My academic formation is biochemistry. I did my thesis under Prof. Manuel Pérez Alonso's guidance, which led to the identification of the Drosophila gene muscleblind, the founder member of the Muscleblind-like (MBNL) family of alternative splicing regulators with critical roles in human genetic diseases such as myotonic dystrophy. After 6 years of postdoctoral training in Mary Baylies' laboratory at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, in 2001 I returned to Spain with a Ramón y Cajal research contract and started my independent research career at the University of Valencia where my overarching goal is to understand the mechanisms of pathogenesis and to discover therapeutic targets and innovative treatments of human genetic diseases, with a particular focus in myotonic dystrophy. To this end, we use human samples and animal and cell models to understand the molecular basis of disease, perform drug repurposing screenings, and evaluate the activity of oligonucleotide-based drugs. We actively seek a close relationship with clinical researchers and biotech companies.

[Biography, english version]