Charles Darwin placed his hopes in ‘young and rising naturalists’ who would be able to appreciate his groundbreaking ideas; he did not expect to convince “experienced naturalists whose minds are stocked with a multitude of facts all viewed, during a long course of years, from a point of view directly opposite to mine,’ he wrote in The Origin of Species. Physicist Max Planck, for his part, asserted that ‘new scientific truths’ only triumph when “a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.”
Whether you agree or not, may young minds be welcome to the scientific community! Last year, 12 new PhD were born in the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). This year, we have already celebrated the doctoral thesis presentations listed below. Congratulations!
Sergio Oterino, of CNIO Melanoma Group, read his thesis Bioinformatic analyses of Midkine-driven deregulation of melanoma and immune cells, supervised by Marisol Soengas and Nuria Gago. The research stody seeks to clarify how the MDK protein contributes to the progression of melanoma, an aggressive tumour in which nearly half of metastatic patients present or develop resistance to immunotherapy.
María Ramal, of CNIO Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, presented her thesis Elucidating the role of STAG2 in urothelial homeostasis and tumorigenesis, supervised by Francisco X. Real and Eleonora Lapi. It focuses on bladder cancer, a highly prevalent and under-researched tumour. Ramal reveals a novel function of STAG2, one of the most important tumour suppressor genes involved in this disease. Her results may contribute to advancing our understanding of how STAG2 suppresses bladder cancer.
Laura Álvaro Espinosa, from the Brain Metastasis Group, read her thesis A pan disease-associated subpopulation of microglia / macrophages expressing CD74 rewires antigen presentation machinery into a protumorigenic phenotype, supervised by Manuel Valiente. Brain metastasis represents a clinical challenge, with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. This work describes a new disease-associated subpopulation of microglia/macrophage cells that promote the growth of brain metastasis.
Ester Casajús, from the CNIO Genomic Integrity and Structural Biology Group, presented the thesis Understanding the Shelterin Complex: Structural Insights and Key Interactors, supervised by Rafael Fernández Leiro and María Moreno Morcillo. This research focuses on telomeres, the protein structures at the end of chromosomes that are essential for the proper functioning of cells. The thesis findings help to understand the nature and function of a set of telomere-specific proteins called shelterins, and open up new avenues for therapeutic interventions against telomere-related diseases and cancer.
Alejandro Collado Solé, from the Transformation and Metastasis Group, read his thesis Rank Signaling Pathway: From Mammary Gland Biology to Neuroendocrine Regulation of Reproduction,, supervised by Eva González Suárez. The research delves into the Rank molecular signalling pathway, highlighting its importance both in mammary gland development and in the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction.
Jessica Louzame, from the Telomeres and Telomerase Group – Humanism and Science Foundation, read her thesis The Impact of TRF1 on Systemic Metabolism and Glioblastoma Multiforme Microenvironment: A Dual Perspective, supervised by Maria Blasco.
Samuel Míguez Amil, from CNIO Genomic Integrity and Structural Biology Group, presented Macromolecular Complexes in Mitochondria DNA Replication: Molecular and Structural Mechanisms by Cryo-EM – CNIO, supervised by Rafael Fernández Leiro.
María del Mar Rigual, from CNIO Growth Factors, Nutrients and Cancer Group, presented Deciphering the role of URI in liver regeneration, supervised by Nabil Djouder. Her results open up avenues for future treatments for severe liver damage to include a diet enriched with the amino acid glutamate.
Jaime Redondo, of the Transformation and Metastasis Group, presented Lineage-Specific Activation of RANK Signaling in the Mammary Gland: Implications for Epithelial Cell Commitment and Cancer Progression, supervised by Eva González Suárez.
Cristina Bodas, of CNIO Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, presented Deciphering the effects of a CTRB exon 6 deletion on acinar cells and PDAC, supervised by Francisco X. Real and Irene Felipe Abrio. Her results could help identify groups at risk of pancreatic cancer. Specifically, a mechanism has been found that helps explain how a genetic variant in the gene encoding chymotrypsinogen 2, CTRB2, increases the risk of developing the tumour.