Irene Marco Rius

Irene Marco Rius is a Junior Group Leader at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), leading the Molecular Imaging for Precision Medicine group. Her research focuses on developing innovative molecular imaging techniques, particularly hyperpolarized Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to study metabolic pathways in health and disease. She specializes in non-invasive monitoring of cellular metabolism using hyperpolarized probes like [1-13C]pyruvate and lab-on-a-chip systems for high-throughput analysis.

Her work integrates principles from bioengineering, chemistry, and physics to tackle challenges in disease biomarker discovery and precision medicine. Key methods include dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (D-DNP) and Parahydrogen Induced Polarization (PHIP) for hyperpolarization, alongside metabolomics and computational modeling of biological systems. Applications span liver disease, kidney metabolism, and cancer therapy response assessment.

Recent advancements include cryopreservation methods for 3D cell culture models and real-time polarimetry using atomic magnetometers. Her lab collaborates on translational projects, aiming to bridge fundamental research with clinical applications. Irene has pioneered techniques for quantifying metabolic changes in vivo, contributing to personalized treatment strategies and early disease detection.

Publications highlight her contributions to hyperpolarized MRI methodology, lab-on-a-chip integration with NMR, and biomarker identification in metabolic disorders. Her team’s interdisciplinary approach drives innovation in both instrumentation and biomedical applications, emphasizing open science and collaborative research.