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The revolutionary path of research in NANBIOSIS and advice on Woman’s Day 2024

Our interview series delve into the journeys of 7 female researchers, their challenges, and the call for gender equality in science, inspiring the next generation.

March 8th 2024, NANBIOSIS (Spain)

Kicking off on 11F “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” 2024, and spanning all the way until Woman’s Day 2024, our interview series has aimed to highlight the life, career and opinions of some of the brilliant minds within our network. Today is time to wrap it up, and for this reason we present you a summary of each of them and a chance to take a deeper look.

In these series we delved into the remarkable journeys, research endeavors, and challenges faced by these exceptional women in their pursuit of scientific excellence. From unraveling the mysteries of nanotechnology to pioneering advancements in biosciences, each researcher’s story resonates with perseverance, resilience, and a fervent commitment to breaking barriers. With no doubt their collective message resonates loudly: a call to inspire and empower the next generation of aspiring researchers, regardless of gender, to embark on their own transformative journeys in the world of science and innovation, as well as speaking out on the issues that female researchers still encounter today.

Anna Aviñó speaks about her journey as a researcher and her captivating oligonucleotides.

“Oligonucleotides (…) are recently being approved as new advanced gene therapies for many diseases, including rare and cardiovascular diseases.”

—Dr. Anna Aviñó, scientific coordinator of Unit 29.

Our leading chemist, specialized in nucleic acid chemistry, was the first interview published in these series. She offered us insights into her current projects focused on synthetic and structural studies of oligonucleotides. With a deep understanding of their applications in gene therapies and biosensors, Dr. Aviñó highlighted her contributions to the field and addressed challenges faced as a woman scientist.

Through her expertise and dedication, she advocates for gender equality in science, emphasizing the importance of unbiased education and empowering young women to pursue careers in research.

You can read the full interview here.

Dr. Martín tells us about her innovations in cancer treatment with nanoparticles.

“There are challenging moments during a scientific career (…), but in the end, persistence pays off.”

—Dr. Ana Martín, collaborator scientist in Unit 9.

Ana has a multifaceted background spanning Veterinary Medicine, Biochemistry, and a Ph.D. And in this second part of our series she welcomed us into a world of scientific inquiry and innovation. In this interview, Ana shared her pioneering work in cancer research, utilizing nanoparticles for anti-tumor treatments. Ana also reflected on gender equality in science, the challenges of balancing motherhood with a scientific career, and her aspirations for a more inclusive scientific community.

You can read the full interview here.

Prof. Peña gave us her insightful point of view in overcoming challenges, embracing passion, and cultivating collaborative success towards career estabilization.

“The most important thing in your professional career is to dedicate yourself to something you love (…) that’s incredibly important from a professional point of view.”

—Prof. Estefanía Peña, Scientific Coordinator of Unit 13.

In a captivating interview, Professor Estefanía Peña shared her insights on overcoming challenges, nurturing passion, and fostering collaborative success in achieving career stability. Amidst the bustling R&D environment, Professor Peña’s laboratory serves as a beacon of innovation and determination. With enthusiasm and warmth, she discussed her journey in computational modeling and biomedical engineering, highlighting her experiences, hurdles, and victories. Professor Peña’s story resonates as a testament to perseverance and dedication, offering valuable advice to aspiring researchers on following their passions.

You can read the full interview here.

Our expert in nanocarriers talks about her journey from biotechnology to cancer therapy, an example of passion and perseverance in science.

“I am fortunate to be able to devote myself to something I am passionate about. Research is something I enjoy every day.”

—Dr. María Sancho, Researcher at Unit 9.

Dr. Sancho, our expert in nanocarriers and cancer therapy, shared with us her inspiring journey from biotechnology to groundbreaking research. Set in Zaragoza, Spain, the interview highlighted Maria’s passion and perseverance in pursuing scientific excellence. With warmth and enthusiasm, she discussed her innovative work in developing nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery in cancer treatment. Maria’s story serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring scientists, showcasing the transformative power of dedication and curiosity in the pursuit of scientific advancement.

You can read the full interview here.

Dr. Vílchez, our esteemed colloidal chemistry researcher, discusses her focus on water-in-water emulsions and microcoacervates. She highlights gender biases in science and advocates for inclusivity and recognition of women’s contributions.

“I would advise (young women) to pursue their dreams, to show others what they are capable of, and not to let themselves be underestimated.”

