Before becoming tenured associate professor at the University of Barcelona (UB), I was senior researcher at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, working on biomaterials for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. My focus was on the micro- and nanofabrication, processing and validation of inorganic, polymeric and composite compounds with bioactivity features in the musculoskeletal system, skin tissue and brain cortex.
As a biomaterials scientist specializing in 3D processing, nanostructuration and biological validation, I am interested in new approaches to biomimic designs and fabricate 3D scaffolds, controlling their surface to promote tissue regeneration through proper vascularization. As well, I am also interested in basic biomedical research, such as how microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip can be useful tools for the in vitro validation of scaffolds to be transferred to synthetic biomaterials or new therapeutic models, which go beyond the state-of-the-art, and could form the groundwork for a new line of unanticipated technology. One example is Dermoglass, pro-angiogenic nanotechnology that started with the MAT2011-29778-C02-01 MINECO project with me as PI. This spin-off research line to treat skin was patented and finally licensed to a company wishing to include it in their skin creams. Development is currently ongoing after they obtained funding for valorization, and the products are expected to reach the market in the medium term.
As I have always intended my research advances to eventually transfer to the market for the benefit of society, considerations of cost, scalability, and simplicity have always been fundamental, while curiosity and innovation are the ultimate drivers of my research.
As well as leading research projects, I'm very keen to stay hands-on in the laboratory on a day-to-day basis. I've built up controlled atmosphere and cell culture labs from scratch and developed new standardized protocols for the fabrication and characterization of materials. I also acquired and optimized for best performance in many of my group's current facilities.
In the last 10 years, I have published 35 articles in high-impact journals (H=21), 5 book chapters and communications in more than 40 conferences, as well as applying for 1 PCT international patent and licensing a European one, which has attracted the attention of private companies. I have made special contributions to the fields of biomaterials and 3D processing of nanofibrous scaffolds: one of the reviews I participate in has collected almost 1500 cites in Google Scholar indicating that is a reference of biomaterials in orthopedics. I'm reviewer in more than 30 journals of high IF. I have recognized 3 six-year research terms (sexenios) and at the end of 2014, I received the award of Best Young Researcher in Biomaterials in Spain 2012-2014 from the YSF-CIBER-BBN.
I have participated in a myriad of successful applications for national and international projects, actively pursuing research funding by submitting high-quality grant proposals. The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation granted me three successful proposals for our projects on angiogenic hybrid materials for bone and nerve regeneration, a physiological brain-on-a-chip, and an instrumented myocardium-on-a-chip. Recently, we have been awarded a 2022 Pathfinder Project related to bioprinting structures for Huntington's Disease.
Part of my research was funded by the Ramon y Cajal program, and I have enjoyed mobility fellowships for my research visits to South Korea and UC Berkeley, as well as carrying out postdoctoral work in Germany and France earlier in my career. Currently, I'm developing a research stage at the University of Ghent for 6 months. Thanks to this, I now collaborate with researchers in more than 10 countries, including US and South Korea, and I have established collaborative research networks and teaching links outside via national and EU international funding bodies.
As well as my research, teaching, and management responsibilities, I have also been involved in several evaluation committees for projects, contracts, or services, both at the departmental and institutional levels. I have represented the UB in a professional capacity, particularly concerning research dissemination and development, and I am on Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Irish and Belgian committees for the evaluation of national and international projects.
I have successfully fully supervised and mentored two doctoral theses, both doctors with successful careers in academia and the private sector. I'm co-supervising 7 multidisciplinary Ph.D. theses which mostly are expected finishing in 2022-2023. I've also supervised more than 25 BSc and MSc theses within the field of Biomedical Engineering or related disciplines. I have recognized 3 five-year teaching terms. Since 2018 I'm coordinator of the Biomedical Engineering MSc at UB.
