Molecular bases of hematological tumors
Scientic Supervisor / Contact Person
Name and Surname
María Hernández-Sánchez
Localization & Research Area
Faculty / Institute
Faculty of Pharmacy
Department
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Area
Life Sciences (LIF)
MSCA & ERC experience
Research group / research team hosted any MSCA fellow?
No
Research group / research team have any ERC beneficiaries?
No
Research Team & Research Topic
Research Team / Research Group Name (if any)
Molecular bases of hematological tumors
Website of the Research team / Research Group / Department
Brief description of the Research Team / Research Group / Department
MolHemato Lab focuses on the molecular study of hematological tumors, aiming to understand the key mechanisms driving their development, to identify novel biomarkers, and to develop new treatments.
We employ high-throughput genome-wide screenings based on CRISPR libraries, generate CRISPR-edited cellular and murine models harboring specific alterations observed in patients, perform multi-omics data analysis, and perform functional studies to validate key findings.
Our group fosters a multidisciplinary environment and promotes the training of researchers, especially in cutting-edge molecular biology techniques. We actively collaborate with national and international groups, with a strong focus on translational research. Our lab is located at UCM but we have access to the facilities of “Instituto de Investigación del Hospital 12 de Octubre” and CNIO.
We employ high-throughput genome-wide screenings based on CRISPR libraries, generate CRISPR-edited cellular and murine models harboring specific alterations observed in patients, perform multi-omics data analysis, and perform functional studies to validate key findings.
Our group fosters a multidisciplinary environment and promotes the training of researchers, especially in cutting-edge molecular biology techniques. We actively collaborate with national and international groups, with a strong focus on translational research. Our lab is located at UCM but we have access to the facilities of “Instituto de Investigación del Hospital 12 de Octubre” and CNIO.
Research lines / projects proposed
Our main research lines include:
- Characterization of the molecular mechanisms driving the development of hematological neoplasms, particularly those involved in tumor transformation.
- Identification of prognostic biomarkers to predict clinical outcomes and disease evolution in patients with hematologic malignancies
- Analysis of resistance mechanisms to therapies, and the identification of predictive biomarkers of treatment response in hematological tumors.
- Discovery of new therapeutic targets to design novel treatments for patients with hematological neoplasms.
Our projects proposed:
- To characterize the molecular mechanisms of MYC activation and TP53 dysfunction during the tumoral transformation from chronic lymphocytic leukemia to Richter Syndrome
- To discover novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia with Richter Transformation using high-troughput CRISPR screenings
- To identify novel combinatorial therapies to synergize with targeted agents and immunotherapy approaches in B-cell neoplasms
- Characterization of the molecular mechanisms driving the development of hematological neoplasms, particularly those involved in tumor transformation.
- Identification of prognostic biomarkers to predict clinical outcomes and disease evolution in patients with hematologic malignancies
- Analysis of resistance mechanisms to therapies, and the identification of predictive biomarkers of treatment response in hematological tumors.
- Discovery of new therapeutic targets to design novel treatments for patients with hematological neoplasms.
Our projects proposed:
- To characterize the molecular mechanisms of MYC activation and TP53 dysfunction during the tumoral transformation from chronic lymphocytic leukemia to Richter Syndrome
- To discover novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia with Richter Transformation using high-troughput CRISPR screenings
- To identify novel combinatorial therapies to synergize with targeted agents and immunotherapy approaches in B-cell neoplasms
Key words
Application requirements
Professional Experience & Documents
María Hernández-Sánchez (MHS) has a degree in Biotechnology (2010) from the University
of Salamanca (USAL) and 2 masters (2011, 2012, USAL). Complementarily, she collaborated
in research with Hernández-Rivas’ group at Cancer Research Center-USAL (2010, MEC
collaboration grant; 2013 FEHH grant). She got a “Junta de Castilla y León” PhD grant to
perform her PhD in Biosciences: Biology&Cancer Clinic (2013-2017, USAL). In 2017, she
completed her PhD (Extraordinary Prize, International Mention). Her thesis focused on omics
