Physiology in Central and South America and hope for better times

Physiology is a field of scientific knowledge that is essential for understanding how the body's systems, tissues and cells adapt or maladapt to environmental stress. Advances in physiology have been crucial for understanding how the human body maintains homeostasis and how it responds to various stressors, which is critical for medicine, biology and health sciences. The study of physiology as a basic science has contributed to developing the knowledge-based therapies for treating various diseases, including chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory diseases and cancer. NCDs are responsible for ∼74% of all global deaths, and ∼77% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2022). Interestingly, there has been a noticeable change in how NCDs are studied. Research on NCDs is focused mainly on individual factors, but there has been a shift towards using multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. Fortunately, this shift is strengthening the idea that NCDs could come closer to the concept of transgenerational disease (TGD) transmission, suggesting that there may be connections between NCDs and the transmission of diseases across generations. TGDs include metabolic alterations such as obesity, hypertension and metabolic diseases. These examples can potentially be observed in the F3 generation of a woman who was exposed to adverse environmental conditions during pregnancy or even before she became pregnant (Cornejo et al., 2021). The programming of adult diseases, as originally proposed by Professor David J. P. Barker (Barker et al., 2002), and further developed in collaboration with Professor Mark Hanson and Professor Sir Peter Gluckman (Gluckman & Hanson, 2004), and several other physiologists and epidemiologists, is today considered a public health problem that remains difficult to understand. What is definitively clearer is that implementing high-level policies to promote a healthy lifestyle for both the mother and father before pregnancy is of high priority. Obesity, as an example of a TGD, remains a pandemic but has not yet been definitively identified as a disease (Luli et al., 2023). Obesity results from the interplay of behavioural, environmental and genetic factors. Additionally, molecular mechanisms, such as epigenetic changes, which appear to be programmed during intrauterine life (Tysoe, 2023), are well defined as factors involved in the aetiology of this abnormal metabolic condition with consequences for human health. The prevalence of obesity in adults aged 18 years or older in the Americas varies from ∼15% to 42% (Herrera-Cuenca et al., 2021). Unfortunately, the prevalence of obesity has been increasing over the last few decades. However, a positive aspect of this challenge is that the number of studies in basic science and clinical research on obesity has increased by around 3.5-fold in the last two decades, with the first studies dating back to the mid-20th century (Barborka, 1947) (PubMed search: ‘obesity AND human AND title’). It is evident that there is a growing global effort to uncover the mechanisms that may explain the increasing prevalence of this metabolic condition and other types of TGDs, such as studies addressing diabetes mellitus. A total of 4970 and 1038 articles were published in medical physiology in the USA and Canada, respectively, in 2022, with an average of 1.18 citations per article in the USA and 1.43 citations per article in Canada [source: Scimago Journal & Country Rank, 2022 for classifications as Medicine/Physiology (medicine)/Latin America/2022]. The absolute number of publications from the USA and Canada is 10–50 times higher than those from countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Chile or Argentina. Interestingly, the number of citations per article ranges from 0.9 in Brazil to 1.76 in Chile, with 1.26 in Mexico and 1.74 in Argentina, for the works generated by researchers from these Latin American (LA) countries. It is apparent that concerning the quality and impact of productivity in physiology or medical physiology, LA researchers are highly competitive with their North American colleagues. It is noticeable that there is a general perception in LA that researchers from the region are at a disadvantage compared to developed countries in the Americas and other continents. These feelings or perceptions hold true, considering that there are well-known similarities and differences in physiology research between LA and North American and other developed countries. Similarities include that the fundamental principles of physiology are consistent across the Americas, where the study of physiological processes in living organisms is governed by universal biological principles. Additionally, in both Central/South America and North America, there are prestigious universities, research institutes and academic programmes dedicated to the frontiers of physiology, offering educational opportunities in the field. Among the potential differences that LA researchers may face is the availability of resources. North American researchers typically have more abundant resources, funding and state-of-the-art facilities for research and education in physiology. This often leads to more extensive and advanced research projects and educational programmes. Another aspect is that North American institutions and researchers in physiology generally have more international recognition, which can attract global talent and collaborations more effectively than Central/South America countries. Additionally, researchers from Central/South America have less access to renowned scientific journals and publications, which limits their efforts to disseminate their work. Interestingly, in Central and South America, physiology research has traditionally concentrated on regional or local