I joined Aston Medical School in 2020 as Lecturer in Bioenergetics, following a productive Research Fellowship position awarded the 50^th Anniversary Aston Prize Fellowship in 2018 at Aston Medical School.

My research sits on the interface between the vasculature and brain-related functions, aiming to understand the role that mitochondria play in providing sufficient energy resources to sustain the function of endothelial cells in the vasculature while elucidating the implications of dysfunctional vascular mitochondria in the onset of neurodegenerative conditions.

Research in my lab have two main focuses: first to understand molecular mechanism linking mitochondria with vascular dysfunction and adverse neurological outcomes and second, to explore the translational approach of novel/repurposed drugs in improving the function of the vasculature with the goal of improving neurological conditions.

From this research theme, my lab explores different lines of research.

1. Understating the role of endothelial cells’ mitochondria in the onset of vascular dysfunction.
2. Association between mitochondrial dysfunction and neurological perturbations.
3. Understanding the blood-brain-barrier and the molecular mechanisms implicated in its malfunction.
4. Crosslink between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in neurodegeneration and vascular dysfunction.
5. Design, characterisation and translational application of nanoparticles for the delivery of active compounds to the mitochondria and across the blood-brain-barrier.
6. Patent-friendly drug delivery systems of mitochondrially active compounds.

Targeting the mitochondria using nanoparticles:

• Design and development of novel formulations targeting the mitochondria
• Safety of formulations - Can we address mitochondrial dysfunction using nanoparticles as delivery systems?

Investigating the role of cellular bioenergetics in vascular dysfunction and neurodegenration

• Understanding the role of mitochondrial metabolism in cellular signalling, proliferation and cell growth.
• Studying the association between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in health and disease.
• Mechanisms of blood-brain-barrier dysfunction

MBChB:

Metabolism, Endocrinology and Haematology (Block Co-Lead)

Physiology and Pharmacology

Reproductive System

Student Selected Component - Library-based research studies

Master in Education (Aston University), Birmingham, UK 2023

Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences (Universidad del Valle) Cali, Colombia 2017

Committee Member British Society for Cardiovascular Research, UK

Fellow Higher Education Academy, UK

Editorial Board:

British Journal of Biomedical Sciences (BJBS)

Scientific Grant Reviews Committees:

Medical Research Council

British Heart Foundation Grants Referee

ColCiencias, Colombia Grants Referee

University of Valle, Cali, Colombia

Pontifical Xaverian University, Bogota, Colombia

External Reviewer:

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry

• BBSRC IAA Award 2023
• Royal Society Grant - Round 2 - 2022
• MIBTP Case Studentship, 2021
• Sir Halley Stuart Small Grant Award, 2020

• Telephone: 01212045052
• Email: [email protected]
  
• Room Number: MB314E