People

Patricia Sancho, PhD: Principal Investigator

I’m a Cellular Biologist, passionate about science and, especially, about cancer research.

I obtained by PhD in 2004 and moved to Paris (Pasteur Institute) for a first short posdoct. After that, I joined Dt. Isabel Fabregat´s lab in 2006 at IDIBELL (Barcelona, Spain). In 2012, I joined Prof. Heeschen´s group at CNIO (Madrid) as staff scientist. I started my independent career as a Lecturer at Barts Cancer Institute (London, UK) in 2014 and moved the lab to Zaragoza (IIS Aragón) in 2017.

Funding this group has been the most amazing adventure, and I feel grateful and proud of each one of its members. Team work is our most representative value!

Alejandra González Loyola, PhD: senior postdoctoral researcher

I am a Molecular Biologist intrigued to find new avenues for cancer therapies by modulating the vascular network. With that purpose I have combined the multidisciplinary fields of vascular biology, cancer microenvironment and tissue engineering. I performed my PhD in Prof. Marcos Malumbres’ lab (2010-2015) at CNIO, where I obtained a solid background on cell and molecular biology and animal models. For my postdoc I joined in 2015 the lab of Prof.Tatiana Petrova, in Switzerland. This period gave me the knowledge and expertise on vascular biology, tumor microenvironment and cancer therapies. After obtaining a highly competitive Maria Zambrano Returning Talent Fellowship in 2022, I started working on the mechanobiology of tumor microenvironment as Senior Scientist at the M2BE lab at I3A, University of Zaragoza. In June 2023 I have started a new adventure at the Metabolism and Cancer Stem Cell lab (IIS Aragón) thanks to obtaining an MSCA Seal of Excellence grant. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8612-0393

Beatriz Parejo-Alonso, PhD: postdoctoral researcher

I’m a recently doctorated (UNIZAR, 2023) Biomedical Scientist. In 2008, I met Dr. Patricia Sancho during the practical training of my 2-year specialty degree in Pathological Anatomy and Cytology (IDIBELL, Barcelona). Since then, I knew I wanted to pursue a scientific career in cancer. I obtained both my BSc (UB, 2014) and MSc (UB-UAB, 2016) degrees in the beautiful city of Barcelona, where I am from. After that, I joined Dr. Sancho’s team to start the laboratory here in Zaragoza, first as a technician and then as a predoctoral researcher. During my PhD I’ve been able to delve into pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs) features in order to turn them into vulnerabilities amendable for therapeutic intervention. Now, I’m continuing expanding my knowledge as a postdoctoral researcher in the lab working in a completely new landscape: the immunoevasive phenotype of PaCSCs. I’m beyond grateful and happy to be able to continue side by side with Patricia and the team!

Pilar Espiau-Romera, Msc: PhD student

Since I was very young I have been interested in biology. At first it was in a general way to find out what would make everything work properly in nature. Later I was intrigued by the way in which human beings can take advantage of biology knowledge to improve their health. I was graduated in Biotechnology by the Universidad de Zaragoza. During my fourth degree course I participated in the Erasmus program in KU Leuven (Belgium), where developed the thesis for my final degree project. During course 2019-2020, I did a Master on Molecular Biomedicine in the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). I did several summer practicums in Dr. Sancho´s lab, also my Master thesis on PDAC stratification and I was hired for 1,5 years as research technician. This year I started a pFIS predoctoral fellowship, so I am very excited to remain here for 4 years doing my PhD.

Alba Royo-García, Msc: PhD student

I’m a Biochemist and Molecular Biologist and a Biotechnologist. Since I was a child I have been keen on science. I used to do home-made experiments pretending to be scientific. When I was in the high school I was passionate about biochemistry and particularly in the field of cancer. I was graduated in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology by the University Rovira i Virgili of Tarragona. I developed one of the final degree projects in Dr. Sancho’s laboratory. Afterwards, during the term of September 2020 – February 2021 I have done a post grade on Specialization in Research in Scientific Areas in the University of Zaragoza, whose practicums I did in Dr. Sancho’s lab. Later, I joined in her laboratory for 9 months from March 2021 until November 2021 as a research technician. In October 2021 I started the Master on Cellular and Molecular Biology in the University of Zaragoza, and I carried out my master’s final project in the group. Very recently, I obtained a predoctoral contract from the Spanish AECC, starting on September 2022. I am delighted to keep being part of this group!!

Irene Chavarría, Msc: technician

I studied Health Biology at University of Alcalá and my final degree project was based on the study of the antipsychotics’ clozapine and risperidone effect on intracellular lipid trafficking. Subsequently, I worked for two years on this research, at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital of Madrid. Meanwhile, I completed a master’s degree in Initiation to Mental Health Research at Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). In my master’s thesis, I researched the role of inflammatory mediators and kynurenine pathway in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder at Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology group at UCM.

