Dr. Emilio Alarcón was born in Santiago, Chile, where he completed his bachelor's, master’s and doctorate degrees, before moving to Ottawa in 2008 to pursue a post-doctoral position at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Alarcón, now a scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, leads research that focuses on developing novel biomaterials to repair heart tissue following cardiac events. In August he was named as one of - an award that recognizes the achievements of immigrants from across the Country.
In addition to his research he is also a passionate advocate for accessibility in science and was the lead of the BHI IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Social Justice) crosscutter from 2023-2025. Throughout his time with the BHI, he led several initiatives to ensure to promote more inclusive and accessible spaces in biomedical research. He also produces a podcast, , that interviews scientists who are making a difference in research, in ways that are accessible for all audiences to understand.
To read the article from the Heart Institute and learn more about Dr. Alarcón’s inspiring research and career journey, please .