Día: 2026/10/28
Hora: 12:00
Lugar: Adela Moyua

Conferencia: “Advanced Biomedical Strategies to Target Cardiac Fibrosis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Precision Therapies”
Dr. Ana V. Villar Ramos. Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, Universidad de Cantabria.

Abstract :

Cardiac fibrosis is a major pathological process underlying the progression of heart disease and heart failure, yet effective targeted antifibrotic therapies remain limited. The complexity of extracellular matrix remodeling and the plasticity of cardiac fibroblasts require integrated strategies combining molecular, cellular, bioengineering and in vivo approaches to identify clinically relevant therapeutic opportunities.

In this talk, I will present the research strategy developed by the FIBROHEART group at the Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology of Cantabria (IBBTEC), University of Cantabria, to investigate and therapeutically target cardiac fibrosis. Our research has contributed to uncovering key molecular targets and mechanisms involved in fibrotic remodeling, including Hsp90 and its previously unrecognized molecular interactions, as well as Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) as a potential target for selective intervention in activated fibroblasts.

Building on these mechanistic insights, we have developed molecular, nanobiotechnological and advanced human tissue-based strategies to interfere with pathological extracellular matrix remodeling and fibroblast activation. Human cardiac organoids and engineered tissues provide relevant three-dimensional models to investigate cardiac fibrosis and assess therapeutic responses in a more physiologically meaningful context, while ongoing work incorporating cardiomyocytes and transcriptomic approaches is helping to uncover fibroblast heterogeneity and distinct molecular programs associated with disease. These efforts have led to the development of approaches capable of reducing excessive collagen accumulation and deposition, as well as extracellular vesicles (EVs) being explored as programmable therapeutic and targeted delivery platforms for antifibrotic molecules and regulatory small RNAs. Together, these complementary strategies offer different perspectives on how cardiac fibrosis can be understood and therapeutically targeted, ranging from the identification of actionable molecular mechanisms to the development and evaluation of targeted interventions in advanced human disease models.

Dr. Ana Victoria Villar Ramos is Principal Investigator, and Associate Professor at the Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) and Universidad de Cantabria. She leads the FIBROHEART research laboratory, which specializes in advanced molecular and nanoparticle-based therapies to treat cardiac and lung fibrosis. With a Degree in Chemistry from the Complutense University of Madrid she performed her PhD at the UPV/EHU in the Unidad de Biofisika (Prof. F.M. Goñi supervisor).  As a postdoctoral researcher she has been working with Dr Zorzano, IRB & Universidad de Barcelona (2000-2003) ; a second postdoctoral period, after being selected as the best young Spanish scientist, to investigate in private projects of GNF Norvartis, San Diego California (2003-2006). for the Tekturna drug (Aliskiren) for cardiovascular protection; approved by the FDA in 2007 and at the Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla IDIVAL(2006-2007). Since Dedecmber 2006 she is a group leader at the IBBTEC.

https://web.unican.es/portal-investigador/grupos/detalle-grupo?g=969