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Marta Montes. Cima Universidad de Navarra

Dr. Marta Montes Resano

Principal investigator of the RNA and Senescence group.
Preferential dedication to the study of RNA in cellular senescence in cancer and aging.

Be part of: Cima Universidad de Navarra

INDEX H 10

Professional career

Degree in Biology and Biochemistry. University of Navarra 2006 and 2007.
Predoctoral stay at the University of Sherbrooke (Canada, 2010).
PhD in Immunology from the University of Granada (Spain), June 2012.
Postdoctoral stay at BRIC-University of Copenhagen (2013-2021).
Senior postdoc at CIMA (2021-2024).

RESEARCH AREAS

She has participated in 7 national and international research projects.

She is actively engaged in science communication, including speaking at events like International Women's Day and Science Day, and writing opinion articles.

She has been awarded with competitive grants throughout her research career, including an FPU (Ministry of Education), two Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowships (2014 and 2024), and an AECC Investigator grant (2023), which she declined to accept a Ramón y Cajal contract (2024).

She has conducted Pioneer research elucidating the role of RNA in senescence, currently focusing on a more translational field, studying senescence in cancer and aging.

AREAS OF INTEREST

Throughout my career, I have focused on studying how RNA and its metabolism regulate key cellular processes such as cell death and senescence. Currently, our laboratory is focused on studying the role of RNA in senescence in the context of cancer and aging, and its relationship with the microenvironment. We aim to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms and develop novel therapies for senescence-related diseases.

Our main research lines are:

Study of long non-coding RNAs as biomarkers to identify and target therapy-induced senescence in ovarian cancer.
Study of the role of RNA modifications in therapy-induced senescence to discover new therapeutic strategies in ovarian cancer
Study of the interaction of RNA with metabolic enzymes in the regulation of senescent cell metabolism

Activity

As an educator

Dr. Montes has co-supervised doctoral theses at the University of Copenhagen (1, completed) and the University of Navarra (2, ongoing).
She has served as instructor in the Molecular Biology practicum for medical students at the University of Copenhagen.
She has participated as lecturer in a doctoral course.
She has written outreach science articles.

As a researcher

Dr. Montes has published 15 articles in international journals, most of them in Q1.
She has participated in numerous national and international conferences where she has presented her work in oral communications being an invited speaker in several of them.
She has been invited as a speaker in national and international centers.
She is a regular reviewer of international journals such as Oncogene, Cell Death and Disease, etc.
She has participated as an evaluator in national and international projects.
She is an active member of national and international associations (Ribored, SEBBM, ASEICA, RNA Society, ICSA).