My professional interest is focused on the study of the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases and in the search for novel brain protective therapies. Specifically, I have been working in the connection of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases progression with the loss of activity of the transcription factor NRF2, crucial regulator of multiple stress responses, whose activity declines with ageing. Our studies demonstrate the relevance of normal homeostatic responses, such as NRF2 activity, in the protection against proteotoxic, inflammatory and oxidative stress and provide a new strategy to fight neurodegeneration.
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Lab manager. Supporting the group's research lines in preclinical models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. More specifically: 1) Maintenance of the colonies of mice in the group. C57BL / 6 mice and C57BL / 6 KO Mouse in Nrf2, transgenic mice for mutant tau protein and amyloid peptide mutant app, where they perform cross-breeding, weaning, labeling, mouse genotyping by semi-quantitative PCR and Real-Time. 2) DNA electrophoresis techniques on agarose gels and proteins on SDS-PAGE gels. Immunoblotting. 3) Cell cultures. Sowing, passing, and experimental design to support the research lines of the group. 4) DNA extraction. Maxi and Mini preparations of plasmids. 5) Maintenance of the general organization of the laboratory. Realization of external orders and management of purchases. 6) Induction and purification of heterologous proteins in bacterial expression systems. 7) Purification and obtaining of antibodies from immunized rabbit serum.
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My professional interest is focused on understanding biological processes at molecular level that participate in several diseases. At the moment, my studies are based on the analysis of survival mechanisms of tumor cells. Greater understanding of this topic allows searching for new therapeutic strategies against Cancer Stem Cells (CSC). It is believed that CSCs are responsible for metastasis, recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. More specifically, I am analyzing new mechanisms of regulation of NRF2, since NRF2 is overexpressed in many tumor types and its elimination is crucial for the survival of different types of CSC. We want to propose NRF2 as a new therapeutic target and prognosis marker in different types of cancer. .
My CV

Marta Pajares scientific carrier is focused on the study of the molecular events involved in the progression of neurodegerative diseases with a main focus in the modulation of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and proteostasis. Marta graduated in Biochemistry at the Autonomous University of Madrid in 2013 with excellent academic grades. Marta’s research activity began in Prof. Antonio Cuadrado’s laboratory (Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, CSIC-UAM) with a short stay in the summer of 2012 and the execution of her Degree final project during 2013. In this period, covered by a collaboration fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Marta was in contact with the techniques and concepts related to neurodegenerative diseases starting a project focused in the relevance of the transcription factor NRF2 in the off-side effects of the actual therapy for Parkinson’s disease based in L-DOPA treatment. In summer of 2013, Marta obtained a fellowship from the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) for an internship in Dr. Sánchez Gómez laboratory (Neurooncology Unit, ISCIII) to study the pharmacological inhibition of EGFR in the development of neuroblatomas. Marta obtained a Master in Molecular Biomedicine at the Autonomous University of Madrid in 2014. She performed the Master final project in the laboratory of Prof. Antonio Cuadrado in order to analyze NRF2 role in the modulation of signalling and inflammation. Marta obtained her PhD in 2018 (Doctorate Program in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biomedicine and Biotechnology) under the supervision of Prof. Cuadrado and Prof. Rojo, with International Mention and Cum laude mention. Marta’s research was focused in unveiling the neuroprotective role of NRF2 in a preclinical model of Alzheimer’s Disease, with special interest in the modulation of proteostasis. In 2015 and 2018, Marta did two research internships in in Prof. Cuervo’s laboratory, considered as a reference laboratory in the autophagy field (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York). Her PhD thesis has been awarded by the Real Academia de Doctores de España. With this background, Marta has presented her work in more than thirty national and international conferences/meetings, being invited to give oral communications and awarded in some of them. Marta has been supervisor of a Master’s Degree Final Project (2019) and is peer reviewer for Redox Biol. and J Mol Med Journals.
My CV
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SUMMARY OF MY THESIS PROJECT
Neurogenesis, the process of formation of functional new neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs), persists during the adulthood in restricted and well-regulated regions, such as the dentate gyrus of hippocampus. Hippocampal adult neurogenesis has been linked to learning, memory and pattern separation. Recently, neurogenesis has been pointed as a new therapeutic strategy to counteract cell loss in neurodegenerative diseases. For this reason, a deeper knowledge of its regulatory mechanisms is needed. The aim objective of this thesis project is to elucidate the role of redox signalling, including transcription factor NRF2, in neurogenesis and its potential impact in coping with the loss of neurogenic capacity.
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SUMMARY OF MY THESIS PROJECT
The aim of my thesis is to develop new modulators of the NRF2 transcription factor. My short-term project is the charactarizacion of  several derivatives of the isothiocyanate sulforafane (SFN). In regard to neurodegenerative disease, SFN can cross the blood brain barrier and active the NRF2 function. It reduces teh levesl of inflammation and oxidant markers. As a model for this study we will use teh murine MPTP  model and MPP+ in assay cellular model. The main objectives for this study is: a) NRF2-inducing potency and cytoprotective against oxidants agents in cellular models; b) ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and bioavailability in the cerebral parenchyma in mice; c) Induction of phase 2 in the basal ganglia and d) protection against MPTP as a preclinical model of EP in mice.
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 SUMMARY OF MY THESIS PROJECT
I am quite interested in how cancer initiates and develops, as it is one of the most warning illnesses in our world. In my Degree Final Project, I studied how transcription factor NRF2 participates in glioblastoma development through its interaction with other tumorigenic transcription factors. In my Master project, I will study how NRF2 is regulated through novel pathways, and its importance in cancer.ses such as Alzheimer's disease
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