iHEALTH Student Wins 2nd Place in “Your Research in 3 Minutes” at UC Engineering

Dabne Barrera, a student in the Master’s in Engineering Sciences, Electrical Engineering at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a member of the iHEALTH Millennium Institute, won second place in the competition “Your Research in 3 Minutes”, organized by the Research and Innovation Directorate of the UC School of Engineering.

The contest, which challenges students to present their research to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, recognized Barrera’s work, supervised by the director of iHEALTH, Dr. Claudia Prieto. Her project aims to make the diagnosis of heart diseases more accessible, particularly in rural areas where access to medical equipment is limited.

Life-saving Technology

The research focuses on adapting an innovative sequence called MUST-T2—normally used in high-field scanners—to operate in low-field magnetic devices, which are more affordable and accessible. This technology allows three-dimensional imaging of the heart in just five minutes, without requiring patients to hold their breath, easing the examination for elderly individuals or those with cardiac or respiratory conditions.

"In Chile, as in many countries with fewer resources, most MRI machines are concentrated in cities, leaving rural areas with very limited access to rapid diagnoses," explains Dabne. "Our research aims to change this, allowing more people to access early diagnoses and prevent critical events such as heart attacks."

Overcoming Personal Barriers

For the student, the recognition represents not only an academic achievement but also a personal milestone. "During my undergraduate studies, public speaking was a constant source of anxiety," she confesses. "Participating in this competition was a challenge that helped me regain confidence and reaffirm that what I share is relevant and useful to others."

Winning second place will allow her to partially fund her attendance at the Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Conference to be held in Brazil next year, an opportunity to further strengthen her knowledge and international collaboration networks.

Commitment to Science Communication

The “Your Research in 3 Minutes” competition evaluates the ability to synthesize, communicate effectively, and present scientific research creatively. Dabne’s participation reflects iHEALTH’s commitment to the comprehensive training of its students, not only in technical aspects of research but also in communication skills that bring science closer to society.

The student will continue developing her research at iHEALTH, contributing to the institute’s efforts to create more accessible and equitable medical technologies for the Chilean healthcare system.