Marta María Alonso Roldán

Dr. Marta María Alonso Roldán is a Biologist and Co-director of the Solid Tumors Program at the University of Navarra Clinic. She serves as Principal Investigator of the Advanced Therapies for Pediatric Solid Tumors research group within the Solid Tumor Program and has been part of the Department of Pediatrics since 2010.

Education:

• Graduated in Biological Sciences from the University of Navarra (1997)
• Doctor in Health Sciences from the Public University of Navarra (2001)
• Research stays at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children's-Baylor (Houston, USA)

Research Interests: Dr. Alonso Roldán specializes in advanced therapies for pediatric solid tumors with focus on oncolytic viruses for brain tumors. Her work encompasses:

• Development of novel oncolytic viruses for pediatric solid tumors
• Study of virus-microenvironment interactions and therapeutic responses
• Design of clinical trials combining oncolytic viruses with other strategies
• Investigation of AT/RTs, PNETs, pediatric gliomas, and diffuse midline gliomas biology

Scientific Awards:

• Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC)
• II Dr. Baselga Scholarship from the FERO Foundation (2023)

Advising and Grants: Directed 6 doctoral theses (one receiving University of Navarra's Extraordinary Doctorate Award) and contributed to 4 book chapters. Led 22 of over 30 competitive research projects funded by ERC, US Department of Defense, Spanish Ministry of Science, and private organizations. Co-inventor of two patents in clinical phases for brain tumor treatment.

Research Group: Leads the Pediatric Solid Tumor Advanced Therapies Research Group focused on translating laboratory discoveries into clinical applications for pediatric solid tumors.