Maria Rafaeva

Maria Rafaeva is a Guest researcher at the University of Copenhagen, affiliated with the Erler Group at BRIC (Biotech Research & Innovation Centre). Her research focuses on cancer biology, particularly the role of extracellular matrix in tumor progression and metastasis.

Her research interests include:

• Cancer Research
• Tumor Microenvironment
• Extracellular Matrix
• Metastasis
• Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Rafaeva's work centers on understanding how the extracellular matrix influences cancer progression through advanced techniques including decellularization of tissues, 3D imaging, and organ scaffold-based models. She has made significant contributions to understanding fibroblast-derived matrix models, desmoplastic properties, and how basement membrane stiffness determines metastases formation. Her research has important implications for cancer prognosis and treatment development.

Her publications span high-impact journals including Nature Materials, Nature Communications, Frontiers in Immunology, and Nature Protocols. Her collaborative work involves interdisciplinary teams across cancer biology, biophysics, and biomedical engineering, demonstrating the breadth of her research impact.

Dr. Rafaeva maintains an active research profile with consistent publication output from 2019 through 2023, showing sustained contributions to her field with multiple first-author and significant co-author publications.