—Dr. Susana Vílchez, technical and quality manager of Unit 12.

Dr. Vílchez offered a profound insight into her research endeavors and career trajectory. Specializing in the characterization of colloidal systems such as micelles, vesicles, emulsions, and more, her current focus lies on the intriguing realm of water-in-water emulsions and the formation of microcoacervates, serving as a model for membraneless organelles (MLO) by introducing DNA into these emulsions. During the interview, Dr. Vílchez also shed light on the gender biases prevalent in her field and offered invaluable perspectives on fostering gender equality in science. Through her experiences and unwavering dedication, she inspires young women to pursue their scientific aspirations while advocating for broader inclusivity and recognition of women’s contributions in shaping the scientific landscape.

You can read the full interview here.

Dr. Mincholé discusses cardiac risk assessment, gender challenges in science, and the transformative potential of Digital Twins in healthcare research.

“(I) design and work on a research line that combines computational models with cardiac signals and images. This was done with the aim of stratifying arrhythmic risk and understanding its mechanisms.”

—Dr. Ana Mincholé, researcher at Unit 27.

In this part 6 of our interview series, Dr. Ana Mincholé discussed her groundbreaking work in cardiac risk assessment, gender challenges in science, and the transformative potential of Digital Twins in healthcare research. Dr. Mincholé’s insights offered a glimpse into her innovative approach to integrating computational models with clinical data to advance cardiac care. Her passion for science and dedication to promoting diversity in STEM shine through, underscoring the invaluable contributions of women in the field.

You can read the full interview here.

As a bosus, we have recently published the last of our interviews in our YouTube channel.

In this part VII, we had the pleasure to interview Dr. Eli Prats, a brilliant researches from Unit 8 and a fantastic science communicator. Watch it full here:

About NANBIOSIS:

The goal of NANBIOSIS is to provide comprehensive and integrated advanced solutions for companies and research institutions in biomedical applications. All of this is done through a single-entry point, involving the design and production of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their nanoconjugates. This includes their characterization from physical-chemical, functional, toxicological, and biological perspectives (preclinical validation).

In order to access our Cutting-Edge Biomedical Solutions, place your request here.

NANBIOSIS has worked with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes in the areas of drug delivery, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Here are a few of them:

Women in NANBIOSIS part 3: Professor Fany Peña, her insights in research, parenthood, and persistence

Prof. Peña gives us her insightful point of view in overcoming challenges, embracing passion, and cultivating collaborative success towards career estabilization.

February 2024, Unizar/CIBER-BBN, Zaragoza (Spain)

The echo of our footsteps returns from the high ceilings filled with electrical conduits and gas pipes. An alarm sounds in the distance, while the warmth of the Zen Garden located in the center of the R&D Building reminds us once again that peace and progress will never be at odds.

We continue forward across the maroon floor, towards one of the access gates that separate each wing of the building. After crossing it, and almost without warning, the echo disappears with the slam of the heavy security door behind us. Now, the noise of the machines muffles our voices and footsteps as we walk through one of the many laboratories of the building. The numerous panels and posters, along with the bustling activity, make it clear that this is a place where science is the undisputed protagonist.

With a strangely welcoming feeling, we enter the spacious laboratory of Professor Estefanía Peña. The light in the room is bright, neutral, and aseptic like the complex machines that adorn it. High-precision devices, some venerable with a history of witnessing scientific breakthroughs, and others, the product of cutting-edge engineering, now contributing to new frontiers.

Two people await us in the room: a young technician, quiet and discreet, and his boss, a woman who, despite, or perhaps as a consequence of her undeniably established scientific career, radiates youthfulness, energy, and determination. Both kindly welcome us to their realm, where they rule over the complex machines. The woman quickly grabs the reins of the conversation, filling the room with her overwhelming, yet approachable personality.

Prof. Peña introduces herself: “Fany, just Fany is fine. That’s how everyone calls me.”

The interview begins.

Alright, Fany, tell us a little about yourself and your research group.

“My group focuses on computational modeling of the human body and pathologies. We also design implants and devices to correct pathologies. We work on real-time simulation and Artificial Intelligence.”

What motivated you to choose a career in research?

“Since I was very young, I’ve loved mathematics, physics, experimenting, asking questions like ‘why does the apple fall?’, and also because of the influence of my family.”

Could you share with us a bit about your research area and the projects you’re currently working on?

