I study the mechanistic nature of human diseases. Starting from the basic field (transcription and signaling) we now conduct multidisciplinary translational research projects focused on aggressive skin cancers and MASLD. Since 2015, I lead my own research thanks to a RyC contract and a tenured TU_I3 appointment at the UC (GRITHE_group). I have supervised 6 doctoral thesis +1 as senior mentor (2+1 Int. mentions & 1 Extr. PhD award) and 8 masters.
LAB ALUMNI are: Senior Postdocs in US (R. Alonso-Alonso Ms. 2016), Norway (N. García-Díaz Phd-2020 & F. Ruso-Julve PhD-2019), Senior clinician (S. Llerena, PhD-2020), Lab. Professors (A. García-Blanco Phd-2021, M. Toscani (Italy), Ms-2020), Clinical Geneticist (S. Curiel-Olmo, PhD-2016) and pre-doc (R. Basdas Ms-2021). I have led as PI, 4 FIS and 2 PIE (P. Integrados de excelencia, both as PI, but under a general coordinator).
-METRICS: Papers: 48; Main or Senior: 14 (8 D1); Key contribution: 13 (10-D1), H: 24, Citations: 2916, I10: 37.
MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS:
1. Precision diagnosis and targeted therapy of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphomas (CTCL): We are depicting an activated network of deregulated signaling mechanisms controls the biology of CTCLs. Of these, mutated PLCG1 activates NFAT via calcineurin (CaN) which constitutes a mayor disease mechanism (Vaqué JP et al. Blood 2014). In parallel, deregulated JAK/STAT signaling promotes cancer progression (Perez C. et al. Haematologica 2015, Perez C. et al. BJD 2020 and García-Díaz N. et al. Cancers 2021). Later, we discover that PKC-Theta interconnects PLCG1-CaN and JAK/STAT signaling, and constitutes a key mechanism controlling CTCL development and dissemination (García-Diaz N. et al. JID 2022, Alonso-Alonso R et al BJD, 2023). In pacients, a clinical trial (phase II), revealed the activity (ORR, 60%) and safety of topical Pimecrolimus (a specific CaN inhibitor) in CTCL patients at initial stages of the disease (Ortiz-Romero PL. et al. Lancet Haematology 2022).
2. Identification of activated CREB as independent adverse marker for Merkel Cell Carcinoma patients (González-Vela MC and Curiel-Olmo S. et al. JID 2017)
3. Novel approaches for molecular diagnosis and targeted therapy of Advanced Cutaneous Melanoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Curiel-Olmo S et al . Oncotarget 2015 and Llerena S and García-Diaz N. Oncotarget 2018).
4. Depicted GNAQ downstream signaling network in Uveal Melanoma (Vaqué JP et al. Mol. Cell, 2013, Feng X. et al. Can. Cell 2014).
5. Transcriptional control of gene expression by MYC independently of MAX (Vaqué JP et al. MCR., 2008). MYC-mediated transcriptional modulation of exacerbated RAS-oncogenic signaling (Delgado MD et al. Oncogene 2000, Vaqué JP et al. JBC, 2004).
6. Molecular Characterization of IMID_MASLD independently of classic metabolic factors: (Rodriguez-Duque JC et al Clin Gast. & Hep..2023; García-Nieto E et al. J. Hep_Rep. 2024).