challenges, addressing specific health issues and environmental conditions relevant to the region. However, contemporary research from the region appears to be more open to broader aspects, possibly out of necessity to compete with other regions in the Americas and across continents. Some initiatives aimed at alleviating this apparent imbalance between physiology and medical physiology in Central/South America and North America involve the participation of physiologists through their local societies of physiology or related fields such as medicine, cell biology, biochemistry and molecular biology. In 2019, 11 LA countries joined to re-establish the Latin American Association of Physiological Sciences (ALACF), comprising researchers from these countries with ∼2500 physiologist members. Since then, ALACF fellows have been meeting annually, rotating between different member countries, including Chile (2020), Argentina (2021) and Mexico (2022), with Chile hosting again in November 2023. ALACF has provided a platform to showcase physiology research conducted in the region, creating opportunities for young researchers from LA and the Caribbean (LAC) to engage with established groups and colleagues, primarily in North America, Europe and Australia/New Zealand (NZ). Specific actions include offering PhD fellowships, postdoctoral training, and establishing effective memorandums of understanding between universities and institutes in LAC countries and counterparts in other continents. Another action that supports establishing opportunities for LAC researchers is the organization of the Pan-American (PANAM) Physiological Sciences conferences. PANAM Physiology was first held in Brazil in 2014, followed by Cuba in 2019, and this year it was carried out in Chile (PANAM Physiological Sciences 2023). PANAM Physiological Sciences has evolved into one of the 10 major physiology gatherings in the Americas and was included in the ‘Year of Physiology’ calendar launched by the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS). This conference has drawn the attention of major countries in the Americas, and delegations from Europe, Australia/NZ and Asia. PANAM in Chile 2023 was set to be conducted entirely in person. This approach is expected to enhance networking, providing more opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals, experts and potential collaborators. Early-career and established physiologists alike engaged in active face-to-face interactions to more effectively build relationships and convey complex ideas by engaging with panellists. The programme also included several hands-on workshops and demonstrations that resulted in an immersive and interactive learning experience. Hosting major physiology conferences in the region will undoubtedly result in unexpected opportunities and personal and professional development, ultimately improving leadership and career prospects. The above-mentioned potential collaboration has been growing over the last few decades, making it easier for Central/South American researchers to work with their counterparts in Europe, Australia/NZ and Asia. These initiatives will collectively strengthen the possibilities for significant growth in opportunities for future generations of physiologists from Central/South America. The pursuit of knowledge and development strategies in academia, as well as in politics and the economy, to support equal opportunities for all, is a crucial goal of the International Science Council (ISC) globally, and specifically for the ISC Regional Focal Point for LAC (ISC RFP-LAC). ISC, as a consulting body of the United Nations, significantly impacts policy-makers within local governments in the LAC region. Additionally, the diplomatic corps plays a crucial role in facilitating the identification and structuring of options for interaction and cooperation among LAC countries. An example of these diplomatic efforts and ISC's support for the LAC region in the fields of science and education is the upcoming ISC Global Knowledge Discussion for LAC in 2024, and the ‘1st Diplomatic Forum of LAC Ambassadors in Chile on Knowledge as a Sustainable Tool for Development and Health,’ scheduled to be held in Chile in April 2024. These activities are being co-organised by the Embassy of Honduras in Chile, the Chilean Academy of Sciences and the ISC RFP-LAC. Creating opportunities to support equity and equality is essential in this process, which will result in mutual benefits and progress in the field of physiology and related areas for the well-being of humanity. In my role as the Regional Editor for Central and South America for The Journal of Physiology (JP), a goal shared with the entire Editorial Board of the journal is a commitment to strengthen the promotion of diversity and inclusivity for publications from this region in JP. Having a dedicated Regional Editor will better serve the specific needs and perspectives of authors from Central and South America. We anticipate a higher visibility of researchers from this region and increased submissions to JP. We eagerly look forward to collaborating with researchers, institutions and professionals from the region, hoping to make JP an even more inclusive and globally representative platform for ground-breaking research from Central and South America. I am excited to embark on this transformative journey in the realm of physiology and related areas of research and beyond. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article. None declared. L.S.: Conception or design of the work; Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; Final approval of the version to be published; Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work. None. This editorial resulted from a gracious invitation by Professor Kim E. Barrett, the Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Physiology.

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