Short bio

I have a Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Navarra and PhD in Biology from the University of Vigo in the field of marine parasitology and pathology, and specifically on the pathology of coccidiosis in cephalopods. Subsequently I was awarded a Marie-Curie post-doctoral Fellow for a two year stay at the Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar ICBAS, University of Porto, and later on a Marie-Curie Reintegration grant (ERG) for a one year stay at the Institute of Marine Research IIM-CSIC in Vigo. In 2005 I was awarded a Ramón y Cajal contract (Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology) at the IIM-CSIC, focused in the field of pathology, immunology and functional genomics in mollusks of interest for aquaculture. Since 2008 I am a CSIC Tenured Scientist in the IIM-CSIC, and currently I am head of the Marine Molecular Pathobiology Research Group. I am the author of more than 70 scientific papers and co-editor of the first published atlas on pathogens and diseases in cephalopods. I have been a member of the European Research Action COST FA1301 for the study of welfare and maintenance conditions of cephalopods in captivity and leader of the WG on diseases and stress. Currently my research area is focused on the study of diseases and the molecular processes related to immune system, immune competence and early development of mollusk species with potential for aquaculture, specially cephalopods (the common octopus). The main objective of my research is to contribute to the improvement of the growth and health condition of cultured mollusk species (bivalves and cephalopods), through pathological and immune response studies, establishing the identification of biomarker genes for resistance and the immuno-stimulation as future strategies to improve the management and control of diseases in aquaculture.

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