“My group is quite large and has three main lines of research: artificial intelligence applied to biological engineering, prosthetic design, lenses, muscle fatigue, and, in the case of those closest to me and Dr. Martínez Barca, the mathematical study of cardiovascular pathologies: myocardial infarction, how these lesions affect the heart, atheroma plaque, and devices to try to correct vessel obstruction. Recently, we’ve been working on modeling aneurysms in collaboration with groups from Val d’Hebron Hospital.”

Have you had any Eureka moments in your career? What do you consider to be your greatest achievement or contribution in your field at a professional or personal level?

“Probably my first doctoral thesis. Feeling capable of teaching and mentoring someone was a significant milestone for me. The topic was about carotid stents.”

What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a woman in your research field?

“The biggest challenge has been balancing personal life, especially family life, with work. Especially when you’re young. I’m someone who, when I dedicate time to something, I dedicate it in full. Moreover, the moment when you have to dedicate much more time to a research career starts right after you finish your doctoral thesis until you reach professional stabilization. And that’s usually the period when you start a family. That’s a key moment and the greatest difficulty that, I believe, 99.9% of female researchers face.”

How do you think these barriers can be overcome?

“To be honest, I acknowledge that the role of a mother is almost irreplaceable. However, I believe that society is still not prepared to understand that women, besides being mothers, also want to do other things. It’s not just a problem of task distribution; I think nowadays roles in motherhood and fatherhood are quite shared, especially among young people. I believe it’s more of a social issue, meaning that even in terms of state aid aimed at encouraging motherhood, it’s scarce. Imagine, in other countries it’s inconceivable not to have a daycare or a similar service at the workplace. I think the role of a mother is very important, but…”

…having a daycare at work helps, right?

“It helps quite a bit, yes.”

“The most important thing in your professional career is to dedicate yourself to something you love (…) that’s incredibly important from a professional point of view.”

—Prof. Estefanía Peña, Scientific Coordinator of Unit 13.

What advice would you give to young women considering pursuing a career in science?

“Go for it! The most important thing in your professional career is to dedicate yourself to something you love. I mean, family and your personal life bring the greatest happiness, yes, but I know many people who work in something they don’t like, either because they haven’t found work anywhere else or because they opted to study something easy back then, even if they didn’t like it that much… I believe that working in something you love allows you to do things much better, and that’s incredibly important from a professional point of view. Study and do what you love, and if you love science… go for it!”

And what about all those girls who doubt?

“Yes… the truth is, from the talks I’ve given at schools, the response from girls often is ‘Phew!’ And usually, the female ratios, in my case as an engineering professor, are very, very low. But success rates, the highest grades… there’s no distinction there. It’s a 50/50. That means there’s no added difficulty, beyond the intrinsic difficulty of a science career, which both men and women will feel equally. Probably women will have more advantage since, for whatever reason, we tend to be able to focus more and be, as we use to say in Aragon, ‘more stubborn’. It doesn’t really matter much if subjects are more difficult because when you really like what you do, you don’t mind dedicating more time to it.”

What support have you received throughout your career that has been particularly useful?

“My colleagues, without a doubt. I’ve had people I’ve worked with and continue to work with since I started my thesis. There are people I’m still working with whom I started working with 25 years ago. And I have the utmost confidence that if I’m on maternity leave, nothing will go wrong. Or that if one of my colleagues fails, the rest of us will always be there. That’s extremely important. I don’t think it’s necessary to mention specific names. Science is very collaborative, whether from a teaching or research perspective. I always say ‘tanto monta, monta tanto’.” [Interviewer’s Note: a historical idiomatic expression when both king and queen held equal authority and power in the newly unified kingdom of Aragón].

Very Aragonese phares as well.

“Yes, very Aragonese.”

Thank you very much for your time, Fany.

“Thank you very much, Gabriel.”

This is part of a series of interviews to several female researchers within the context of International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2024 and Woman’s Day 2024. For more interviews, visit our news section here.

Additional information:

The goal of NANBIOSIS is to provide comprehensive and integrated advanced solutions for companies and research institutions in biomedical applications. All of this is done through a single-entry point, involving the design and production of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their nanoconjugates. This includes their characterization from physical-chemical, functional, toxicological, and biological perspectives (preclinical validation).

In order to access our biomedical Solutions, apply here.

NANBIOSIS has worked with pharmaceutical companies of all sizes in the areas of drug delivery, biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Here are a few of them: