Training before the Predoctoral period: Department of Biochemistry of the Complutense University of Madrid (Gavilanes M) practices of the degree of Biochemical Sciences).
Master enzymology. Erasmus student at the University of Utrecht, Department of Enzymology, (Verheij).
Predoctoral period:
Thesis Director (Goñi F), Department of Biochemistry of the UPV. Topic: "Liposomes and generation of second messengers mediated by phospholipases". Predoctoral publications (10): Biochemistry (2), FEBS Lett (4), J Biol. Chem, (2) Methods Enzymol (1) Mol Med (1). Colaboration period at the University of Würzburg, and Institute of Biomedical Research "Alberto Sols" Madrid, 3 derived publications
Geographical mobility: Alberto Sols Biomedicine Institute, Madrid (Varela I), Barcelona Reservoir Center, Barcelona University (Izpisua JC), Würzburg Research Institute (Rapp UR, Hekman M). University of Utrecht (Verheij), "Genomic Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation" of the Novartis California Company.
Postdoctoral period:
First postdoctoral period (Zorzano A) University of Barcelona. Topic: "identification and characterization of DOR myocardial protein". PLoS One. 2007.
Second postdoctoral period after being selected as the best young Spanish scientist to investigate in private projects of GNF Norvartis California. Researcher at the Drug Discovery department for the Tekturna drug (Aliskiren) for cardiovascular protection; approved by the FDA in 2007.
Third postdoctoral period in the IDIVAL (Research Institute of the Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital, Cantabria).
Contract as Professor of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology of the University of Cantabria. In this period, the translational study focuses on myocardial fibrosis, microRNAs involved, its detection in plasma and its signaling pathways in animal models and patients collaborating in different projects. Recognition of the University of Cantabria and the European and Spanish Societies of Cardiology in the form of scientific awards.
Research group IP funded by national competitive and regional translational projects in biomedicine.
http://web.unican.es/ibbtec/Paginas/Groups/Villar.aspx
http://villarav.blogspot.com.eswith national competitive funding MINECO (BIO2015-72124-EXP) and various regional IDIVAL projects (InnVal15 / 31, InnVal 17/22), Sodercan Puente Project 2017 whose research line focuses on in the generation of genetic and biotechnological therapeutic strategies for inhibition of fibrotic processes in the myocardium and its biomolecular study.
Gene therapy patented in the Spanish Patent Office OPE (P201700440 / 41/42/43)
-Congresses in the last 3 years: SEC 2015, FCVB 2016, SEBBM 2016, SEBBM 2017, FCVB 2018, SEBBM 2018
Invited Talks: World Congress of Cardiology BITs Xian 2016. Talks of IDIVAL 2016, 2017. Congress of NALS Gijón 2017. IBBTEC international colloquia May 2017. Congress of the International Society of extracellular vesicles (ISEV) Baltimore 2018
Post scientific societies: Consul of the SEBBM since 2016.
Nano and Molecular Treatments against (Cardiac) Fibrosis
Host group to: Dra. Matxalen LLosa
Research lines
- Study of the molecular basis of the fibrotic pathology and the molecular mechanisms related to TGFβ and Hsp90 to target the disease in vitro and in vivo.
- Study the effects of new biotechnological nanodrugs, CRISPR/Cas mutations or new genetic modified molecules as theragnostic particles
in vitro and
in vivo.
- Generation of new nano-delivery systems to reach fibrotic targets.
- Generation of new diagnostic tools.
The group of the Associate Professor, Dr. Ana V Villar studies the molecular mechanisms related to the role of the Hsp90 chaperone and the TGFβ cytokine in their relationship with the phenomena of cardiac fibrosis. The molecular studies settle the basis for the application of new nano-biotechnological and genetic drugs newly developed specifically for our projects. Hsp90α knock out mice, natural and immortalized primary cells, as well as
in vivo tracking visualization tools, and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance functional studies (in collaboration with medical Doctors) lead us to perform highly innovative experiments orientated to the clinical needs to demonstrate advances in the field.
One of our research branch is focused on the generation of new therapies like our already patented one "Genetic Alert System" that is designed as a latent molecule that wakes up when the disease starts.
We are also interested in new nano-delivery systems to reach
in vitro and
in vivo pro-fibrotic targets. Implementation of new theragnostic strategies: tracked particles and fluorescent plate tests.
Pathologies in study: Myocardial fibrosis/Scleroderma
Funding
- September 2022-september 2025. Principal Investigator: "Chimeric Antigen Receptor-directed therapeutic biotransporter based on extracellular vesicles for the treatment of human cardiac fibrosis on organoid". Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI/MCI/10.13039/501100011033). PID2021-125702OB-I00.
- 2024-2025. Principal Investigator: "Vesículas extracelulares derivadas de fibroblastos autólogos para la prevención de queloides". Fomento de la transferencia de conocimiento en la Comunidad Autónoma de Cantabria 2023, Gobierno de Cantabria (SUBVTC-2023-0006 T)
- January 2021-January 2022. Principal Investigator: "Terapia de protección telomérica para la enfermedad covid-19". Gobierno de Cantabria, 2020UCI22-PUB-0003.
- November 2020-22. Principal Investigator: "Anti-fibrotic treatment for SARS-CoV2 infected lungs". IDIVAL Foundation. Project code InnVal 20/34.
- January 2019-22. Principal Investigator: Estudio in vivo de terapias moleculares de diseño y un nano-transportados genéticamente modificado contra la fibrosis cardiaca. Ministerio de Ciencia Innov y Univer (RTI2018-095214-B-I00).
- January 2018-20. Principal Investigator: "Nanosensor test for fibrosis diagnosis in scleroderma patients". IDIVAL Foundation. Project code InnVal 17/22.
- October 2018-20. Colaborator: Predictive study for the severity of the scleroderma disease. IDIVAL Foundation. Project code NextVal 18/10.
- October 2018. Principal Investigator. Project "puente UC Sodercan": "Modular nanobiotechnological tools designed to detect and interfering with the key signaling route of cardiac fibrosis". Project code BIO2016-77367-C2-2-R.
- May 2016-18: Principal Investigator: "Modular nanobiotechnological tools designed to detect and interfere with the key signaling pathway of cardiac fibrosis in vivo". IDIVAL Foundation (InnVal 15/31).
- April 2017-2020: Principal Investigator: "Genetic Alert System to prevent myocardial fibrosis. Ministerio de Ciencia Innov y Univer (BIO2015-72124-EXP).
Patents
- 20/09/2023. European patent 2023: EP23382951.4 Method for producing therapeutic extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells by direct pulsed electrical stimulation.
- 29/03/2017. P201700440. Construcción génica y su empleo en el tratamiento de la fibrosis cardíaca.
Link to our Blog to keep you informed of our latest news: http://villarav.blogspot.com.es
Link to our webpage at the University of Cantabria
http://web.unican.es/ibbtec/Paginas/Groups/Villar.aspx
Lab Retreat 2019
