Biography

I trained as a medical oncologist at Memorial Hospital, New York, where he also carried out research on tumor immunology (1981-1986). After 2 years as a Memorial Hospital staff physician, I returned to IMIM, Barcelona, where I set up from scratch a new research programme in cancer cell and molecular biology (1988). Together with other colleagues, I played a key role in the growth of IMIM and in the establishment of the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (from 1997 on). In 2003, I became Professor of Cell Biology at UPF where I continue to teach in the undergraduate and graduate programmes. In late 2007 I joined the CNIO where I am Senior Group Leader (Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group).
In the last 15 years, our laboratory has focused on the study of the cell and molecular biology of pancreatic and bladder cancer. Because the challenges posed by these two tumor types are very different, our approaches to them are also different. In pancreatic cancer, we focus on the identification of early mechanisms that favour tumor development. These studies are not possible in humans, therefore we use genetic mouse models and we hope that they will guide us to develop better strategies for identification of subjects at risk of pancreatic cancer. As of bladder cancer, we have as a major aim to understand better the genetic pathways leading to the various bladder cancer subtypes. For this, we combine the use of state-of-the art genetic tools (whole exome and whole genome sequencing) with the establishment of large patient cohorts that allow us to test the translational potential of our findings. We have a major interest in developing (and replicating) tools for improved treatment of patients with muscle-invasive tumors.
We have established a wide network of collaborators in both areas and are well recognized at the international level. We participate in several European and worldwide consortia and have published in some of the best journals either as leaders or through collaboration.