Marina Ramirez-Alvarado

Marina Ramirez-Alvarado, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Mayo Clinic, with joint appointments in the Department of Immunology and the Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of protein misfolding and amyloid formation in immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis. She collaborates closely with clinical teams in Hematology, Nephrology, and Cardiovascular Medicine to develop therapeutic strategies to mitigate organ damage caused by amyloidosis.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biology, European Molecular Biology Lab, Ruprecht-Karl-Universität Heidelberg
• M.S. in Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
• B.S. in Biochemistry, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Research Interests: Dr. Ramirez-Alvarado studies the structural and biophysical basis of amyloid toxicity, particularly in cardiac and renal tissues. Her lab investigates light chain proteins as models for amyloid formation, using tools like urinary exosomes for noninvasive monitoring. Key areas include cofactors in aggregation, post-translational modifications, and therapeutic development.

Professional Highlights:

• Senior Faculty Representative, Council of Faculties and Academic Societies, Association of American Medical Colleges (2016–present)
• Chair, Committee for Inclusion and Diversity, Biophysical Society (2016–2022)
• Co-Organizer, Protein Aggregation Conference, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2021)

Grants & Projects: Her work includes NIH-funded studies on cellular mechanisms of toxicity in light chain amyloidosis and initiatives to support underrepresented minorities in science. Recent collaborations focus on proteomic analyses of cardiac and kidney amyloidosis.

Labs & Teams: Her laboratory at Mayo Clinic integrates biochemical, biophysical, and clinical approaches to advance amyloidosis research, with a focus on translational applications.