Dr. Artero, Full Prof. of Genetics at the University of Valencia, earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the same institution. After six years of postdoctoral research on myogenesis at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, he returned to Spain in 2002, securing a Ramón y Cajal contract and attaining tenure in 2009. As leader of the Translational Genomics Laboratory, his research focuses on the pathophysiology of rare neuromuscular diseases such as myotonic dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and LGMDD2, utilizing diverse preclinical models, including patient-derived cells, mice, Drosophila, and omics approaches. His work extends to drug repurposing, oligonucleotide-based therapies, cancer cachexia, and in vitro microtissues. Dr. Artero has published over 80 international articles, supervised 17 doctoral theses, and established national and international collaborations. He is also an inventor of 20 patents and co-founder of the spin-off company ARTHEx Biotech.

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Dr. Pérez Alonso, Full Professor of Genetics at the University of Valencia, has supervised over 35 research projects, 65 scientific papers, and five licensed patents. He has contributed to four international genome sequencing consortia and served as a scientific advisor for Roche and Life Technologies, aiding in developing SOliD DNA sequencing technology. His research focuses on genomic tools for diagnosing hereditary diseases and biopharmaceutical research on rare genetic disorders, with three articles published in Nature. Dr. Pérez Alonso co-founded several biomedical companies, including Sistemas Genómicos, where he served as Scientific and Strategic Director (1998–2009), Valentia BioPharma, Mendel Brain, and IMEGEN. Since 2012, he has presided over the Asociación Española de Emprendedores Científico-Técnicos (AEEC) and was president of the Bioregion of Valencia (BIOVAL) from 2012 to 2018.

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Dr. López Castel, Assistant Prof. at the University of Valencia, has extensive experience in R&D&I projects focused on biology, genetics, human disease, and therapeutic research. During his PhD and postdoctoral work at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, he conducted basic research using Drosophila, mice, human cell lines, and patient samples to uncover mechanisms underlying genetic-linked diseases, including myotonic dystrophy and fragile X syndrome. Transitioning to biotech, he contributed to Valentia BioPharma and Genera Biotech. He managed national and international projects on rare diseases, drug screening and development, biomarker discovery, and toxicological studies on genetic, neuromuscular, and hepatic pathologies. To enhance his translational research approach, he pursued an MBA. Currently, Dr. López Castel leads translational projects within the Translational Genomics group, bridging research and biotech innovation.

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I am a Doctor in Biotechnology since 2015. My doctoral research was focused on transcriptional regulation of MBNL, a protein pivotal to the pathogenic mechanism of myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). This foundational work sparked my enduring commitment to understanding the molecular intricacies of this disease. Over the past several years, my research has delved into the underlying causes of muscle atrophy in DM1. I have identified the involvement of the miR-107>MSI2>miR-7>autophagy axis, revealing a critical pathway that contributes to disease progression. In parallel, I am actively engaged in the preclinical development of antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics aimed at addressing these specific alterations in DM1. Beyond DM1, my work also extends to another debilitating neuromuscular disorder: limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type D2 (LGMDD2). Here, I have contributed to the development and characterization of a cellular model and am currently advancing research through a murine model, a step that brings us closer to translational applications. Recently, I received a Miguel Servet contract from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. This milestone provides me with the resources and framework to continue these research lines, with the ultimate goal of transferring our discoveries from the bench to the bedside to improve the lives of patients affected by these conditions. 

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