Fitxa persona

. I am Catedrática (Professor) of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Valencia (Spain), with extensive teaching experience in this area at degree, post-graduate anddoctorate level. My research experience of more than 30 years is supported by 50 publications in international journals of high impact, a patent licensed for exploitation by the University of Valencia, direction of 6 doctoral thesis, several Master's thesis and research graduate works. I have also made numerous submissions to international and national meetings and workshops, including invited oral presentations. I have worked in different lines of research, in national and foreign centers, always related to the area of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I have been principal researcher of 9 projects, 6 of the National Plan of R+D+I, financed by the corresponding Ministry and 3 financed by the Valencian government (Generalitat Valenciana), including the PROMETEO program for groups of Excellence. Our work is multidisciplinary, in collaboration with other groups. In the last 25 years, I have been leading a research group at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), by an agreement between the University of Valencia and the Spanish Superior Council of Research (CSIC). This gave me the scientific environment to focus on the characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of plant defenses in response to stresses and the development of resistant inducers of plant defenses against pathogens based on natural compounds, with biotechnological applications. These treatments constitute an interesting alternative to the massive use of pesticides and fungicides, contributing to a sustainable agriculture. Several companies have been interested in our research. In 2008, we transferred our knowledge by patenting the use of our treatments (patent number ES2265280), licensed to the company Salquisa, resulting in royalties and the marketing of a product called Induct. During the last years, we have been collaborating with Servalesa/De Sangosse Company. I have been the responsible researcher of different contracts supported by an agreement between the University of Valencia and the company. I have been also advising the company for new research lines and patents. Moreover, since 2016 I am project evaluator for the company EQA I+D+I CERTIFICADOS, S.L. The intense translational activity was awarded by a six-year transfer recognition by the Spanish Ministry of Education in 2019. The study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effect of priming agents like the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) hexanoic acid (Hx) showed that its mode of action relays mostly on modulating redox homeostasis. Hx-treated plants accumulated potent antioxidants that protect mammalian cells against oxidative stress, supporting the potentiality of these treated plants in nutritional and therapeutic interventions. To translate our results in plant priming agents to mammalian cells I performed a sabbatical in Dr Mann´s Vascular Biology laboratory at King's British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, King´s College of London in 2020. Dr Mann´s group stands out in the study of Nrf2-signaling pathway. Nrf2 is the master regulator of redox homeostatis under oxidative stress conditions including vascular dysfunction in several diseases. The obtained results in the proposed project PRX15/00420 supported the protection against oxidative stress of endothelial and neuroblastoma cells by these plant priming agents. Notably, the invitation to present our work in the 9th World Congress on 'Targeting microbiota. Towards clinical revolution', in Paris, last October 19th of 2022, opened new possible applications for our antioxidant treatments in modulation of the intestinal microbiota and its impact in health and disease. We initiated collaboration with Dr Llombart Cussac´s, expert in human breast cancer and with Dr Roche Collado´s group, expert in nutritional interventions to study the impact of plant priming agents and primed plants enriched in bioactive compounds in the antioxidant protection of human breast cancer cells. Dr Llombart and Dr Fernandez are editors of the special issue 'Role of microorganisms in breast cancer' in which I contributed with the review 'Control of redox homeostasis by short-chain fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer' González-Bosch, et al., that it will be published in Pathogens (IF: 4.531) at the beginning of 2023..

. ORCID0000-0003-1042-7764.