Research Program. Precision Nutrition and Cancer
Molecular Oncology Group
Group leader: Dr. Ana Ramírez de Molina
Objectives: The group is currently focused on two research topics:
- Lipid metabolism alterations in cancer: identifi cation of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in diet-related tumors such as colon or pancreatic cancer.
- Activity and mechanism of action of bioactive compounds as potential effective dietary supplements in cancer prevention and treatment.
We are especially interested in identifying metabolic profi les associated to the disease progression and analyzing their role from in-vitro cell systems to organoids and cancer patients. These analyses are mainly focused on the identifi cation of metabolic pathways and distinctive oncometabolites that may constitute novel markers and targets for the development of future cancer therapies, as well as the genetic basis of the relationship between obesity, associated metabolic disorders and cancer.
We evaluate the activity and molecular mechanism of action of bioactive compounds that may have a therapeutic use in cancer, either alone or in combination with existing chemotherapy. The aim is to establish the scientifi c basis for the development of nut.
Dr. Ana Ramírez de Molina
Deputy Director, Director of the Precision Nutrition Program and Group leader of the Molecular Oncology Group.
Dr. Ana Ramírez de Molina has developed her scientific career in the field of lipid metabolism, molecular oncology, nutrition and cancer. She has worked as an associated researcher in the Traslational Oncology Unit CSIC-UAM-La Paz Hospital (Madrid), and has performed long postdoctoral stays at Cancer Research UK Centre for Therapeutics (London) and the Molecular Pathology Division of the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York). She has published more than 60 scientific articles in her research field, is co-inventor of 6 patents in different phases of exploitation by a biotechnology company and has supervised 6 PhD Thesis.
Several of her patents promoted the creation of a spin-off company from CSIC focused on the development of new tumour markers and therapies in Cancer in which she was former Director of Research, Development and Innovation for more than 3 years. She joined IMDEA Food Institute in 2010, where she leads the Programe of Precision Nutrition and Cancer. From 2011 she has been the Coordinator of Research, Development and Transfer, and in 2014 was promoted to Deputy Director of the Institute.
In 2002 she was awarded with the prize Young Researchers MSD, in 2003 the extraordinary doctorate recognition as the best Thesis of her promotion in Molecular Biology, and in 2016 the 8th March distinction from the Community of Madrid as an outstanding woman in Science.
Email: ana.ramirez@imdea.org
Phone: +34 91 727 81 00, ext. 102
Members
Dr. Ruth Sánchez Martínez
Associated researcher
Dr. Ruth Sánchez Martínez, obtained her BSc at the Oviedo University (2001). Her PhD training (2002-2007) was focused on the molecular mechanisms of action of nuclear receptors of thyroid hormone, vitamin D and retinoids under the supervision of Prof. Ana Aranda at the IIB Madrid (CSIC). In 2008 she joined, as a postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Marcos Malumbres group at the CNIO to study the role of new proteins involved in mitotic exit regulation of importance in cancer therapy using genetically modified mice. She also studied microRNA regulation of several important cell cycle regulators. In the last years she has published several articles in prestigious international journals and she took part in both national and international research grants and consortiums. In 2012 she joined IMDEA to study new biomar-kers and bioactive compounds in human cancer.
Email: ruth.sanchez@imdea.org
Phone: +34 91 727 81 00, ext. 301
Dr. Marta Gómez de Cedrón
Cardeñosa
Postdoctoral researcher
Dr. Marta Gómez de Cedrón, obtained her Bachelor’s degree in
Biological Sciences (BSc) at the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU). Her PhD training was performed at the National Centre of Biotechonology (CNB-UAM-CSIC) under the supervision of Dr. Juan Antonio García Álvarez “Enzymatic characterization of cylindrical inclusion protein (CI) of Plum Pox
Virus”. In 2005 she moved as a postdoctoral researcher (Fullbright Grant) to the Institute for Biological Sciences (IBS-NRC) in Canada at Danica Stanimirovic’s lab. Her research aimed to elucidate the role of mutants of Grb7 mutants in the stimulation of angiogenesis in glioblastomas. In 2006 she joined Dr. Marcos Malumbres’ group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). During this period, she worked in mouse models for depletion (cKO) and overexpression (iKI) of microRNA-203 and its role in skin cancer and leukaemias. In
2013 she joined Ana Ramírez de Molina’s lab at IMDEA Food Institute (Molecular Oncology Group). Her interests are the study of (1) Cell Metabolism alterations (specifically lipid metabolism) in Chronic Diseases related to Nutrition, and (2) the characterization of the Biological Activities of Bioactive Compounds and Plant derived Extracts to be used as supplements in the prevention/treatment in human cancer.