analysis of B-cell neoplasms such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), revealing novel
biomarkers (4 publications as first author) as well as, for the first time, detecting genetic lesions
in hematopoietic progenitors in CLL (Hernández-Sánchez JHO 2017 D1). In 2015, she was
funded (SEHH, RTICC) to spend a year in Wu’s group (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston)
which is one of the most important research groups of lymphoid malignancies. This allowed
her to learn CRISPR techniques. From 2017 to 2019, she also worked as a postdoc researcher
(FEHH grant) in Wu’s lab (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). Her study was focused on the study of the functional effects of mutations through CRISPR-edited in vitro models (HernándezSánchez M Leukemia 2019 D1) as well as in vivo models which successfully developed CLL
and lymphoma (ten Hacken Blood Cancer Discov 2023 D1). She also applied CRISPR
screenings to decipher the mechanisms of drug resistance in lymphoid disorders
(Guièze&Hernández-Sánchez Cancer Cell 2019 D1 329 cites). These studies have produced
a high impact in the scientific community, generating highly cited publications in high-impact
journals (Science, Nature Medicine). This stage has allowed her to establish fruitfully
international collaborations with high-impact publications (6 D1, 2 Q1) and ongoing projects to
elucidate the molecular mechanisms in lymphoid neoplasms and tumor evolution (4 oral
commun. ASH). In 2019, she joined as a postdoctoral researcher to Hernández-Rivas’ group
at IBSAL to apply her experience on sequencing and CRISPR for the study of hematological
tumors. From 2020 to 2022, she got a Sara Borrell postdoctoral contract to develop a project
about the impact of concurrent genetic alterations on lymphoproliferative disorders and drug
sensitivity (she also got Juan de la Cierva-Formación which was to be denied due to
incompatibility issues). In this time, she established collaborations with European groups such
as Pospisilova’s lab where she also made a stay to evaluate the impact of gene mutations on
clonal evolution (Hernández-Sánchez Leukemia 2018, D1) and she has participated in a multicenter European study (ERIC-HARMONY) to describe the prognosis impact of mutations in
CLL (Mansouri Leukemia 2022 D1). Since January 2022, she is PhD Assistant Professor (Dep.
Biochemistry&Molecular Biology, Pharmacy School, UCM) where she is building her own
research group about the molecular characterization of hematologic malignancies, specially,
lymphoid neoplasms, through omics analysis and CRISPR technology. She is also a young
emergent group leader in the context of Translational Hematology Group (Instituto de
Investigación Hospital 12 Octubre-CNIO). Recently, she has got funding for two projects as PI
(MINECO) or co-PI (CRISCancer) to identify novel target genes in high-risk groups of lymphoid
neoplasms by CRISPR screenings and multi-omic analysis.
MHS believes that communication to the public is equally important. She has participated in
several innovative projects and science outreach activities. She collaborates with publications
in journals/blogs (“Genética Médica”, Addgene, Microbacterium) and has co-leaded the project
“Musicómica” to disseminate molecular biology through the music. She usually participates in
#CONÓCELAS-ASEICA (2022, 2023) and International Women Day in Science to encourage
young women to develop scientific careers (Award ASECIA 2022). She is coordinator and
treasurer of the non-profit association Crowdfight (>45,000 members) to catalyze research
collaborations to make science more collective, obtaining European funds. She has
participated in projects with industries (Novartis, Roche), and now she is co-leading a project
to identify drug resistance mechanisms by CRIPSR screenings in myeloproliferative disorders
(MISP). She has also a project with the spin-off Spotlab to integrate the artificial intelligence in
the study of blood cancers (ISCIII-CDTI). She also collaborates with Altum sequencing to
design a NGS panel for multiple myeloma and others lymphoid diseases.
She has also experience in training 8 MSc students, 6 BSc, 10 undergraduate students (funded
by AECC, “Beca Colaboración UCM”). She is currently co-directing 2 PhD thesis, 2 Master’s
thesis and 2 final degree projects. She is editor of special issues (Frontiers) and reviewer in
journals (Nat Commun, Cancers...). She has participated as a member of PhD tribunals and
committees of meetings (ASEICA, EHA). She is a member of scientific societies (SEBBM,
ASEICA, SEHH, EHA). She is author of 48 publications (31 in Q1 -12 in D1-, 14 as first/last
author), with a total impact factor higher than 200 (h-index 22). She has participated in 25
research and 7 educational projects, and she has got 12 grants. She has participated in more
than 100 works in meetings and 3 invited talks. She has got 6 prizes.
