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Jorge Guerrero sits in his office at Merial in New Jersey and talks about
his retirement plans, there is an air of youthful enthusiasm. "I
am so fortunate. I will have a new opportunity to share my experiences
with students after I retire. I look forward to teaching again. I enjoy
the stimulation and challenge that students bring," says Guerrero.
Guerrero, a native of Peru, received his DVM degree
from San Marcos University in Lima, the oldest university in the Americas
(established in 1551). "While I was in
Veterinary School, I took a course in parasitology and enjoyed it. That
summer, I went with a team into the Andes Mountains to study sheep
parasites. They left me there to finish the study. My pay was a new pair
of rubber boots." That summer helped shape a career devoted to
understanding parasites and mechanisms for their control.
"Parasites have such a tremendous survival
capacity." Despite control techniques and chemotherapy, parasites
continue to thrive. Their complex life cycles and sophisticated mechanisms
continue to intrigue Guerrero, especially those of the nematodes.
"The more I learn about them, the more I admire them."
Guerrero’s education continued at the University
of Illinois. "I didn’t choose Illinois, it was selected for me by
Fullbright, but their choice changed my life." With that travel
scholarship, he started work on his MS degree.
While at Illinois Guerrero worked with two renowned
parasitologists—Paul Silverman, professor of zoology, and Norman Levine,
professor of veterinary medicine. "When I
came to the US, I didn’t know much about the PhD degree. But after I
started working on my Master’s I grew confident and was encouraged to
continue my studies. Illinois was very generous and gave me an
assistantship to allow me to complete my PhD in 1971. I am very grateful
to Illinois for that opportunity."
Guerrero returned to Peru with a new PhD degree and
a new wife. "My wife Mary Anne is my true treasure from
Illinois." For a year, they lived in Peru but the political situation
was very unstable. Guerrero then accepted an invitation to join the
faculty of Escola Paulista de Medicina in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
While in Brazil, he joined Johnson & Johnson,
who brought him back to the US in 1976. In 1984, Guerrero was hired by
Merck, in the division that is now Merial. Merial is an animal health
business jointly owned by Merck & Co., Inc., and Aventis S.A.
Guerrero in his career and in the field has held a
num-ber of positions. He has spent time at the lab bench developing
pharmaceuticals, including ivermectin. In the mid-1980s ivermectin helped
revolutionize the treatment of parasites. It is a broad-spectrum
medication that is effective against common intestinal worms, larval
heartworms, most mites, lice, and ticks.
"I have enjoyed working in industry because I
like to see results quickly. And in industry you must always be looking
for practical solutions to problems."
Guerrero’s skills were not limited to helping
develop pharmaceuticals, however. He moved into the general management
area. "Technical services and marketing were very rewarding, because
I could help influence and guide people in the use of products."
In 1993, Guerrero went to Spain, where he directed
all aspects related to running the business in the Iberian region. In
1996, he was transferred back the US where he has been head of veterinary
services for North American operations.
Despite the advances in pharmaceuticals and control
techniques, parasites are still the major problem in animal production and
in companion animals. Guerrero sees the development of designer vaccines
as the next revolution in parasite control.
"With advances in understanding the genomic
sequences of parasites, it may be possible to develop tailor-made control
for parasite species." Guerrero notes that Silverman proposed doing
this in the late 1960s; how-ever, it was not technically feasible at that
time.
Development of new pharmaceuticals is a very
expensive and time-consuming process. Merial makes a substantial
investment in research and development and testing before any new drug is
released.
Animal health products are regulated by a number of
federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the US
Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Department of Agriculture.
"All the pharmaceuticals and vaccines developed today must be safe,
effective, and environmentally friendly."
"Of course, in the future it may be possible to
develop, for example, designer chickens that are resistant to Salmonella,
eliminating the need to use antibiotics in the feeds."
Guerrero was recently invited by Silverman to
participate in a conference sponsored by the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences (Western Division) to look at how the biotechnology revolution
will affect us. "This was an experience you only dream of—it was
overwhelming and it was such an honor to be there with my mentor."
Which brings us full circle to Guerrero’s
retirement plans. "For the first five months after I retire, I plan
to go back to Peru to teach on a Fullbright grant. It will allow me to
continue my career where I started."
After a recent brush with colon cancer, Guerrero
comments that "I am a survivor—like my parasites." And we wish
him well in this new stage of his "life cycle" as he shares his
enthusiasm for science with a new generation of students.
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