The group “Stem Cells and Tranlstaional Neurology”, led by Dr. Vivian Capilla-González at the Department of Regeneration and Cell Therapy of CABIMER in Seville (Spain), is interested in hosting a Marie Curie Fellowship.

Dr. Vivian Capilla-Gonzalez is an Emerging Principal Investigator under the Miguel Servet program of the Institute of Health Carlos III (2020-2024), with over 15 years of experience in the field of Stem Cells and Neuroscience.

She obtained her PhD in the University of Valencia (2011) with a thesis project focused on the neurotoxic effects of the mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea in the neural stem cells. Then, she moved to USA to perform a postdoctoral stay at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (2012-2014) to study the impact of oncological radiotherapy on normal brain tissue. She demonstrated that radiation weakens the regenerative capacity of the brain, highlighting the urgent need of developing neuroprotective strategies during cancer treatments. In 2014, Dr. Vivian Capilla-Gonzalez started her research activity in CABIMER and established a line of research focused on the development of cell-based strategies to improve cancer treatments in preclinical models. Currently, she is working in the therapeutic application of stem cells to prevent neurological sequelae of oncological radiation, with special interest on childhood cancer (https://www.cabimer.es/web3/en/vivian-capillagonzalez/).

During her career, Dr. Vivian Capilla-Gonzalez has published more than 30 scientific works, filed 2 patents and obtained funds from 6 research projects as principal investigator.

Description of the center:

The Andalusian Centre for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) is a groundbreaking multidisciplinary biomedical research center in Andalusia drawing together basic and applied research (http://www.cabimer.es/web3/). The center is a joint venture of the regional government, the University of Seville and Pablo Olavide and CSIC. The Institute occupies a building of over 9,000 square meters equipped with the latest scientific technology and is in close proximity to two university hospitals: Macarena and Virgen del Rocio. The building harbors 20 laboratories divided into 3 Departments: Genome Biology, Cell Dynamic and Signaling, Regeneration and Cell Therapy. Ten Core Facilities (Biological Resources, Cytometry and Sorter, Cell Culture, Genomic, Good Manufacturing Practices “GMP”, Histology, Microscopy, Model Organisms, Isotopes and Washing) accommodate the workload of approximately 200 professional researchers.

Description of the group:

Currently the group “Stem Cells and Translational Neurology” is composed by an Emerging Principal Investigator, a PhD student and two technicians. The group demonstrated, for the first time, that the repeated intranasal administration of human mesenchymal stem cells protects mice from radiation-related damages (Front Cell Neurosci 2019). Furthermore, they demonstrated that this mode of cell therapy is safe in juvenile mice, showing no side adverse effects at the short- and long-term (Cancers, 2021). This preclinical investigation is being conducted in a multidisciplinary niche since the research group collaborates with clinicians from national and international centers, such as the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville-FL and the Hospital Virgen del Rocio in Seville (https://www.cabimer.es/web3/en/vivian-capillagonzalez/).

Description of the project/projects:

Survival rates after childhood cancer is nearly 80% in developed European countries due to more effective therapies and early detection. However, these effective treatments are harsh and cause progressive and permanent side effects that prevent children from living a normal life after overcoming the disease. For instance, children with brain cancer who have received radiotherapy experience severe neurological impairments, including learning and memory difficulties, problems in motor coordination, visual alterations, or intellectual decline, among others. In this project, we will develop a cell-based therapy to improve quality of life and survival after radiation in juvenile mice with brain tumors, using a translational approach. For this, we propose 4 specific aims:

• Objective 1: Manufacture of cellular products in accordance with GMP quality controls.

• Objective 2: To evaluate safety of cellular products.

• Objective 3: To evaluate efficacy of cellular products.

• Objective 4. Clinical Trial proposal.

Description Principal Investigator

Education: Ph.D., University of Valencia (2011)

Research interests: Dr. Vivian Capilla-González is interested in the development of strategies to improve cancer treatments, with the ultimate goal of improving quality of life of cancer patients.

Key words: stem cells, cell therapy, central nervous system, brain tumor, radiation-related damages, tissue regeneration.

Supervisor Publications

• Publications= 32 (see “Capilla-Gonzalez V” at Pubmed)
• H Index=16
• Patents=2
• Grants=6

Supervisor Identifier:

• ORCID: 0000-0003-2020-1662
• Scopus ID: 16686280800
• Research ID: H-6994-2017

Application details:

• Envisaged job starting date: Early-Mid 2022

• Application deadline: June 30th 2021, the proposal is to be submitted in September 2021

• How to apply: Contact to Vivian Capilla-González via email. Please send your CV and your expression of interest.

• Application e-mail : vivian.capilla@cabimer.es