Our professionals

Dr. Sara Labiano Almiñana

Principal investigator of the research group on Radio-immunotherapy Strategies for Pediatric Tumors, Solid Tumor Program.Preferential dedication to the study of immunomodulatory therapies together with radiotherapy for the treatment of childhood brain tumors with a focus on effectiveness, mechanism of action and quality of life of patients.

Be part of: Cima Universidad de Navarra
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Professional career

  • Degree in Biology from the University of Navarra in 2010.
  • Master in Biomedical Research at the University of Navarra in 2011.
  • PhD in Biology from the University of Navarra in 2016.
  • Postdoctoral stay at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) (2017-2019).
  • Postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Pediatrics of CUN in the laboratory of Dr. Marta Alonso Roldán (2020-2024).

RESEARCH AREAS

She is currently applying his expertise in cancer immunotherapy to the translational study of radio-immunotherapy combinations for the treatment of childhood brain tumors. The patient's quality of life is the focus of part of his work. To this end, she studies the role of the immune system, both peripheral and resident, in the central nervous system, in the development of neuroprotective therapies that prevent or limit the appearance of cognitive sequelae associated with the treatment of childhood brain tumors. 

She is co-inventor of a patent (submitted) aimed at preventing cognitive impairment after brain radiotherapy in pediatric patients.

AREAS OF INTEREST

  • Optimization of radiotherapy in combination with immunotherapy as first-line treatment for childhood brain tumors such as Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG).
  • Development of neuroprotective immune strategies against radiotherapy-associated cognitive impairment in high- and low-grade childhood brain tumors.

Activity

As an educator

Co-direction of 2 doctoral theses and 3 Master's Thesis (one of them awarded with the 1st prize in the Certamen Arquímedes de Introducción a la Actividad Científica del Ministerio de Universidades).

As a researcher

  • Co-author of more than 30 scientific articles in journals such as Neuro-Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, NEJM, Cancer Cell.... 
  • Principal Investigator in projects funded by public and private entities (International Collaboration Plan of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Blanca Morell Foundation, Alicia Koplowitz Foundation, CRIS Against Cancer Foundation). 
  • Author of 2 patents.
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Grants / Scholarships

Programa CRIS Líder Emergente (2024)

More information

Icono Scopus   SCOPUS

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