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Zamira Vanessa Diaz Riascos

I am a researcher in the Drug Delivery and Targeting (DDT) group, and our research is focused on improving the treatment of minority diseases such and cancer using nanomedicine in animal models. In addition, I am responsible for the in vivo section of the Functional Validation & Preclinical Research (FVPR) platform of the Nanbiosis U20.

Institutions of which they are part

Senior researcher
Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery & Therapy (CB-DDT)
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca

Zamira Vanessa Diaz Riascos

Institutions of which they are part

Senior researcher
Clinical Biochemistry, Drug Delivery & Therapy (CB-DDT)
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca

I am a researcher in the Drug Delivery and Targeting (DDT) group, and our research is focused on improving the treatment of minority diseases such and cancer using nanomedicine in animal models. In addition, I am responsible for the in vivo section of the Functional Validation & Preclinical Research (FVPR) platform of the Nanbiosis U20.

I obtained the degree of Biology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain) in 2007. Also, in the same year I obtained the title of Official Master's Degree in Advanced Genetics from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. During my PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Gabriel Capellà (ICO-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain), I implanted an orthotopic mouse model, perpetuating human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues. I gained a strong understanding of mouse surgery with considerable experience including: handling of clinical human samples, processing of samples derived from mouse models, and data analysis. My project focused on a molecular biology study characterizing the most frequent genes involved in this type of tumor. In addition, during my PhD I investigated the role of microRNAs, the miR-200 family, and ZEBs in PDAC primary tumors, patient-derived xenografts, and in cells that overexpress miR-200 by lentivirus transduction. I did an 11-month stay at the “Centre de recherches en cancerologie” of Toulouse, Inserm-Université Toulouse, France, under the supervision of Dr. Pierre Cordelier. Where I was trained to produce lentivirus, development of experiments with cell cultures and Western Blot analysis. Since 2016, I have been in the area of Functional Validation & Preclinical Research (FVPR) and I am currently responsible for the in vivo section, I also have a postdoctoral position in the Drug Delivery and Targeting group led by Dr. Abasolo. I have participated in multiple projects international and national studies using animal models for the validation of new therapeutic targets and new components of nanomedicine for cancer therapy. I recently participated in the development of the preclinical part of the Nocanther project, where magnetic hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy was studied in a mouse model for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Nocanther is currently in the clinical phase. In addition, in these last 5 years, I have gained great experience in the field of lysosomal diseases, such as Fabry disease. In this case, I have studied the liposomes and extracellular vesicles as transport agents for the enzyme absent in this disease (GLA). I have carried out studies on the toxicity, biodistribution and efficacy of these nanoparticles in a GLA-deficient mouse model, obtaining published results. I am currently managing and maintaining a colony of transgenic mice. I also participate in a European project (Mimickey) that studies the disease of pycnodysosotosis (cathesin deficiency).
In addition, I have extensive experience in experimental imaging models and functional applications of bioluminescent or fluorescent non-invasive optical imaging. Work under ISO9001 conditions.

Projects

MIMIC-KeY - A KEY TO THE RATIONAL DESIGN OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES-MIMICKING NANOPARTICLES.

IP: Ibane Abasolo Olaortua
Collaborators: Joaquin Seras Franzoso, Guillem Pintos Morell, Zamira Vanessa Diaz Riascos, Simon Schwartz Navarro
Funding agency: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Funding: 457250
Reference: MIMIC-KEY_H2020-FETPROACT-2020
Duration: 01/06/2021 - 31/05/2025

NanoDIRE-CT - Uso de nanobodies para terapia dirigida contra células madre tumorales

IP: Ibane Abasolo Olaortua
Collaborators: Sandra Mancilla Zamora, Zamira Vanessa Diaz Riascos, Fernanda Raquel Da Silva Andrade, Diana Fernandes de Rafael, Simon Schwartz Navarro
Funding agency: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación-MICINN
Funding: 322172.61
Reference: RTC2019-006809-1
Duration: 01/09/2020 - 31/12/2023

Ministerio de Ciencia

Desenvolupament de noves nanopartícules funcionals dirigides al nòdul limfàtic per a l'eliminació del reservori latent de VIH

IP: María José Buzón Gómez
Collaborators: Ibane Abasolo Olaortua, Félix Pumarola Segura, Juan Lorente Guerrero, Laura García Latorre, Jordi Temprana Salvador, Joaquin Seras Franzoso, Marc Pellicer Sarasa, David Perea Pérez, Simon Schwartz Navarro, Jordi Navarro Mercadé, Sandra Mancilla Zamora, Zamira Vanessa Diaz Riascos, Judit Grau Exposito, Meritxell Genesca Ferrer, Fernanda Raquel Da Silva Andrade, Diana Fernandes de Rafael
Funding agency: Fundació La Marató de TV3
Funding: 199998.75
Reference: 20180510
Duration: 10/05/2019 - 31/12/2022

Evolvable platform for designing cancer treatment strategies using nanoparticles (EVO-NANO)

IP: Ibane Abasolo Olaortua
Collaborators: Joaquin Seras Franzoso, Simon Schwartz Navarro, Sandra Mancilla Zamora, Zamira Vanessa Diaz Riascos, Belen Garcia Prats
Funding agency: EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Funding: 568847.5
Reference: EVO-NANO_H2020FETOPEN2017
Duration: 01/10/2018 - 31/03/2022

Related news

The European project, in which Vall d'Hebron participates, will favor personalized diagnosis and innovative therapeutic strategies in patients with the disease.

In total, different projects of six research groups will be promoted, focusing on precision medicine and advanced therapies.

During the last year, the collaboration between Vall d’Hebron and ZeClinics has found three nanobody candidates with potent anticancer properties in zebrafish model.

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