Email: marta.gomezdecedron@imdea.org
Phone: +34 91 727 81 00, ext. 210
Dr. Lara P. Fernández Álvarez
Postdoctoral researcher
Lara P. Fernández Álvarez, obtained her PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) and the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Spain, in 2009. Her thesis focused on the characterization of genetic susceptibility to malignant melanoma. Since 2010, she has conducted postdoctoral research at the Molecular and Cell Biology of the Thyroid group in the Biomedical Research Institute (IIBm-CSICUAM), in Madrid. In December 2014 she joined IMDEA Molecular Oncology Group. She has a solid professional experience in the biology of cancer, molecular endocrinology, transcription factors and thyroid signalling pathways, as well as human genetics, cancer susceptibility and oncogenes. Additionally, she has published several research articles in the field of thyroid, melanoma, and breast cancer.
Email: lara.fernandez@imdea.org
Phone: +34 91 727 81 00, ext. 212
Jorge Martínez Romero
Phd. Student
Jorge Martínez Romero is currently working on his Doctoral Thesis at the IMDEA Food Institute’s Molecular Oncology Group, after completing the Diploma in Human Nutrition, the Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and a Masters in Agricultural Chemistry and Novel Foods from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (2014). He holds a Bachelor of Economics Science ICADE E-2 degree from Pontificia University of Comillas (1989), and has led several companies related to the manufacture and assembly of machinery for the food industry. He currently combines his work in the field of research with his business administration.
Email: jorge.martinez@imdea.org
Silvia Cruz Gil
Phd. Student
Silvia Cruz Gil obtained her Biochemistry Degree at Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 2013. During the last two years of her degree she collaborated with the Biochemistry II Department at Pharmacy School in Universidad Complutense de Madrid studying the molecular biology of hepatocellular carcinoma. Later, she continued her training by obtaining a Master in Molecular Biosciences at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in 2014. Meanwhile, Silvia joined ALGENEX (Alternative Gene Expression S.L.) in association with I.N.I.A. (National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology) for an internship. During this period she worked in the development of vectored vaccines. In October 2014, she started studies conducive to her PhD Degree at IMDEA Food Institute in the Molecular Oncology Group. Her research primarily focuses on the role of the lipid metabolism in tumor progression. In April 2016 she obtained a Boehringer Ingelheim Travel Grant to perform a short research stage in the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus (Dresden, Germany) to learn organoids technique under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Stange.
Email: silvia.cruz@imdea.org
Phone: +34 91 727 81 00
Lamia Mouhid Al Achbili
Phd. Student
Lamia Mouhid obtained her Biotechnology degree at the University of Lleida in 2010, a Master in Administration and Innovation in the Food Industry at the same university, and a Master in Pharmacology at the University Autónoma de Madrid. During 2010 and 2011 she worked at the R&D department in a private company, where she developed a fermented beverage from fruit juice. In 2012, she worked in a pharmaceutical company and in 2013 at La Princesa Hospital and at the University of Montreal, where she studied molecular mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative diseases and the efficacy of neuroprotective drugs. In November 2014, Lamia joined IMDEA Food as a predoctoral researcher, where she is currently developing customized nutritional products for patients with gastric cancer.
Email: lamia.mouhid@imdea.org
Phone: +34 91 727 81 00 ext. 307
Sonia Wagner Reguero
Laboratory technician
She was graduated in Biochemistry in 2014 at Complutense University in Madrid, where she performed Extracurricular internships at the Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) in magnetic resonance. Her Final Degree Project was focused on intestinal expression genes associated with Celiac disease, at Inmunology and Genetic Department, Hospital San Carlos. In 2015 she obtained a Master degree of Microbiology at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. Her Master’s Research Project was performed in the Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health and Microbiology, in the development of herpes virus (HSV-1 y PRV) vectors for vaccines and gene therapy, under the supervision of Enrique Tabarés, Emeritus Professor of this University. She continues collaborating in this laboratory for 2 years until her incorporation at IMDEA Food stitute in February 2017 where she is working as a research assistant.
Email: sonia.wagner@imdea.org
Phone: +34 91 727 81 00 ext. 508
Students
Jesús del Barrio Morán
Marta Luengo Redondo
David Menchen
Laura Pietrantonio
Liz Alejandra Ponce Morales
Amanda Sousa Ruz
Pablo Mata Martínez
Paula Cortés Torres
Lidia Yamile Jiménez Batista
Pablo Mata Martínez
Ester Sánchez Martín
Ester Díez Sáinz
Sara Gutiérrrez Pelaz
Claudia Flavia García Martín
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Principal Investigator: Ana Ramírez de Molina ___________ Principal Investigator: Ana Ramírez de Molina ___________ Principal Investigator: Ana Ramírez de Molina ___________ Principal Investigator: Guillermo Reglero Rada and Ana Ramírez de Molina |
