06/06/14
Ponente: Prof. Matías Ávila, Senior Scientist at the Division of Hepatology of the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA). Full Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Navarra. Associate Editor of Gut.
Hora: 12:00
Lugar: IIS Biodonostia, Aula de Formación (3ª planta)
Profesor Matías Ávila
Sobre el Prof. Matías Ávila: Professor Matías A. Avila graduated in Pharmacy/Pharmacology at the Complutense University of Madrid in 1988 with honours. In 1992 he earned a PhD degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Institute for Biomedical Research, of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). His thesis work identified new mechanisms of growth factor signalling and gene regulation in liver cells, and was awarded the 1992 prize for best thesis work at the School of Pharmacy. From 1992 to 1995 he pursued postdoctoral research at the Lombardi Cancer Research Center of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA, working on chemically induced carcinogenesis. Since his return to Spain his research focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of liver injury, regeneration and carcinogenesis. He worked for two years at the Institute for Biomedical Research/CSIC in Madrid, and in 1997 he moved to the University of Navarra, in Pamplona, Spain. He was Assistant Professor of Medicine from 1997 to 2004, and Associate Professor from 2004 to 2009. Since 2009 he is Senior Scientist and Full Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) and the Department of Medicine of the University of Navarra. He is author of over 100 publications in international journals, teaches Biochemistry at the School of Medicine, and has supervised ten doctoral theses. Professor Avila is currently Associate Editor of Gut and member of the Editorial Boards of Journal of Hepatology, PLoS One, World Journal of Gastroenterology, BMC Gastroenterology and BMC Research Notes, and has been member of the Editorial Board of Hepatology. Prof. Avila has been member of the Governing Board of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), serving in its Scientific Committee (2011-2014). Since 2013 Prof. Avila is member of the international Scientific Advisory Board of the Bourdeaux University and Hospitals Comprehensive Cancer Center, in Bordeaux, France. His current research interests are centered on the characterization of cellular and molecular mechanisms of liver injury and regeneration, as well as chronic liver disease and hepatocarcinogenesis. The identification of hepatoprotective strategies to treat acute liver failure and enhance liver regeneration, and also the elucidation of new molecular targets for the treatment of HCC, constitute the translational angle of his research.