Group leader: Ander Matheu Fernández, Ph.D.

Biogipuzkoa HRI. Ikerbasque Research Associate ander.matheufernandez@bio-gipuzkoa.eus

Strategic Objectives

The interest of Dr Matheu’s group originally focused on the characterisation of glioma stem cells and the identification of molecular mechanisms related with the ageing of neural stem cells. Hence its original name of Neuro-oncology. However, the research lines of the group have increased and extended and today include knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating cell plasticity and heterogeneity, their role in cancer and ageing processes, and the translation of this knowledge into clinical practice.

Main lines of research

Within the line of cancer research, the objectives of his group consist of:  

• Determining the signalling pathways regulating the subpopulation of cancer stem cells present in the neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS) and gastrointestinal cancers
• Studying the impact of cancer stem cells on the origin and progression/metastasis of the cancer
• Identifying molecular targets and markers of prognosis and/or response to treatment making it possible to establish alternative therapeutic strategies and stratification patterns of patients in Pediatric CNS tumours, and (iv) generating and/or validating pharmacological agents against cancer stem cells.

Within the line of research in ageing, the objectives consist of:

• Looking for biomarkers enabling the early detection of frailty and neurodegenerative diseases
• Identifying the mechanisms responsible for the successful ageing typical of 100 year-olds
• Characterising CNS and muscle stem cells in the search for molecular targets to palliate the functional decline associated with ageing and neurodegenerative pathologies.