I’m interested in the knowledge about biological and cell mechanisms, especially in the field of cancer and neurobiology. Therefore, I have started working in the laboratory of Dra. Patricia Sancho at IIS Aragón, investigating the inhibition of mitochondrial metabolism as a new therapeutic strategy for medulloblastoma, funded by Cuenca Villoro Foundation.

PhD students in co-supervision

Isabel Villaoslada Casaled, Msc: PhD Student

Pursuing my interest in development a research career in Biomedicine, I graduated as a Biotechnologist at the University of Zaragoza in 2019. During my last year, I studied abroad with the Erasmus program at the Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania where I developed my final bachelor thesis. Later I enrolled in the Master in Health Biotecnology at the Pablo de Olavide University. During my Master final thesis, I took part in a translational research group where I improved my knowledge in the field of clinical biotechnology in two different approaches, one of them related to laboratory techniques and a more clinical approach when working with direct patient samples. Motivated by my enthusiasm for contributing to the welfare of the society, I am currently doing my PhD in Dr. Sancho’s lab in collaboration with Dr. García Aznar’s group which consists in the development of tumor-on-chip platforms for studying new therapeutical approaches for PDAC treatment. also working in a collaborative team that specializes in microchip devices. I am grateful and looking forward to learning all I can in this new stage of my career!

Paula Martín-Rubio, Msc: PhD student

Since I strongly believe that science is a powerful tool to improve society, I have led my career toward biomedical research. I graduated in Biotechnology from University of Zaragoza in 2018. During my 4^th course, I participated in a student exchange at National University of Litoral in Santa Fe, Argentina. In 2020, I obtained a master degree in Genetics and Evolution from University of Granada. I performed my final master project in Genetics of Complex Diseases group of GENYO Centre, which was awarded with Honors. In 2021, I joined Dr. Sancho’s lab to work on a project that use metabolism to find therapeutic targets for medulloblastoma. I worked during two years in this exciting project, trying to get new insights that could help pediatric patients. In January 2024, I started my PhD, which will be co-supervised by Dr. Rebeca Sanz Pamplona and Dr. Patricia Sancho Andrés. Thanks to a pFIS fellowship, I will work to use NK cells as a treatment for lung metastasis in gastrointestinal tumors. I’m looking forward to giving my best in this new opportunity!

Former members of the group

**Laia Fontdevila, PhD**. Research assistant (25/02/2025; 24/08/2025)

**Ariadna Arranz, Msc**. Research technician (15/07/2024-14/07/2025)

**Tere Mingo, Msc**. Research technician (15/09/2024; 05/01/2025)

**Maria Blasco, Msc**. Research Technician (04/22-04/24)

**Flor Navarro, PhD**. Senior postdoctoral researcher (12/23-05/24)

**Marta Mascaraque, PhD**. Postdoctoral Researcher (10/21-12/23)

**Sarah Courtois, PhD**. Postdoctoral Researcher (09/19-05/21)

**Petra Jagust, PhD**. PhD student (07/2014-06/2018) at BCI.

**Beatriz de Luxán-Delgado, PhD.** Postdoc (03/2016-07/2017) at BCI.

Carmen Lorente. Research technician (07/18-11/18).

**José Luis Aldea**. Research Technician (09/19-03/20).

Former Msc and Bsc students

**Inés Ortiz de Solórzano**. Msc student (10/23-06/24). Msc thesis: “Chemosensitivity profile based on metabolic classification of pancreatic cancer: chemotherapy and metabolic inhibitors”

**Andrés Gordo**. Undergrad student (10/23-06/24). Bsc Thesis: “Assessing pancreatic cancer stem cell´s phenotype under adaptation to serine and glycine deficiency: role in the metabolic plasticity and immune evasion properties”

Andrei Stoian. Msc student (03/21-08/21). Msc thesis: “Role of lipid droplets as chemoresistance mechanism in pancreatic cancer”.

Luis Mardomingo. Undergrad student (10/21-01/22). Bsc thesis: “Combination of chemotherapy and ALK receptor inhibitors to improve pancreatic cancer treatment outcomes”

Alicia Lasierra. Msc student (02/20-06/20). Msc thesis: “Relationship of mitochondrial dynamics with
aggressive phenotypes of pancreatic cancer: pluripotency and migration”

**Alba Royo**. Undergrad student (07/19-08/19). Bsc thesis: ” Inhibition of mitochondrial dynamics preferentially targets pancreatic cancer cells with enhanced tumorigenic and invasive potential”.

**Hazel Santander**. Undergrad student (10/17-06/18). Bsc thesis: ” Inhibition of lipid metabolism in primary cultures from pancreatic cancer patients”.

Amy Rose Hudson. Undergrad student (09/16-02/17). Bsc thesis: “Cellular effects of the inhibition of the tyrosine kinase receptor ALK in Pancreatic Cancer”.