; Muñoz R; Farías M; Carrasco H; Hill C; Tran U; Pryor SE; Wessely O; Copp AJ; Larraín J, 2013, 'Syndecan 4 interacts genetically with Vangl2 to regulate neural tube closure and planar cell polarity', Development (Cambridge), vol. 140, pp. 3008 - 3017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/dev.091173
    Journal articles | 2011
    Escobedo N; Farias M; Carrasco H; Contreras O; Tran U; Wessely O; Copp A; Larrain J, 2011, 'Role of Syndecan-4 in mouse development', DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, vol. 356, pp. 176 - 177, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.05.654
  • Journal articles | 2021
    Theret M; Low M; Rempel L; Li FF; Tung LW; Contreras O; Chang CK; Wu A; Soliman H; Rossi FMV, 2021, 'In vitro assessment of anti-fibrotic drug activity does not predict in vivo efficacy in murine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy', Life Sciences, vol. 279, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119482
    Journal articles | 2021
    Contreras O; Córdova-Casanova A; Brandan E, 2021, 'PDGF-PDGFR network differentially regulates the fate, migration, proliferation, and cell cycle progression of myogenic cells', Cellular Signalling, vol. 84, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110036
    Journal articles | 2021
    Theret M; Rossi FMV; Contreras O, 2021, 'Evolving Roles of Muscle-Resident Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors in Health, Regeneration, Neuromuscular Disorders, and Aging', Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.673404
    Journal articles | 2021
    Janbandhu V; Tallapragada V; Patrick R; Li Y; Abeygunawardena D; Humphreys DT; Martin EMMA; Ward AO; Contreras O; Farbehi N; Yao E; Du J; Dunwoodie SL; Bursac N; Harvey RP, 2021, 'Hif-1a suppresses ROS-induced proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts following myocardial infarction.', Cell Stem Cell, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.10.009
    Journal articles | 2021
    Theret M; Low M; Rempel L; Li FF; Tung LW; Contreras O; Chang C-K; Wu A; Soliman H; Rossi FMV, 2021, 'Targeting fibrosis in the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy mice model: an uphill battle', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.20.427485
    Journal articles | 2021
    Contreras O; Rossi FMV; Theret M, 2021, 'Origins, potency, and heterogeneity of skeletal muscle fibro-adipogenic progenitors—time for new definitions', Skeletal Muscle, vol. 11, pp. 16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13395-021-00265-6
    Journal articles | 2020
    Riquelme-Guzmán C; Contreras O, 2020, 'Single-cell revolution unveils the mysteries of the regenerative mammalian digit tip', Developmental Biology, vol. 461, pp. 107 - 109, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.02.002
    Journal articles | 2020
    Contreras O, 2020, 'Hic1 deletion unleashes quiescent connective tissue stem cells and impairs skeletal muscle regeneration', Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, vol. 14, pp. 131 - 133, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12079-019-00545-3
    Journal articles | 2020
    Contreras O; Soliman H; Theret M; Rossi FMV; Brandan E, 2020, 'TGF-β-driven downregulation of the transcription factor TCF7L2 affects Wnt/β-catenin signaling in PDGFRα+ fibroblasts', Journal of cell science, vol. 133, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.242297
    Journal articles | 2020
    Contreras O; Soliman H; Theret M; Rossi FMV; Brandan E, 2020, 'TGF-β-driven downregulation of the Wnt/β-Catenin transcription factor TCF7L2/TCF4 in PDGFRα+ fibroblasts', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.01.05.895334
    Journal articles | 2019
    Contreras O; Cruz-Soca M; Theret M; Soliman H; Tung LW; Groppa E; Rossi FM; Brandan E, 2019, 'Cross-talk between TGF-β and PDGFRα signaling pathways regulates the fate of stromal fibro-adipogenic progenitors', Journal of cell science, vol. 132, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jcs.232157
    Journal articles | 2019
    Contreras O; Rossi FM; Brandan E, 2019, 'Adherent muscle connective tissue fibroblasts are phenotypically and biochemically equivalent to stromal fibro/adipogenic progenitors', Matrix Biology Plus, vol. 2, pp. 100006, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mbplus.2019.04.003
    Journal articles | 2019
    Rebolledo DL; González D; Faundez-Contreras J; Contreras O; Vio CP; Murphy-Ullrich JE; Lipson KE; Brandan E, 2019, 'Denervation-induced skeletal muscle fibrosis is mediated by CTGF/CCN2 independently of TGF-β', Matrix Biology, vol. 82, pp. 20 - 37, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matbio.2019.01.002
    Journal articles | 2019
    Contreras O, 2019, 'First person – Osvaldo Contreras', Journal of Cell Science, vol. 132, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/JCS.238485
    Journal articles | 2018
    Riquelme-Guzmán C; Contreras O; Brandan E, 2018, 'Expression of CTGF/CCN2 in response to LPA is stimulated by fibrotic extracellular matrix via the integrin/FAK axis', American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, vol. 314, pp. C415 - C427, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00013.2017
    Journal articles | 2018
    Contreras O; Villarreal M; Brandan E, 2018, 'Nilotinib impairs skeletal myogenesis by increasing myoblast proliferation', Skeletal Muscle, vol. 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13395-018-0150-5
    Journal articles | 2017
    Gonzalez D; Contreras O; Rebolledo DL; Espinoza JP; Van Zundert B; Brandan E, 2017, 'ALS skeletal muscle shows enhanced TGF-β signaling, fibrosis and induction of fibro/adipogenic progenitor markers', PLoS ONE, vol. 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177649
    Journal articles | 2017
    Contreras O; Brandan E, 2017, 'Fibro/adipogenic progenitors safeguard themselves: a novel mechanism to reduce fibrosis is discovered', Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling, vol. 11, pp. 77 - 78, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12079-016-0372-4
    Journal articles | 2016
    Contreras O; Rebolledo DL; Oyarzún JE; Olguín HC; Brandan E, 2016, 'Connective tissue cells expressing fibro/adipogenic progenitor markers increase under chronic damage: relevance in fibroblast-myofibroblast differentiation and skeletal muscle fibrosis', Cell and Tissue Research, vol. 364, pp. 647 - 660, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00441-015-2343-0
    Journal articles | 2015
    Gutiérrez J; Droppelmann CA; Contreras O; Takahashi C; Brandan E, 2015, 'RECK-mediated β1-integrin regulation by TGF-β1 is critical for wound contraction in mice', PLoS ONE, vol. 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135005
    Journal articles | 2015
    Cofre C; Acuña MJ; Contreras O; Morales MG; Riquelme C; Cabello-Verrugio C; Brandan E, 2015, 'Transforming growth factor type-β inhibits Mas receptor expression in fibroblasts but not in myoblasts or differentiated myotubes; Relevance to fibrosis associated to muscular dystrophies', BioFactors, vol. 41, pp. 111 - 120, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biof.1208
    Journal articles | 2015
    Cofre C; José Acuña M; Contreras O; Gabriela Morales M; Riquelme C; Bader M; Santos R; Cabello-Verrugio C; Brandan E, 2015, 'Erratum for: Transforming growth factor type-β inhibits Mas receptor expression in fibroblasts but not in myoblasts or differentiated myotubes; Relevance to fibrosis associated to muscular dystrophies [BioFactors, 2015 March/April; 42(2); 111-120, doi: 10.1002/biof.1208]', BioFactors, vol. 41, pp. 209 - 209, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biof.1220
    Journal articles | 2013
    Escobedo N; Contreras O; Muñoz R; Farías M; Carrasco H; Hill C; Tran U; Pryor SE; Wessely O; Copp AJ; Larraín J, 2013, 'Syndecan 4 interacts genetically with Vangl2 to regulate neural tube closure and planar cell polarity', Development (Cambridge), vol. 140, pp. 3008 - 3017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/dev.091173
    Journal articles | 2011
    Escobedo N; Farias M; Carrasco H; Contreras O; Tran U; Wessely O; Copp A; Larrain J, 2011, 'Role of Syndecan-4 in mouse development', DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, vol. 356, pp. 176 - 177, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.05.654

