Samuel Peña-Llopis

Dr. Samuel Peña-Llopis is a Group Leader in Translational Genomics at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Essen, Germany. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cancers with BAP1 mutations, including uveal melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and cholangiocarcinoma.

Research Interests:

• Translational Oncology and precision medicine
• Cancer genetics and functional genomics
• Epigenetic regulation in cancer
• Autophagy and lysosomal signaling (TFEB, mTORC1)
• Patient-derived organoids for preclinical modeling
• Drug resistance mechanisms in solid tumors

The recent publications highlight a strong focus on BAP1-related pathologies, synonymous mutations affecting splicing, autophagy regulation, and resistance to targeted therapies such as MEK inhibitors. His work bridges molecular discovery with clinical application, particularly in aggressive cancers with poor prognosis.

Scientific Contributions:

Advising and Grants:

Dr. Peña-Llopis leads a research group with multiple advisees and collaborators. He coordinates a Translational Oncology consortium funded by the German Cancer Aid, focused on targeting vulnerabilities in BAP1-mutant cancers. His lab utilizes patient-derived organoids to validate potential therapies prior to clinical trials.

Labs and Teams:

He leads the Translational Genomics group at University Hospital Essen, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams in oncology, ophthalmology, and molecular biology. The group integrates genomic, functional, and preclinical approaches to advance cancer therapeutics.