‘The overall aim of our research is to identify and characterize new patterns and mechanisms of genomic alteration in disease’

Research lines

Patterns and mechanisms of structural variation in cancer development and disease

Using computational approaches, we aim to identify and characterize new patterns and mechanisms of structural variation in the cancer genome and, generally, in disease. We also investigate the impact of retrotransposons and viruses on the structure and the function of eukaryotic genomes, and the role this mobile DNA play in disease, particularly in cancer.
Pan-Cancer project

Long-range regulatory interactions in the context of the 3D cancer genome

We employ multi-omics approaches to illuminate the mutational mechanisms by which somatic retrotransposition reorganizes the topography of the 3D cancer genome and alters the landscape of long-range enhancer-promoter interactions to, finally, deregulate cancer gene expression. We believe this will provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of mutation and gene regulation that explain the complexity of eukaryotic genomes, and the essence of what makes us humans.

Somatic mutation in normal tissues and disease

We investigate the genetic causes involved in the aging of normal human tissues and its relationship with cancer. Using cutting-edge genomic sequencing techniques and computational analysis, we aim to identify the driver genetic mutations that are responsible for the clonal expansions that occur immediately before malignant transformation. We believe this will help to improve early diagnosis and prevention of cancer.