Biomaterials and ‘brains in a dish' for future treatments
All of my research is about the brain. I have two main lines of research in my lab. In one, we are developing ways to test how mechanical forces and drugs affect brain cells. We grow the brain cells in the lab and see how they behave under various conditions.
The other is research on an approach we call TrapKill, which uses a biomaterial that we are engineering with the hope to make therapies for brain cancer more effective.
My work applies engineering in medicine, and I have a joint appointment in the medicine and engineering schools here at the University of Galway and I work in Cúram, which is the Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices.
TrapKill is a dramatic name – tell us more about it
TrapKill is a type of material called a hydrogel, which can be put into the body. We make it with three-dimensional channels in it that are designed to trap and compress cells.
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The ultimate idea is that after a brain tumour, such as glioblastoma, is removed by surgery, the gel could be placed in the cavity to weaken the trapped cancer cells and make them more susceptible to radiation and drug treatments. I got funding for this project from the European Research Council.
You also grow 'brains in a dish' – can you explain?
We programme commercially available stem cells to grow into brains from the cortical region, particularly. Still, we can also combine them with other brain regions. I got national funding for this project through Research Ireland and Cúram.
What do you do with these groups of brain cells?
For some of them, we look at what happens when force is applied to them. This helps us to better understand how cells could respond to traumatic brain injury.
We also look at how the groups of cells respond to each other. For example, if we combine cells from different brain regions, we see faster development of star-shaped cells called astrocytes that carry out many functions in the brain.
How did you become interested in research?
Growing up in Medellín, Colombia, my parents were a huge inspiration. My father is a pharmaceutical chemist, and my mother is a retired bacteriologist. I loved visiting their labs as a child, and they inspired in me the persistence and rigour that are important for research. They still inspire me.
What was your journey to Galway?
I studied in Colombia, the United States, Italy and France, and I completed my PhD with Dr Manus Biggs in Galway. I then worked in the UK for a few years before returning to Cúram in 2022 and establishing my own lab here.
What keeps you going in your research?
I really love it. It's hard work, the hours are long and you are always thinking about it, but I have a huge passion for research. I see so many people now who are living with cancer and brain diseases, and these are areas where we need research for even better treatments. This keeps me going.
What do you like to do outside of research?
I do reformer Pilates religiously, which keeps me strong and flexible. It's a great antidote to all the sitting down and writing I do as part of my research. I love walking around and painting. I also have lovely plants that I take care of.
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