Fitxa persona

I obtained my Bachelor, Postgraduate and PhD degrees in the University of Valencia, Spain. My doctoral research focused on the role of pattern recognition receptors expressed by hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the detection of Candida albicans and the emergency myelopoiesis response. I was awarded with a “Outstanding PhD Thesis” from the University of Valencia.

In 2011, I joined the Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, USA, as a postdoctoral fellow. During this time, I studied the differentiation and function of myeloid cells (macrophages, dendritic cells and neutrophils) with specific application to anti-microbial immunity, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. I obtained a Young Investigator Award from the International Endotoxin and Innate Immunity Society, a Careers in Immunology Fellowship Award by The American Association of Immunologists and a Career-Enhancement Award from the American Society of Hematology.

In 2018, I established my independent research group at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as an Assistant Professor. In 2019, I received a Ramón y Cajal award from the Ministry of Education and Science, Spain, and I moved back to the University of Valencia, Spain.

My lab is interested in: 1) defining the cellular and molecular pathways activated for emergency myelopoiesis in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells during candidiasis, 2) unveiling the mechanisms of innate trained immunity induced by fungal infections, and 3) studying the use of microbial components to induce terminal differentiation of malignant cells in some hematologic disorders, such as acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.