Juan Fontana

Juan Fontana is a Research Professor at the Biofisika Institute (CSIC, EHU), University of the Basque Country, where he leads the Structural Biology of Virus-Host Interactions Laboratory. With over 20 years of expertise in electron microscopy, he investigates viral structures and infection mechanisms. His career includes positions at the National Centre for Biotechnology (Madrid), National Institutes of Health (USA), and University of Leeds.

Education & Career:

• Bachelor's in Biochemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (2003)
• PhD in Virology, National Centre for Biotechnology (2004-2009)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Institutes of Health (2009-2016)
• Associate Professor, University of Leeds (2021-2024)

Research Focus: Dr. Fontana specializes in structural virology using advanced imaging techniques. His work deciphers molecular mechanisms of viral entry, replication complexes, and morphogenesis. Key areas include:

• Ion-dependent viral entry pathways (e.g., K+ in bunyaviruses)
• Architecture of viral ribonucleoproteins
• Host-cell interactions during viral factory formation
• Ribosome heterogeneity in model organisms

Laboratory Leadership: He established an independent research group at Leeds (2016) before relocating to Biofisika Institute in 2024, where his team continues pioneering work in structural virology.