Happy Thursdays with Alejandro & Lara

Apoptotic Secreted Factors as Drivers of Apoptosis-Induced Senescence (AIS)

Senescence and apoptosis are two essential cellular responses that maintain tissue homeostasis by eliminating damaged cells. Although traditionally considered independent, we demonstrate through conditioned media assays that apoptotic cells release signals capable of inducing senescence in neighbouring cells. Furthermore, we explore the underlying mechanisms, highlighting the contributions of mitochondrial integrity and inflammatory signalling.

CV highlights: 

Biotechnologist graduated in 2022 at the University of Santiago de Compostela. In that year, I joined the Laboratory of Cell Senescence, Cancer, and Aging at the Clinical University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), which earlier this year moved to CiMUS. In 2023, I completed a Master's degree in Biomedical Research at the same university. In 2024, I was awarded a PhD fellowship from the Spanish Cancer Research Association (AECC). My PhD research focuses on exploring the relationship between apoptosis and senescence, unravelling their implications in both physiological and pathological processes.

Alejandro Failde Fiestras. PhD student, Cell Senescence, Cancer and Aging Group (P1L5-6), CiMUS

Development and Validation of Blood Brain Barrier-Penetrating Bispecific Antibodies for ImmunoPET Imaging in Neurological Disorders

Immuno-Positron Emission Tomography (ImmunoPET) is a powerful, non-invasive in vivo imaging technique that uses antibody-based radiopharmaceuticals for precise molecular characterization of diseases, owing to their high specificity and selectivit y for target antigens. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the entry of these molecules, limiting their use in brain imaging. To address this, we developed BBB-penetrating bispecific antibodies that bind both the transferrin receptor (to cross the BBB via receptor-mediated transcytosis) and brain-specific targets such as EGFRvIII (in glioblastoma) or phosphorylated tau (in Alzheimer’s disease). In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed strong target binding and significantly enhanced BBB penetration compared to conventional antibodies. These results support the use of BBB-penetrating bispecific antibodies as radiopharmaceuticals for advancing brain ImmunoPET.

CV highlights:

I hold a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Pharmacy from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), and a PhD in Medical Sciences from the University of Groningen (the Netherlands). As a postdoctoral researcher, I have worked for approximately two years in the Molecular Imaging Biomarkers and Theragnosis Lab at IDIS and CiMUS (Spain), and an additional two years in the Molecular Geriatrics Group at Uppsala University (Sweden). Throughout my research career, I have focused on the development and validation of novel radiopharmaceuticals, the execution of in vivo imaging studies, and the establishment of advanced quantitative PET imaging methodologies. My work has primarily centered on the use of PET imaging in brain disorders, with particular emphasis on enhancing radiopharmaceutical delivery across the blood-brain barrier.
 

Lara García Varela. Postdoc at the Molecular Imaging Biomarkers and Theragnosis Lab (P0L6), CiMUS. 

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