Omic Sciences Team
Núria Canela
Director of the Omic Sciences Department at Eurecat
Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of Barcelona (2002). Núria Canela has extensive experience in both academic and industrial research and has participated in various scientific and technical platforms and services dedicated to omic sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics). She has co-authored various research articles in international journals and her main scientific contributions focus on the field of functional proteomics and on the improvement and integration of information gathered through various omics methodologies, in order to generate a more realistic, holistic view of systems biology. Through this work, she has accumulated a wealth of experience in a wide range of biotechnologies. Currently, her work at the Omic Sciences Department at Eurecat centres around the application of omics methodologies to the study of biological systems, from the simplest (cell cultures, biological fluids, tissues) to the most complex (microbial communities in the human microbiota).
Researchers
MIGUEL ÁNGEL RODRÍGUEZ
SENIOR RESEARCHER AND NMR SPECIALIST
Doctor of Chemistry specialising in targeted and untargeted metabolomics at the Omic Sciences Department at Eurecat. Miguel Ángel Rodríguez’s scientific experience has led him to use NMR techniques to analyse various types of biological and food samples. He is currently working on the application, preparation and optimisation of Re NMR methodologies in the various analyses required in the centre itself and by users of the Omic Sciences Department.
ADRIÀ CERETÓ
BIOINFORMATICS SPECIALIST
Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and master’s degree in Nutrition and Metabolism from Rovira i Virgili University, where he also studied for a doctorate in Cheminformatics. Adrià Ceretó specialises in bioinformatics, metagenomics analysis, genome assembly and, more generally, data science. At the Omic Sciences Department, he carries out research activities and provides bioinformatics support for Eurecat projects and projects for external companies and R&D centres in fields relating to food and health.
LORENA GARCIA
TECHNICIAN AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY SPECIALIST
Technician specialising in molecular biology. Currently, Lorena Garcia works as a specialist technician in the Genomics and Transcriptomics area of Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department, where she is working on various metagenomics projects and nutritional studies. She specialises in the extraction and manipulation of DNA and RNA and in library preparation for next generation sequencing (Ion Torrent and S5 platforms). She also has a wealth of experience and training in laboratory routines and techniques, as well as in-depth knowledge of genomics and transcriptomics equipment and processes, such as RNA/DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, quantification and quality control of DNA, RNA and proteins with Bioanalyzer, PCR and RT-PCR techniques, differential gene expression analysis through low-density arrays, genetic polymorphism analysis, Sanger and NGS DNA sequencing, automated sample preparation with Agilent Bravo, ELISA techniques, and analyses with xTAG technology through the Bioplex system. Throughout her career, she has contributed to significant R&D projects.
NEREA ABASOLO
SENIOR RESEARCHER AND SPECIALIST IN GENOMICS AND TRANSCRIPTOMICS
Doctorate in Biochemistry from Rovira i Virgili University, focusing on the genetic and biochemical analysis of schizophrenia. Nerea Abasolo is currently working as a researcher at Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department. Her wealth of scientific experience means she is well versed in the use of multiple molecular biology techniques. She also specialises in the analysis and interpretation of data from genetics studies. She has contributed to many R&D projects and authored ten scientific publications in internationally renowned journals.
HELENA TORRELL
SENIOR RESEARCHER AND SPECIALIST IN GENOMICS AND METAGENOMICS
Doctorate in Biomedicine and bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology. Helena Torrell is a researcher at Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department and is currently working on the development of metagenomics applications in the field of functional food through mass sequencing, and on the application of bioinformatics analysis and data processing tools. She has extensive experience in a wide variety of genetics and genomics techniques, such as gene expression, genotyping, functional biology and mass sequencing. She has contributed to a research project and has authored nine scientific publications.