of Salamanca (USAL) and 2 masters (2011, 2012, USAL). Complementarily, she collaborated
in research with Hernández-Rivas’ group at Cancer Research Center-USAL (2010, MEC
collaboration grant; 2013 FEHH grant). She got a “Junta de Castilla y León” PhD grant to
perform her PhD in Biosciences: Biology&Cancer Clinic (2013-2017, USAL). In 2017, she
completed her PhD (Extraordinary Prize, International Mention). Her thesis focused on omics
analysis of B-cell neoplasms such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), revealing novel
biomarkers (4 publications as first author) as well as, for the first time, detecting genetic lesions
in hematopoietic progenitors in CLL (Hernández-Sánchez JHO 2017 D1). In 2015, she was
funded (SEHH, RTICC) to spend a year in Wu’s group (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston)
which is one of the most important research groups of lymphoid malignancies. This allowed
her to learn CRISPR techniques. From 2017 to 2019, she also worked as a postdoc researcher
(FEHH grant) in Wu’s lab (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). Her study was focused on the study of the functional effects of mutations through CRISPR-edited in vitro models (HernándezSánchez M Leukemia 2019 D1) as well as in vivo models which successfully developed CLL
and lymphoma (ten Hacken Blood Cancer Discov 2023 D1). She also applied CRISPR
screenings to decipher the mechanisms of drug resistance in lymphoid disorders
(Guièze&Hernández-Sánchez Cancer Cell 2019 D1 329 cites). These studies have produced
a high impact in the scientific community, generating highly cited publications in high-impact
journals (Science, Nature Medicine). This stage has allowed her to establish fruitfully
international collaborations with high-impact publications (6 D1, 2 Q1) and ongoing projects to
elucidate the molecular mechanisms in lymphoid neoplasms and tumor evolution (4 oral
commun. ASH). In 2019, she joined as a postdoctoral researcher to Hernández-Rivas’ group
at IBSAL to apply her experience on sequencing and CRISPR for the study of hematological
tumors. From 2020 to 2022, she got a Sara Borrell postdoctoral contract to develop a project
about the impact of concurrent genetic alterations on lymphoproliferative disorders and drug
sensitivity (she also got Juan de la Cierva-Formación which was to be denied due to
incompatibility issues). In this time, she established collaborations with European groups such
as Pospisilova’s lab where she also made a stay to evaluate the impact of gene mutations on
clonal evolution (Hernández-Sánchez Leukemia 2018, D1) and she has participated in a multicenter European study (ERIC-HARMONY) to describe the prognosis impact of mutations in
CLL (Mansouri Leukemia 2022 D1). Since January 2022, she is PhD Assistant Professor (Dep.
Biochemistry&Molecular Biology, Pharmacy School, UCM) where she is building her own
research group about the molecular characterization of hematologic malignancies, specially,
lymphoid neoplasms, through omics analysis and CRISPR technology. She is also a young
emergent group leader in the context of Translational Hematology Group (Instituto de
Investigación Hospital 12 Octubre-CNIO). Recently, she has got funding for two projects as PI
(MINECO) or co-PI (CRISCancer) to identify novel target genes in high-risk groups of lymphoid
neoplasms by CRISPR screenings and multi-omic analysis.
MHS believes that communication to the public is equally important. She has participated in
several innovative projects and science outreach activities. She collaborates with publications
in journals/blogs (“Genética Médica”, Addgene, Microbacterium) and has co-leaded the project
“Musicómica” to disseminate molecular biology through the music. She usually participates in
#CONÓCELAS-ASEICA (2022, 2023) and International Women Day in Science to encourage
young women to develop scientific careers (Award ASECIA 2022). She is coordinator and
treasurer of the non-profit association Crowdfight (>45,000 members) to catalyze research
collaborations to make science more collective, obtaining European funds. She has
participated in projects with industries (Novartis, Roche), and now she is co-leading a project
to identify drug resistance mechanisms by CRIPSR screenings in myeloproliferative disorders
(MISP). She has also a project with the spin-off Spotlab to integrate the artificial intelligence in
the study of blood cancers (ISCIII-CDTI). She also collaborates with Altum sequencing to
design a NGS panel for multiple myeloma and others lymphoid diseases.
She has also experience in training 8 MSc students, 6 BSc, 10 undergraduate students (funded
by AECC, “Beca Colaboración UCM”). She is currently co-directing 2 PhD thesis, 2 Master’s
thesis and 2 final degree projects. She is editor of special issues (Frontiers) and reviewer in
journals (Nat Commun, Cancers...). She has participated as a member of PhD tribunals and
committees of meetings (ASEICA, EHA). She is a member of scientific societies (SEBBM,
ASEICA, SEHH, EHA). She is author of 48 publications (31 in Q1 -12 in D1-, 14 as first/last
author), with a total impact factor higher than 200 (h-index 22). She has participated in 25
research and 7 educational projects, and she has got 12 grants. She has participated in more
than 100 works in meetings and 3 invited talks. She has got 6 prizes.
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