PhD in Social Psychology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) where she has a teaching appointment. Former Director General of the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (INPRFM) (2008-2018) a WHO collaborating Center on addictions and mental health, Director General Emeritus (since 2018). Currently coordinates the Research Center on Global Mental Health (UNAM / INPRFM). She has published over 400 journal articles and has edited 20 books and manuals, is a widely-cited researcher (20,398 citations with an Scopus H-index of 46). Member of the Colegio Nacional (National Academy), of the Academies of Medicine and Sciences in Mexico, of the International Consortium of Psychiatric Epidemiology and of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. Member of the WHO panel of experts for the revision of the International Classification of Diseases ICD11 and Chair of the field studies Coordinating Group (2007-2019), co-chair of the Informal Scientific Network UNODC/WHO (since 2018) and member of the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health.