This is me

I am an Associate Professor in Cell Biology at the Pablo de Olavide University (UPO), where I combine teaching and research duties at the Andalusian Centre of Developmental Biology (CABD) and CIBERER (ISCIII). I am interested in mitochondria physiology in health and disease. Specifically, my research has been focused on Coenzyme Q biosynthesis regulation and its integration in the general mitochondrial physiology. I am especially interested in how CoQ biosynthesis is coordinated with the synthesis of the components of the OXPHOS system and how it is integrated into the mitochondria-nucleus crosstalk. Lately, I have been centred on the genotype-phenotype correlation of primary CoQ deficiencies. As an emerging group leader, I have recently opened a new area exploring the implications of the CoQ biosynthesis on mtDNA maintenance and have also launched an innovative line of research on bioenergetics of development using zebrafish animal models to perturb mitochondrial physiology during early development.

I published two first-author manuscripts during my PhD on the transcriptional regulation of CoQ biosynthesis, pioneering an aspect of CoQ biology still not fully explored. After my maternity leave in 2010, I took a break from the university and moved for a postdoc at the Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MBU-MRC) in Cambridge, one of the most prestigious mitochondrial research institutes worldwide. There I joined Dr Holt’s group to study the regulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) homeostasis, funded by a Spanish postdoctoral contract (Ministry of Education) and the highly competitive EU Marie Curie Fellowship. Collaborative work during this period allowed me to contribute to mtDNA maintenance and metabolic homeostasis fields, among others. I also worked with Prof Zeviani on the physiopathology of Coenzyme Q deficiencies. My research period in Cambridge was key in developing my independent research career and very positive in establishing a network with prestigious collaborators that remains active today. In 2015 I published (first author) the first patients affected by pathogenic variations in COQ4, one of the most unknown genes of CoQ synthesis. Our paper is a reference and highly cited in the field. Back in Spain, I joined Prof Navas’ group at CABD as a springboard seeking to build a more personal project. Today I am committed to consolidating as a group leader, creating a new and independent research line on bioenergetics of development. In 2019 I led a work investigating the effect of a novel bypass treatment for CoQ deficiencies, resulting in the idea of establishing an innovative drug screening platform for the disease using zebrafish. That year, we published a massive work collecting all CoQ deficiency patients, proposing clues about the so-needed phenotype-genotype correlations. We created a public database periodically updated, positively impacting the mitochondrial diseases community and the general society since families can also access it. I have co-supervised two PhD Thesis (co-supervising 2 ongoing ones) and have been PI in 6 competitive projects (diverse Funding programs). I currently lead a small group of 4 researchers (2 postdocs, 1 PhD student and 1 Technician and an undergraduate researcher). This demonstrates my leadership abilities and foresees my consolidation as a group leader in the following years.

As a university employee, I have a high commitment to teaching duties. I have extensive experience in diverse subjects, and my teaching is characterised by innovative concern, personal closeness, and excellent students’ surveys results. I am active in creating engaging content. I made a tutorial on the use of micropipettes that has more than 51.000 views up to now. I have supervised 20 undergrad and 3 Master theses. In 2016, I joined as Secretary of the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology at the university, giving me precious management experience.

I am highly active in promoting women in science and work towards a more inclusive academic environment. I am the founder of the highly successful initiative Mitowomen, a continuously growing network of women working in the mitochondrial field (>400 members worldwide, almost 2400 followers on Twitter). Recently, I have been selected to be part of one of the Women and Science Observatory consultant committees (Spanish Science Ministry).