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“Making the most of life’s little things”.
I studied Health Biology at the University of Alcalá because I’ve always been fascinated by how the human body works. I quickly realized that just one small change in a molecule could lead to a disease, and that we can only find cures by researching these processes further. That’s why I decided to focus on biomedical research.
To further specialize, I completed a Master’s in Immunology Research at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), focusing on the body’s response and defense mechanisms against diseases. This led me to work for a year in the lab of Dr. Luis Menchén & Dr. Rafael Bañares (Hepatology and Gastroenterology at Gregorio Marañón Hospital), where I researched the anti-inflammatory role and barrier function of the nuclear receptor PPARgamma in the context of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. It was fascinating to discover that the anti-inflammatory effects in vivo were due to the interaction between macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells, highlighting the critical importance of cell communication and the microenvironment.
Inspired by these findings, I decided to pursue a PhD in Biomedical Research in Dr. Javier Redondo’s lab in the Department of Immunology at UCM and the Biological Research Center (CIBMS-CSIC). My research was focused on how microenvironmental changes (such as 3D mechanical compression, continuous migration stress, and chemokine gradients) influence leukemia dissemination. It was astonishing to find that cells are able to sense changes in the microenvironment and induce nuclear changes related to shape and dynamics that promoted alterations in their biological functions, including migration and proliferation. In this process, epigenetics and the nuclear lamin play an important role, so we focused on these targets to impair leukemia dissemination. In addition, we were surprised to find that cells were able to maintain the changes even in the absence of mechanical stress, indicating a mechanoadaptation of leukemia cells to the microenvironment.
Now, I am ready to take the next step in my research journey by joining María Casanova’s lab, where I will investigate how the tumor microenvironment can affect macrophage cell interactions and alter the immune response in the context of lung cancer.
What I love most about being a scientist is the satisfaction of knowing that I am contributing to improving people’s health, as well as the creative and dynamic nature of the work—no two days in the lab are the same, and you always need to be thinking about the next step. I’m grateful that science has given me the opportunity to live and learn abroad, in the labs of Dr. Chris Toseland (University of Sheffield) and Dr. Roberto SGM (Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam), where I’ve gained invaluable knowledge and met amazing people.
Outside of the lab, my favorite activities include traveling and discovering new places and cultures. I also enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends, whether it’s having a coffee on a terrace or watching a good series.
A summary of the major ideas we are developing in the laboratory. Following the data as we follow myeloid cells, projects are dynamically evolving, so stay tuned for updates in the NEWS section.
