DDS, PhD in Medical Sciences
I study how circadian and metabolic disruption shape oral and systemic health, and build the software that makes this research and teaching reproducible.
Upcoming: Director, Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology (2027)
I'm a clinician-scientist working at the intersection of chronobiology, metabolic physiology, and systemic health. For over a decade I've studied how circadian disruption during pregnancy (chronodisruption) programs metabolic and cardiovascular disease in the offspring, and how maternal melatonin can prevent it in animal models. This work has been published in journals such as The Journal of Physiology, Journal of Pineal Research, and Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Trained as a dentist and now Head of the Department of Dentistry, I connect oral and systemic health through the perio-systemic axis, the biological link between periodontal disease, obesity, and adipose-tissue inflammation.
In parallel, I build and deploy the software that supports this work, from automated assessment tools and reproducible-research platforms to the Linux infrastructure that runs them, bringing engineering rigor to academic and clinical workflows.
My work follows three connected lines, from the lab bench to the clinic.
My main line, and my FONDECYT project as principal investigator: how disrupted light–dark cycles during pregnancy program metabolic, endocrine and cardiovascular disease in the offspring, and whether maternal melatonin prevents it in rat models.
How periodontitis and obesity feed each other through adipose-tissue inflammation, studied from clinical populations to the lab, including the effect of periodontitis-derived exosomes on adipose tissue.
Risk-factor modelling, randomised trials and the methodological quality of dental research. This is the foundation of the Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology I will direct from 2027.
I build the tools my teaching and research need, and ship them when they are useful to others.
Active-learning platform for the Preventive Dentistry and Epidemiology course (ESOD 150). It computes a deterministic vocational profile and streams AI-generated feedback (Gemini, Claude), built as an open, reproducible educational-research study with informed consent.
Web system that replaced paper vouchers in the sterilization center of the UACh dental clinic. I directed the project and built the MVP, deployed on a local headless Linux server for security and institutional availability.
From 2027 I will direct the Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology. I built an AI-assisted learning platform for the Preventive Dentistry and Epidemiology course, and directed the Honors Program in Medical Research (2020–2023). In the last five years I have supervised 12 theses in dentistry, medical technology, science and business administration, including a master's thesis at Universidad de los Andes.
Director, Institute of Odontostomatology (Head of the Department of Dentistry), 2024–present and 2019–2020. CNA accreditation self-evaluation committee, 2021–present. Dental School Council, 2021–2025.
Review Editor, Frontiers in Oral Health (2020–present). Reviewer of grants and scholarships for ANID's Medical Sciences panel (2018–present). Reviewer for BMC Oral Health, Frontiers in Endocrinology and BMJ Case Reports.
Sleep Science Prize for the best presentation, XV Latin American Symposium on Chronobiology (Brazilian Sleep Society, 2019).
Circadian rhythm mismatch: impact on nutritional health and obesity
XXIV SOCHINUT Nutrition Congress, Concepción, 2024
Healthy lifestyle beyond diet and exercise: impact of circadian rhythms
XXXIV Chilean Congress of Endocrinology and Diabetes (SOCHED), Viña del Mar, 2023
Perio-systemic link: periodontitis and obesity
Periodontal and Regenerative Medicine Symposium, Chilean Society of Periodontology (SPCh), Santiago, 2023
Chronodisruption and future consequences in the fetus
Chilean Society of Sleep Medicine (SOCHIMES), Santiago, 2021
Juárez-Membreño A, Céspedes-Barrientos MJ, Aros-Muñoz Y, Halabi D
Revista Odontológica Mexicana
Soto M, Poblete MT, Ehrenfeld P, Halabi D
Cancer Investigation
Mendez N, Corvalan F, Halabi D, Vasquez A, Vergara K, Noriega H, Ehrenfeld P, Sanhueza K, Seron-Ferre M, Valenzuela GJ, Torres-Farfan C
Journal of Pineal Research
Maher A, Munoz DN, Pavicic MF, Gonzalez M, Ehrenfeld P, Halabi D, Munoz-Kramm A, Munoz H
International Journal of Morphology
Mendez N, Corvalan F, Halabi D, Ehrenfeld P, Maldonado R, Vergara K, Seron-Ferre M, Torres-Farfan C
Journal of Pineal Research
Bernal-Rivas C, Llamunao-Tropa A, Reyes-Barria A, Halabi D, Pavicic F, Ehrenfeld P, Martinez-Huenchullan S
Nutrición Hospitalaria
Mendez N, Halabi D, Salazar-Petres ER, Vergara K, Corvalan F, Richter HG, Bastidas C, Bascur P, Ehrenfeld P, Seron-Ferre M, Torres-Farfan C
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Richter HG, Mendez N, Halabi D, Torres-Farfan C, Spichiger C
Chronobiology International
Halabi D, Richter HG, Mendez N, Kahne T, Spichiger C, Salazar E, Torres F, Vergara K, Seron-Ferre M, Torres-Farfan C
Frontiers in Endocrinology
Halabi D, Ehrenfeld P, Mendez N, Richter HG, Torres-Farfan C
Sleep Science
Mendez N, Torres-Farfan C, Salazar E, Bascur P, Bastidas C, Vergara K, Spichiger C, Halabi D, Vio CP, Richter HG
Frontiers in Endocrinology
Silva ME, Lange S, Hinrichsen B, Philp AR, Reyes CR, Halabi D, Mansilla JB, Rotheneichner P, de la Fuente AG, Couillard-Despres S, Batiz LF, Franklin RJM, Aigner L, Rivera FJ
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Rivera FJ, Silva ME, Lange S, Hinrichsen B, Philp AR, Reyes CR, Halabi D, Mansilla J, Rotheneichner P, de la Fuente AG, Couillard-Despres S, Batiz LF, Franklin RJ, Aigner L
Glia
Ruiz Chaura C, Ulloa Riffo N, Halabi D, Muñoz Martínez HD
Odontoestomatología
Halabi D, Escobar J, Alvarado C, Martinez N, Munoz C
Journal of Applied Oral Science
Segura C, Halabi D, Navarro N
Journal of Dental Education
Salazar ER, Richter HG, Spichiger C, Mendez N, Halabi D, Vergara K, Alonso IP, Corvalan FA, Azpeleta C, Seron-Ferre M, Torres-Farfan C
The Journal of Physiology
Torres-Farfan C, Mendez N, Halabi D, Spichiger C, Salazar ER, Vergara K, Richter HG
Placenta
Halabi D
ISRCTN Registry (trial registration)
Mendez N, Halabi D, Spichiger C, Salazar ER, Vergara K, Alonso-Vasquez P, Carmona P, Sarmiento JM, Richter HG, Seron-Ferre M, Torres-Farfan C
Endocrinology
Villa J, Meier R, Ruiz P, Halabi D
Journal of Oral Research
Miranda S, Gayoso C, Ruiz P, Halabi D
Journal of Oral Research
Juarez I, Hernández M, Letelier C, Halabi D, Araneda C
Journal of Oral Research
Halabi D, Escobar J, Muñoz C, Uribe S
Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Associate Investigator
Universidad Austral de Chile (VIDCA)
Principal Investigator
ANID (formerly CONICYT)
Postdoctoral Researcher
ANID (formerly CONICYT)
