About me
I am a research specialist at Kaisa Lehti's group (MTC). My main research interest is understanding the interplay between biophysical and biochemical cues of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in the regulation of tumour development, progression, and therapy response. To this end, we are developing novel 3D cell culture methods that allow the precise control of multiple biochemical and biophysical features, presenting relatively high complexity.
Research description
The Extracellular matrix and mechanobiology
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a network of macromolecules providing with physical support and biochemical signals to surrounding cells. The ECM in tumours is usually altered by cancer and stromal cells to provide a favourable microenvironment for cancer cells to proliferate, migrate, and survive external stresses. Typical alterations of the ECM in tumours include changes in the composition and physical characteristics such as its topology, stiffness, and viscoelasticity.
I am investigating how the biochemical and biophysical properties of the ECM impact tumour progression, aggressiveness, and therapy response with the ultimate goal of improving patient treatment, specifically in ovarian cancer and in sarcomas.
Relevant Publications:
Prototissues to investigate the tumour microenvironment
In recent years, biomaterials have proven to be excellent tools to study the impact of the biophysical and biochemical characteristics of the ECM on cell behaviour. However, these models lack the cellular components of the microenvironment. I am developing novel biomaterials that include synthetic ECM and cells (protocells) forming Prototissues (Figure 1) to investigate how cancer and cancer-associated cells integrate complex signals and how they regulate fundamental processes in cancer including cancer cell growth and invasion.

Relevant Publications
Teaching portfolio
PhD student course, Tumor microenvironment, Dept. of Oncology-Pathology, KI (2019, 2020, 2021), course co-organizer
Education
2015 – 2018, MPhil/PhD in Cancer mechanobiology, Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, London, UK.
2013 – 2014, MSc in Biomedical Research, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
2006 – 2011, BSc in Human Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.