ERC Starting Grant PI researcher, Madrid

Postdoctorat a Espanya, 2019

I hold two BSc degrees (Chemistry, 2010, and Biochemistry, 2015), and a European MSc in Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling, an initiative from > 30 participating institutions from different countries (2013). In 2011, I joined the IQFR-CSIC, obtaining my international PhD in Biophysics in 2015. During this period, I was trained in protein NMR and biophysical techniques, and merged this expertise with my interests in computational approaches to tackle the complex biological question of protein assembly in health and disease. After 3.5 years trained as a postdoc in advanced NMR and computational methods, including theoretical aspects and hardware implementation, solid-state NMR and hyperpolarization techniques, I obtained a Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación grant (2018 Call, ranked 1st in Biosciences and Biotechnology) and a Junior Leader fellowship from la Caixa Foundation, rejoining the IQFR-CSIC as a Junior Principal Investigator. This allowed me to initiate a new research line to study homo- and hetero-amyloids and other protein assembled forms, using a unique, powerful combination of NMR techniques in solution and in the solid-state, combined with hyperpolarization strategies and a myriad of computational approaches that range from quantum mechanical calculations to molecular or spin dynamics simulations to match theory and experiment in the quest for relevant biological answers and new methods. I apply these concepts and methods are applied, for instance, to understand initiation of key immunity signaling pathways through functional amyloids, or pathological protein assembly (e.g. TDP-43) in fatal diseases such as ALS. The combination of biomolecular solution and solid-state NMR within the same research is particularly relevant as it affords deciphering assembling pathways and their fundamental principles by providing high-resolution information of both free and complexed monomers. However, this is not broadly implemented due to the high specialization that the two techniques require. My research aims at strengthening these synergies between methods to create new research opportunities. In 2020, I was awarded a Ramón y Cajal contract (2019 Call, ranked 3rd in Biosciences & Biotechnology). I was recipient of an ERC Starting Grant in the 2021 call, and in 2022 I was awarded the "Enrique Pérez-Payá" from the Spanish Society of Biophysics, and the "Margarita Salas" National Research Award. ​​​