Our Team

---

Team Leader on Evolutionary Immunogenomics | PhD in Biomedicine | Marie Curie Postdoctoral Alumni | La Caixa Alumni | Biotechnology Engineer

🌟 My primary focus lies in unraveling the genomic changes driven by evolution within our cells. Specifically, I am intrigued by how the immune system influences genetic variability and the development of algorithms to detect these changes.

💡 Equipped with a diverse skill set encompassing Mathematical Modeling, Evolutionary Theory, and Population Genetics.

💻 Proficient in analyzing large datasets, I have hands-on experience with high-performance computing clusters, environment management, and containerization. Check out some of the methods I've developed on GitHub at github.com/luisgls.

🌍 Committed to advancing our understanding of evolution and its impact on our health, I am actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with fellow researchers and institutions. Let's make transformative discoveries together!

Beatriz obtained her PhD in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the University of Cantabria, specializing in the "Genomic Analysis of Tumor Development" group under the supervision of Dr. Ignacio Varela. Her thesis project focused on molecularly characterizing the role of SWI/SNF alterations in tumor development and exploring their potential applications for developing new therapeutic approaches against cancer. Employing a combination of genetically modified cellular models, next-generation sequencing methodologies, and advanced computational methods, she characterized the transcriptome, chromatin structure, and epigenetic landscape of the cells. Furthermore, her research revealed that the cellular models exhibited varying sensitivities to chemotherapeutic and targeted therapy treatments. Additionally, she completed an international internship at the Mechanisms of Repression by Polycomb Group Proteins led by Dr. Raphael Margueron at Institut Curie (Paris). She was awarded a national PhD fellowship (FPU) and an EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant to support her PhD studies. She furthered her academic formation with a Master's in Advanced Bioinformatic Analysis at the University Pablo de Olavide (Sevilla), where she applied computational and systemic analyses to identify common genetic factors triggering tumor angiogenesis deregulation. She describes herself as creative, reflective, organized, engaged, and hard-working. She balances autonomous work and continuous learning with collaborations and teamwork to achieve common objectives. She is particularly fascinated by the biotechnological field and its potential to improve quality of life. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, training, and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Hannah joined the EVILab in December 2022. Her PhD is focused on deciphering evolutionary trajectories in cancer using multi-omic data. She is currently investigating the development and progression of trophoblastic tumours, in collaboration with Imperial College, using a combination of sWGS, WES, and WGS data. Prior to joining the ICR, Hannah completed a Bsc(Hons) in Genetics at the University of Glasgow before moving to Imperial College where she obtained an MRes in Cancer Informatics.

Claudio Salas serves as a Higher Scientific Officer (HSO) at the Institute of Cancer Research, where he plays an integral role in the groundbreaking work conducted at Evilab. Joining the lab in February 2024, Claudio brings a wealth of experience and expertise in biotechnology to his position.

Driven by a deep passion for innovation and scientific discovery, Claudio enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to contribute to the development of Evilab's pioneering project. His role as an HSO encompasses a diverse range of responsibilities, including facilitating research activities, providing technical support, and ensuring the smooth operation of laboratory processes.