Raquel Cruz Guerrero
Dr Raquel Cruz Guerrero is a senior researcher at the Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica, a member of IDIS, and Head of the Data Analysis Unit at CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela. She specialises in statistical genetics and bioinformatics, leading the analysis of large-scale genomic datasets across multiple competitive research projects.
Her research focuses on the genetic basis of complex diseases in large cohorts, with particular expertise in admixed populations, population substructure and the interpretation of complex genetic variation. She has also contributed extensively to the development and evaluation of polygenic risk scores (PRS), particularly assessing their transferability and limitations across diverse populations.
A significant part of her recent work has been carried out within the SCOURGE consortium, one of the largest national initiatives on COVID-19 genetics in Spain. She was first author of the GWAS on COVID-19 severity in the Spanish population, identifying a novel signal in AQP3 and contributing to the characterisation of sex-specific genetic effects. Her work has also contributed to major international collaborations, including large-scale meta-analyses published in Nature, which identified key therapeutic targets such as JAK1.
Beyond COVID-19, Dr Cruz Guerrero has contributed to genomic studies across a wide range of diseases, including cancer, periodontal disease (notably in Down syndrome), cardiovascular traits and neurodevelopmental disorders, demonstrating broad expertise in GWAS and meta-analysis methodologies.
She plays a leading or key role in several competitive projects, including PI24/00561 (2024–2027) on the genetic and microbial basis of severe periodontitis, where she serves as co-Principal Investigator; SmartOmics (PMP24/00026), focused on suicide prevention through digital phenotyping and pharmacogenomics, where she is group leader; and PMP22/00033 (2023–2025), a large population-based GWAS on coronary heart disease involving over 100,000 participants. She has also contributed to major ISCIII-funded projects on COVID-19 genetics (COV20/00622) and on the genetic basis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (PI22/00208 and PI19/00809).
Dr Cruz Guerrero is a member of CIBERER and an expert in the national mirror group for the “Genome of Europe” initiative within the European “1+ Million Genomes” project, supporting standardisation and federated access to genomic data at the European level.
She has authored more than 70 scientific publications and supervised several doctoral, master’s and undergraduate theses across disciplines including Medicine, Biology and Mathematics. Her transversal and highly specialised role makes her a key contributor to precision medicine initiatives, with recognised expertise in computational genomics, population genetics and translational risk modelling.