Team

Ingenious Minds, Compassionate Hearts: Our Team's Journey to Defeat Pediatric Nervous System Tumors

Miguel F. Segura, PhD

Head of the Neural tumors Lab

Graduated in Biochemistry at the University of the Balearic Islands, in Mallorca, Spain. After obtaining my PhD in molecular neurobiology from the University of Lleida with an FPU predoctoral fellowship, Dr. Segura joined the Department of Pathology at the NYU School of Medicine, New York (USA) in 2007. He had first a postdoctoral fellowship from the Alfonso Martín Escudero Foundation and then another one from the National Cancer Institute. In 2012, I was recruited at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute through the Miguel Servet I program to apply his scientific experience to the field of pediatric cancer. In 2017 he obtained the tenure position (Miguel Servet II program) and now, Dr. Segura is the Head of the Neural Tumor Laboratory.

Maria J Pérez, PhD

Senior Researcher/Project Manager

I graduated in Biochemistry at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), in Mallorca, Spain and I got my PhD in Molecular Biology at the University of Lleida (2006). Later, I moved to New York where I did my postdoc stays in Columbia University (Dr. AH Kotmmann) and in New York University (Dr. SJ Burden). I joined the Laboratory of Neural Tumors in 2022. Currently, I am working on drug development testing new compounds that could be used in pediatric solid tumors and participating in the “first in child” Phase I clinical trial with ABTL0812in pediatric tumors"

Khloud Elsharawy, PhD

Postdoctoral Researcher

I graduated from the Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Egypt in 2011. I granted my PhD degree in 2021 through a collaborative scholarship program at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. In 2023, I was recruited by VHIR Institute in Barcelona, Spain, to lead research efforts dedicated to develop new epigenetic therapies for the treatment pediatric brain tumors.

Adrià Molero, Msc

PhD student

I graduated in Biology at the University of Barcelona in 2020. Next, I was enrolled in a master’s degree in Biomedicine at the University of Barcelona where I contributed to the characterization of a novel autophagy inhibitor for lung cancer treatment. In 2021, I started my PhD program in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine at Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR) working on the development and characterizationof the epigenetic landscape of metastatic neuroblastoma models.

Marta Miera, Msc

PhD student

I am a Biomedical Sciences graduate by University of Barcelona. I hold a Master’s degree in Translational Biomedical Research by VHIR-UAB. For my master’s thesis, I worked in a drug development project aimed at finding novel compounds targeting the TSPAN1 protein for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In 2023, I joined The laboratory of Neural Tumors, to do my PhD on the development of epigenetic therapies for the treatment of pediatric tumors of the nervous system.

Maria Gallego, Msc

PhD student

I graduated in Biotechnology from the Polytechnic University of Madrid in 2021. Later, I obtained a master's degree in Translational Biomedical Research from VHIR-UAB. In this period, I participated in a project demonstrating the ex vivo transduction-enhancing potential of a family of peptides. This year, 2024, I joined the Neural Tumors Laboratory to start my PhD in the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of brain tumors.

Gal·la Farreny, Msc

industrial PhD student

I graduated in Biomedicine at the University of Barcelona and obtained a Master's in Translational Biomedical Research at VHIR-UAB. I am currently conducting my industrial PhD at the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research in collaboration with OMICA BIOMED SL, focusing on the development of liquid biopsy technologies to monitor tumor progression and improve diagnostic efficiency for pediatric brain tumors.

Hector Campo

Laboratory Technician student

I am studying an advanced training program in Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory at at IES Vall d'Hebron Institute. I am currently completing my internship in the Neural Tumors Laboratory.

Masters' students

PAST MEMBERS

Aroa Soriano (2012-2020); Current position: Responsible of the Personalized Medicine program of the Childhood Cancer & Blood Disorders Unit.

Luz Jubierre (2013-2016); Current position: Postdoctoral researcher at MSKCC (NY, USA)

Laia París (2014-2019); Current position: MedTech Regulatory & Start Up Specialist. IQVIA
Marc Masanas (2016-2022); Current position: High School teacher.

Carlos Jiménez (2016-2022) ; Current position: Postdoc in Functional Genomics at Human Technopole

Roberta Antonelli (2016-2022); Current position: Project manager at VisMederi Group

Ariadna Boloix (2014-2024)

ALUMNI

MASTER STUDENTS UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

2014.Alba Sanz. UB. * 2016. Mireia Merino. Treball Recerca Batx
2014.Laia París. UAB. * 2016. Paula Sánchez. Treball Fi de Grau. UdL.
2015.Marc Masanas * 2018. Mar Serra. Treball Recerca Batx.
2016.Carlos Jiménez * 2019. Nerea Hernández. Treball Recerca. Batx
2017.Núria Jolís Orriols. UAB.
2018.Javier Repetto. UAB. * 2019 Penélope Dávila. Treball Recerca Batx.
2019.Ignasi Toledano Martín. UAB. * 2022. Raquel Guasch. TFG. UOC.
2019.Ignasi Toledano Martín. UAB. * 2023. Magí Figuerola. UdG.
2019.Jaume Calafell Cirac. UAB. * 2023 Diego Martinez. UAB.
2019.Josep Lluís Ylla Sáez. UB.
2020.Albert Ginestà Blasi. UPF.
2020.Patricia Pérez Mencos. UAB.
2022.Júlia Piqué Ponti. UAB.
2022.Dionne Honing. University of Amsterdam.
2023 Eline Ryckaert. University of Leuven
2023 Gal·la Farreny. VHIR-UAB
2023 Paula Ruiz. VHIR-UAB