Short CV

2001_ B.Sc. in Biochemistry, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona (Spain).
2002_ Junior researcher, Institut de Recerca Oncològica-IRO, Barcelona (Spain).
2004_ M.Sc. in Genetics, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona (Spain).
2007_ Ph.D in Biochemistry, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona (Spain)
2009_ FEBS Long-term fellow, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden)
2014_ Beatriu de Pinós fellow, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona (Spain)
2016_ Staff Scientist, Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona (Spain)
 

Summary

During embryo development, all the cells arise from a single cell with a unique genome. During this process, different parts of the genome become active, while others remain repressed, at different times and in different cells. This balance is responsible for driving cell fate and sustaining cellular identities. Importantly, when disrupted, unscheduled gene expression programs are responsible for severe developmental and adult human diseases.

How do cells select and activate different regions of the genome? How do cells convey the cellular memory across cell divisions?

In the laboratory, we tackle these fundamental questions using embryonic stem cells, patient-derived samples, and mice as experimental models. We exploit the latest biochemical, genetic and computational technologies (bulk and single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq and modified DNA-seq, chromatin isolation-mass spectrometry, and CRIPSPR-Cas9 screening) in order to study gene regulatory and epigenetic mechanisms during cell fate determination in development and human disease.

In order to foster the direct translation of our fundamental discoveries into real benefits for citizens, we team up with interdisciplinary groups from different hospitals and biotech companies.

With the combination and integration of experimental and computational approaches, encompassing state-of-the-art technologies, we aim to develop novel analytical methods to be applied in biomedicine and fundamental research, and to set the foundations for conceptually new therapies for human developmental diseases.