Dr. Ana Victoria Lechuga-Vieco is biotechnologist (Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 2012) with extensive experience in mitochondrial metabolism, tissue homeostasis and immunology.
She got her PhD in Molecular Biomedicine (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,2018) under the supervision of Jose Antonio Enríquez and Jesús Ruíz-Cabello at CNIC (Madrid) in which she studied several aspects of the mitochondrial genetics in aging and cardiovascular pathology. In 2020, she joined the Prof. Vincenzo Cerundolo Lab at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (University of Oxford, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine) to study the impact of mitochondrial DNA on antitumor immunity and novel targeted immunotherapies. Next, she secured an EMBO postdoctoral Fellowship and joined Prof. Katja Simon Lab at The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology (University of Oxford) to explore how autophagy regulates mitochondrial quality control and T cell differentiation. During the last years, she has developed novel T cell immunomodulation strategies by enhancing the selective removal of mitochondria and created new strategies for enhancing mitochondrial performance through augmentation therapies in stem cells.
Ana Victoria have demonstrated leadership in the mitochondrial research community and her track record includes securing funding through successful grant applications and awards from prestigious societies including “Young Influential People - University Category” (2016, Junta de Andalucía), Molecular Oncology Journal Prize (FEBS, 2021), Doctoral Extraordinary Award (2019, UAM), “María Teresa Miras Award” to the young SEBBM member’s Best Article (2020, UCM) and recognition as one of the 30 Top Spanish Women under 30’s by the journal of Mujer Hoy (2018, Spain). Beyond her research achievements, she has actively contributed to advancing ethical research practices in biomedical science. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is demonstrated through her involvement in organizations such as Women in Autophagy (WIA) and Women in Mitochondria, where she works to create a more equitable scientific community.
Since May 2024, Dr. Lechuga-Vieco is a Junior Group Leader at IRB Barcelona, where she leads the ‘Mitochondrial Biology and Tissue Regeneration Lab’.