Lab

Prof. José María Pérez Pomares
Full Professor
jmperezp@uma.es

Prof. J.M. Pérez-Pomares (b. 1972) got his PhD on Cardiovascular Developmental Biology from the University of Málaga (UMA) in 2000. After short scientific visits to the USA and Germany, and a two-year post-doctoral period at the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC, USA), he returned to Spain to work as Research Assistant (2002-2004), Assistant Professor (2004-2010), and Associate Professor (2010-2018) at the Department of Animal Biology (UMA). In 2018 he was promoted to Full Professor and is the current Chair of this same department. Prof. Pérez-Pomares is the PI of the “Cardiovascular Development and Disease” (DeCA) team at UMA, Group Leader at Málaga’s Institute of Biomedicine IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND (H-03), and Visiting Scientist at the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC, Madrid).
The research carried out by Prof. Pérez-Pomares since the mid 1990’s has focused in the study of epicardial embryonic development and its impact in heart morphogenesis, congenital and adult cardiac disease. Dr. Pérez-Pomares’ work demonstrated, for the first time, that the epicardium is able to initiate an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that results in the appearance of a novel population of epicardial-derived mesenchymal cells (EPDCs) displaying a high morphogenetic potential. EPDCs have been shown to differentiate into multiple mesodermal cell types, including coronary endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts, among other cell kinds (Pérez-Pomares et al., 1998, PMID: 9337131; 2002, PMID: 12086469). All these investigations were also crucial to decipher the non-cell autonomous, epicardial-mediated role played by retinoic acid in ventricular myocardial growth (Guadix et al., 2011, PMID: 21343363). Together, all this research led to the hypothesis that EPDC could be a cardiac cell progenitor type, and even a cellular substrate to repair the damaged heart (Wessels & Pérez-Pomares, 2004, PMID: 14699633). The analysis of EPDC contribution to the coronary vascular system resulted in a series of important publications that have set a standard in the field (Cano et al., 2016; Pérez-Pomares et al., 2016). Today, the analysis of epicardial-derived cardiac fibroblasts and their role in cardiac fibrosis is a main research line in the DeCA laboratory. Our group hypothesized, for the first time, the cardiac fibroblasts were functionally heterogeneous (Ruiz-Villalba et al., 2013, PMID: 23349729), and we were the first laboratory in demonstrating that embryonic epicardial-derived fibroblasts were the origin of the ventricular fibrotic remodeling that follows myocardial infarction (Ruiz-Villalba et al., 2015, PMID: 25975467), thus suggesting a developmental substrate for some cardiac diseases.
Prof. Pérez-Pomares’ research has been published in important peer reviewed international journals; as a basic reference, Prof. Pérez-Pomares h index=38/40 (WoS/Google Scholar), and his papers have received more than 5,200 citations. Many of the hypotheses and concepts coined by the DeCA group are included in the most relevant text books on cardiovascular development and regeneration (Rosenthal & Harvey, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-12-381332-9; Pérez-Pomares & Kelly, 2018, ISBN: 9780198757269).
Prof. Pérez-Pomares’ leadership and international projection is demonstrated by the extensive funding received in support of his research. He has been PI of five consecutive grants from the Plan Nacional de I+D+I (Spanish Ministry of Science, and PI of grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, the Junta de Andalucía, the EU (6th & 7th Frammework Programmes, and Horizon Europe), and NATO. During all these years, multiple technologies have been recruited to the DeCA lab, from advanced 2D and 3D microscopy to the work with murine transgenic lines or various -omic analyses, and the team has actively participated in the funding of large infrastructure to the University of Málaga. Prof. Pérez-Pomares is the Past Chairperson of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Development, Anatomy and Pathology (Board, 2020-2022) and member of its Nucleus for 12 years. He has also been Manager and Coordinator at the Biomedicine Board of the Spanish Research National Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Biomedicina, Fisiopatología de Órganos y Sistemas, 2018-2022), and frequent reviewer for prestigious multidisciplinary (e.g. Nature), developmental (e.g. Development) or cardiovascular journals (e.g. Circulation Research). Prof. Pérez-Pomares also trains young researchers as senior lecturer in masters (Cell and Molecular Biology; Molecular Biomedicine) and PhD programs (Cell & Molecular Biology). He has supervised 8 PhD students and directed their doctoral theses in the last ten years. Other relevant activities to be considered in this CV include public communication of scientific results to the society as 6-year editor of the journal “Encuentros en la Biología” (ISSN 1134-8496), and mentoring of secondary school high-capacity students.

Juan Antonio Guadix Domínguez holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Málaga (Doctor Europaeus) (Summa Cum Laude+Extraordinary PhD award) since 08/07/2010. His PhD thesis subject was the study of vertebrate heart embryogenesis in various amniote animal models (avians and mammals). This predoctoral research was supported by a personal fellowship funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through a joint competitive action (Unidad Asociada) established between the National Centre of Biotechnology (Superior Council for Research, CSIC) and the University of Málaga (UMA). After his PhD, Dr. Guadix became Manufacturing Manager of Advanced Therapies at the Carlos de Haya Hospital (Málaga, Spain) (03/2011-11/2012). Shortly afterwards (01/2013-06/2016), he was awarded a Marie Curie post-doctoral fellowship funded by the EU 7th Framework Program and the University of Málaga (Acronim: CARDIODIFFCULT; Actions “U-Mobility” programme; CO-FUND 2013-40259). During this post-doc period, Dr. Guadix became an expert in the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells (embryonic and induced) into cardiovascular tissues (epicardium, cardiomyocytes and endocardium).
From July of 2020 he has worked as Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Biology at the University of Málaga. He also has teaching experience at undergraduate (Biology, Biochemistry and Environmental Sciences Degrees at UMA) and post- graduate levels (Master in Cell and Molecular Biology, UMA, https://www.umasterbcm.com). He has been co-supervisor of three PhD students.
His research activity has been supported by European Agencies (EU Sixth Framework Program; EU Seventh Framework Program; “Contrato postdoctoral Marie Curie”; European Innovation Council, Pathfinder-Challenger Projects); Spanish (Plan Nacional de I+D+i, MEC, MICINN, MINECO), Regional (Programa de Investigación de Excelencia de la Junta de Andalucía y Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía) and Private Agencies (Sociedad Española de Cardiología).

OrcID: 0000-0002-4291-6645

I completed my PhD at the Department of Animal Biology (University of Málaga, UMA) in 2014. During my thesis, I was working on the characterization of the cardiac fibroblasts derived from the embryonic epicardium, and their potential role in cardiac development and along the ventricular remodelling process after a myocardial infarction in adults. Then, I enjoyed a post-doctoral Marie Curie Fellowship in the lab of Dr. Maurice van den Hoff at the Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Physiology (AMC-University of Amsterdam) (2014-2015). There, we were studying in the potential role of Wnt signalling pathway in the biology of the epicardial derived cells, with special emphasis in the differentiation of this cell types. In parallel, we were deciphering the limits of sensitivity and reproducibility of the qPCR, together with the identification of the best reference genes in cardiac development and diseases. After that, I enjoyed a second postdoctoral period in the lab of Regenerative Medicine at the (Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada-CIMA, Pamplona), under the supervision of Dr. Felipe Prósper (2015-2019). During this period, I was involved in a project that studied the use of extracellular vesicles as potential therapeutic approach for the myocardial infarction. Furthermore, I was granted with a Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación to lead a study about cardiac fibroblasts heterogeneity after a myocardial infarction and discovered the subpopulation of this cell type that is responsible of the healing scar that appear after the damage.
After this period, I went back at UMA as senior postdoc under different contracts, including a Jóvenes Investigadores project (JIN) (2020-2022). Since December of 2022, I am enjoying a Ramón y Cajal contract, and leading several research projects funded by The Spanish Society of Cardiology or the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation as PI. My research line is focused in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie different cardiac diseases that courses with fibrosis, such as the ventricular remodelling after a myocardial infarction and Kawasaki disease.
Overall, I am the author of 29 peer-reviewed international publications. All these publications accumulate up to date 1148 citations and my current h-index is 16 (2009-2023). I have supervised one PhD student, and I am currently leading two ongoing PhD students.

OrcID:0000-0001-8063-0317

I completed a Master's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Malaga (2009-2010), which culminated in the defense of a dissertation with Merit of distinction (2010). I was awarded a FPI (Formación de Personal Investigador) fellowship at the University of Malaga to carry out my doctoral thesis, which I defended with a Summa Cum Laude grade and an international mention (2013). My research during this period was primarily focused on the role of the mesothelium in the development of different organs during embryogenesis, with a specific emphasis on the epicardial contribution to the formation of the coronary vascular network in the heart. As a PhD student, I carried out two international stays, at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda (USA) (2010) and at the University of California San Diego (USA) (2012).

Following the completion of my PhD, I obtained a fellowship, in a European-wide competition, awarded by the European Society of Cardiology to pursue postdoctoral training at the ¨Cardiovascular Genetics¨ laboratory, at the Charité-Universitätsmedizin in Berlin. Subsequently, I was awarded a two-year fellowship from the Ramón Areces Foundation and joined the "Integrative Vascular Biology" laboratory at the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin. I was an integral part of this research group since 2015 to 2023, leading a project dedicated to characterizing the coronary vasculature and mechanisms of vascularization of the heart. Since April of 2023 I work like Senior Postdoc Researcher at the DeCA Lab, at University of Málaga.
In summary, my scientific activity over the past 10 years has focused on understanding the mechanisms of cardiovascular development and disease, with a particular emphasis on the role of angiogenesis.

