My long-term goal is to use the power of population genetics, epidemiology, and Mendelian randomization to define the possible causal genes involved in the development of complex traits.
My academic training and research experience have provided me with an excellent background in multiple biological disciplines including biology, population genetics, epidemiology, and genetics.
During my PhD research at the University of Barcelona, I studied cardiovascular genetic risk regions, population disease incidence and geographic distribution of genetic risk factors. In my PhD research, I identified cardiovascular genetic risk markers in populations of different ancestry, and I studied the effects of natural selection and demography on patterns of genetic variation.
In my postdoctoral training at Stanford, applying Mendelian randomization methods, I have identified causal genetic mechanisms involved in the development of cardiometabolic traits, such as low birth weight and kidney function biomarkers. In addition, I am currently working on a project involving proteomic data to predict insulin sensitivity. Further understanding of such mechanisms is the route toward the future development of a personalize medicine.
Currently at the Brainlab, I will study the genetic underpinnings of the locus coeruleus norepinephrine (LC-NE) system activity. I will use Mendelian Randomization methods to infer causal relationships between the LC-NE system and cognitive resources to the listener’s ability to successfully process speech in noise.
A complete list of my published work can be found here.