POL HERRERO
SENIOR RESEARCHER AND SPECIALIST IN METABOLOMICS AND PROTEOMICS
Pol Herrero holds a doctorate in Chemistry from Rovira i Virgili University (URV), a master’s degree in Advanced Analytical Chemistry from the University of Barcelona (UB) and a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the same university (UB). For several years, his professional activity has focused on the field of analytical chemistry, or, more specifically, the development of methodologies through chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS). He is currently working as a researcher at Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department and specialises in metabolomics and proteomics, developing proteomics and metabolomics applications for companies and R&D centres in the areas of health, food and the environment.
TONI DEL PINO
SENIOR RESEARCHER AND SPECIALIST IN METABOLOMICS AND PROTEOMICS
Doctorate in Agricultural and Food Science and Technology from the University of Lleida. Master’s degree in Advanced Analytical Chemistry and bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona. Toni del Pino is currently working as a technician at Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department. Thanks to his extensive scientific experience, he is well versed in the use of chromatography techniques combined with mass spectrometry to analyse biological and food samples.
MARIA GUIRRO
JUNIOR RESEARCHER AND PROTEOMICS SPECIALIST
Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and master’s degree in Nutrition and Metabolism from Rovira i Virgili University. Since 2015, Maria Guirro has contributed to the Nutrigenomics research group at Rovira i Virgili University, where she is finishing her doctoral thesis in the field of omic sciences. The main focus of the thesis is the role of the microbiota in obesity, which she examines through an integrative metagenomics and metaproteomics strategy. She has been a junior researcher in the proteomics area of Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department since 2018, mainly working on sample preparation and data analysis.
IRIS SAMARRA
JUNIOR RESEARCHER AND SPECIALIST IN CHROMATOGRAPHY AND MASS SPECTROMETRY
Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. Iris Samarra is currently working as a chromatography and mass spectrometry technician at Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department. Her main duties include participation in targeted metabolomics projects, which involves the preparation of biological samples and their subsequent analysis with liquid chromatography techniques combined with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ). Other techniques she regularly uses are gas chromatography, quadrupole time of flight (qTOF) and various sample preparation techniques.
ELISABET FOGUET
JUNIOR RESEARCHER AND SPECIALIST IN MASS SPECTROMETRY AND MALDI IMAGING
Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and master’s degree in Applied Clinical Research in Health Sciences. Elisabet Foguet is currently working in the area of mass spectrometry at Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department. She also contributes to targeted and untargeted proteomics projects, through mass spectrometry of biological and food samples, and prepares the different applications for MALDI-TOF, such as the MALDI Biotyper and MALDI Imaging.
ISABEL BAIGES
SENIOR RESEARCHER AND QUALITY TECHNICIAN
Doctorate in Biochemistry from Rovira i Virgili University. Over the years, Isabel Baiges’s career has shifted from Molecular Biology to Transcriptomics and Proteomics. She has worked with a range of biological samples, such as yeasts, animal cells, plants and animals. She has co-authored 14 research articles and accumulated extensive experience in the use of various analysis techniques.
MARC RIU
JUNIOR RESEARCHER AND SPECIALIST IN LC-MS AND GC-MS
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (2002) and Biochemistry (2003) and doctorate from Rovira i Virgili University (2011), where he submitted his thesis The analytical determination of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole and other chloroanisoles in wine and cork stoppers. Marc Riu worked at a laboratory in the private sector for 13 years as a senior technician in the field of nutrition and animal health. Thanks to his extensive scientific experience, he is well versed in the use of liquid and gas chromatography and other techniques to analyse biological and food samples. He is currently working at Eurecat’s Omic Sciences Department as a researcher specialising in targeted metabolomics.
HÉCTOR PALACIOS
JUNIOR RESEARCHER AND NMR SPECIALIST
Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and master’s degree in Nutrition and Metabolism from Rovira i Virgili University. Since 2016, Héctor Palacios has contributed to the Nutrigenomics research group at Rovira i Virgili University, where he is finishing his doctoral thesis in the field of metabolomics. The main focus of the thesis is the effect of a proanthocyanidin extract from grape seeds on the circadian rhythms of the liver metabolome. He has worked as a junior researcher in the NMR area since 2019, mainly focusing on sample preparation and data analysis.