OrcID: 0000-0003-1091-8934

Ernesto obtained his BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Málaga in 2017. As a graduate student, Ernesto enjoyed a short-term fellowship from the CSIC at Cabimer Centre in Sevilla, underwent Master lab training in the Genyo Centre in Granada, and work as a technician in the SCBI center in Málaga. Ernesto joined the group as PhD student in 2019 with a FPU predoctoral fellowship supported by the Spanish Government. His research is focused on the study of the cellular heterogeneity, phenotypical conversions, and proliferation-differentiation balance of epicardial cells during heart development. During his PhD, Ernesto has acquired expertise in different animal and cell models along with high resolution techniques in single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis. Additionally, Ernesto has completed two short stays to the laboratory of Dr. Benedito at CNIC (Madrid, Spain) and the laboratory of Dr. Lescroart at the MMG Center (Marseille, France).

OrcID: 0000-0001-7819-6507

María obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Málaga in 2021. Once she graduated, she started a master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology and joined the lab for her master’s dissertation. In 2022, after finishing her master’s degree, she was hired by the Institute of Biomedicine of Málaga (IBIMIA)-Plataforma BIONAND as an associated researcher to the project “Nueva perspectiva en los mecanismos fisiopatológicos de la Enfermedad de Kawasaki”, financed by the Spanish Society of Cardiology. Currently, she is a PhD student with an FPI predoctoral fellowship supported by the Spanish Government. Her doctoral thesis focuses on the differential origin and spatial segregation of cardiac fibroblasts in cardiovascular pathophysiology.

OrcID: 0000-0002-5341-5133

Jorge earned his BSc in Health Biology from the University of Alcalá de Henares in 2018. During his undergraduate studies, he participated in an international exchange, attending courses at UC Berkeley’s and Harvard University’s Extension Schools. In 2019, he completed his MSc in Molecular Biomedicine at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM).

From early 2020 until the end of 2021, he worked at Life Length, a biotech company located in Madrid that specializes in providing telomere measurement services to personalized medicine physicians worldwide, as well as in the area of COVID testing on a national scale. Subsequently, he joined LifeWatch ERIC, a European Consortium dedicated to biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, where he took his initial steps into the field of bioinformatics.

In October 2023, he embarked on his journey as a PhD student in the lab, focusing on developing bioinformatic data analysis techniques in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics.

OrcID: 0000-0002-5341-5133

Cristina Pogontke obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Málaga in 2014 and completed a Master's degree in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Málaga in 2015. Since 2010 has been collaborating with the group “Development and Cardiovascular Disease” (DeCA) directed by Professor José María Pérez Pomares at the University of Málaga (UMA)-IBIMA/BIONAND, in which she became the beneficiary of a Training scholarship of University Teaching Staff (FPU) granted by the Ministry of Education, Health and Sports. This scholarship allowed her to complete her Doctorate in Advanced Cellular and Molecular Biology with cum laude mention and international doctorate, under the title: Pericoronary Cell Response to Cardiac Damage: Blood-Borne Cells and Neurovascular Interactions. Subsequently, she has worked as a Cell Culture, Cytometry and General Infrastructure technician at IBIMA/BIONAND and currently works as a senior research technician in the “Development and Cardiovascular Disease” (DeCA) group.
Since the beginning of her research career she has learned and used numerous techniques such as manipulation of animal models, immunohistochemical techniques and FACS or cell cultures. In addition, she has been able to carry out various national and international stays, she has participated in 8 communications at National and International conferences and she appears in 4 publications, the last of them in the prestigious journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology.
OrcID: 0000-0002-9610-9822

Alicia obtained her FP Laboratory Technician in Clinical Diagnostic in 2014 and her BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Sevilla in 2018. In 2019, Alicia completed her MSc in Genetics and Evolution at the University of Granada. Alicia underwent her Master project in the Genyo Center in Granada, where she acquired expertise in gene edition and culture of pluripotent stem cells. From 2020 to 2022, Alicia gained a position as a research assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Gonzalez-Muñoz at the IBIMA-Plataforma Bionand in Málaga. During this period, Alicia studied cell reprogramming in human pluripotent stem cells and was an author of various research articles. In 2023, Alicia joined the group led by José María Pérez Pomares as a research assistant. Alicia is collaborating in different research projects and the implementation of experimental approaches such as gene edition and spatial transcriptomics.

OrcID: 0000-0001-9869-0342

Cristina obtained her BSc in Biology at Malaga’s University in 2018 and her MSc in Biology and Technology for Assisted Human Reproduction in 2019. Cristina underwent her Master project in IVI Málaga, where she acquired expertise in germ cells culture and and embryo manipulation. In 2023, she completed her Higher Technician in Pathological Anatomy and Cytodiagnosis, after which she joined the group led by José María Pérez Pomares as a research support technician. Since then, she has been in charge of laboratory maintenance and her main tasks are the production of media and buffers, stock replacement, PCR for mice genotyping and analysis of electroforesis results, and technician support in different research projects.