Marie Curie-UKRI Postdoctoral Individual Fellow

I am Dr. Beatriz Lozano-Torres, a senior postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge with over 10 years of national and international experience in nanotechnology, molecular recognition, and biomedicine. My work focuses on the design and application of smart nanomaterials for therapeutic delivery and in vivo disease detection. I have expertise in synthesizing, characterizing, and validating mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and protein-based nanoparticles. I completed my PhD at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), supported by the FPU Fellowship. My doctoral research pioneered selective approaches for detecting and eliminating senescent cells using molecular probes and gated nanoparticles. This work resulted in multiple high-impact publications (Nat. Commun., J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Nat. Chem. Rev, EMBO Mol. Med, Aging Cell, Anal Chem.), international collaborations, and awards, including the Young Researcher Award from CIBER-BBN. Following my PhD, I joined the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol) as a Margarita Salas Fellow, where we developed novel strategies for encapsulating bioactive proteins in MOFs, preserving their activity and enabling controlled release under physiological conditions. This work became foundational for my research on multifunctional nanocarriers. In 2022, I joined the CEB department at the University of Cambridge first as an APOSTD, and later as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow. My current work focuses on bioinspired nanocarriers for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, one of the most lethal cancers. I tackle challenges such as tumor hypoxia and stromal resistance, advancing 3D culturing techniques and hypoxia models to better replicate the tumor microenvironment. I am deeply committed to innovation and technology transfer. As a co-founder of OpticalSense S.L., I contributed to the commercialization of sensors for cellular senescence and date-rape drugs to provide safety to mass parties. I am the co-inventor of three patents, two of them licensed. Looking ahead, my primary goal is to establish an independent research group focused on exploiting host-guest interactions in new nucleotide-based biocomposites for efficient gene therapies. I will design tunable nanomaterials capable of delivering nucleic acids, such as miRNA, siRNA, and ASOs, with high specificity and efficiency. I aim to enhance the loading, protection, and release of genetic material within challenging biological environments. These carriers will incorporate responsive features for external stimuli, such as ultrasound or MRI, to ensure precise delivery and activation in targeted tissues. Additionally, I will explore surface modifications that optimize nanoparticle biocompatibility, reduce immunogenicity, and enhance tumor penetration. My research will also address the interaction between these nanocarriers and the disease microenvironment, focusing on modulating inflammation, reprogramming stromal cells, and improving overall therapeutic outcomes. With a strong track record of publications, patents, and competitive funding, I am confident in my ability to lead innovative projects that will have a lasting impact on science and society.