Research expertise

After completing her PhD in Genetics at the University of Barcelona, she spent two years as a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of São Paulo investigating P. vivax spleen evasion mechanisms, and 6 months at the Hospital of Tropical Medicine in Manaus. In 2007, she joined ISGlobal (Barcelona) and moved to Papua New Guinea IMR, where her research focused on molecular epidemiology aspects of malaria including drug resistance, host susceptibility and transmission.

In 2012 she moved to the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp where she is a Professor and Head of the Malariology Unit. 

At the Malariology Unit, we apply state-of-the-art molecular, ‘omic and cell technologies to study how parasites adaptation to the host environment is moderated at the genomic and transcriptomic level. Most of our studies are solidly grounded in field-research and epidemiological studies aiming to provide a bridge between in vitro and in vivo research. In this endeavor we count on a strong network of collaborations in Africa, South America, South-East Asia and Oceania. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of tools and strategies for better malaria control and elimination.

Specific lines of research:

. Mechanism and regulation of P. vivax invasion by integration of genomic, transcriptomic and phenotypic data.

. Investigate the mechanisms, emergence and spread of drug resistance in malaria parasites and develop (NGS) platforms to support monitoring, evaluation and improvement of current strategies.

. Investigate the effect of host and environmental factors (host genetics, treatment, immunity and seasonality) in Plasmodium transmission.