Awards

Honors and Awards

 

The FEBS Journal Poster of the Day Award, 45th FEBS Virtual Congress, Ljubljana                                          July 2021

PDGF-PDGFR network modulates myogenic progenitor fate, migration, and proliferation

 

IUBMB MilliporeSigma Virtual Meeting Fellowship, Fellowship to attend 45th FEBS Virtual Congress                 Mar. 2021

International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB)

 

Conjoint Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia          18/01/21 - Present

 

People’s Choice Award-Art of the Heart, IMAGINE: 3D reconstruction of hiPSC derived cardiomyocytes     16/12/20

The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute

 

Pan Pacific Connective Tissue Societies Symposium Conference Attendance Award                                            16/10/20

Matrix Biology & Matrix Biology Plus Journals

 

Doctoral Prize “Excellence of Doctoral Thesis 2019”, for the best Ph.D. thesis in Biology and Health Sciences          15/01/20

Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

 

National Doctoral Fellowship, Beca de Doctorado Nacional Folio 21140378                                        01/03/14–30/08/18

Comisión Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONICYT), Chile

 

Hermann Niemeyer Medal, for the best Ph.D. Student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology                               Sep. 2016

Chilean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

 

Best Image in Cell Biology, First Prize                                                                                                         Oct. 2014

Chilean Society for Cell Biology (SBCCh)

 

Excellence Award for Doctoral Studies UC, Best Ph.D. Student                                                            01/03/14–30/08/18

Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

 

Award for Academic Excellence, awarded to the best entry student into the Doctorate degree                                  01/03/14

Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

 

Undergraduate Student Excellence Fellowship of Honor, Best Undergraduate Student                             01/03/10–31/12/10

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Grants

Media