Susanna Cirera

Susanna Cirera serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in molecular mechanisms of disease through microRNA biomarker development and comparative obesity research using porcine models. Her work bridges veterinary clinical practice with human biomedical applications, with active collaborations across European research institutions.

Her academic credentials include:

• Bachelor of Biology, University of Barcelona (1990)
• PhD in Population Genetics of Drosophila, University of Barcelona (1997)

Dr. Cirera's research integrates cutting-edge genomic techniques including next-generation sequencing and qPCR to investigate non-coding RNA regulation in disease pathogenesis. Her dual focus on companion animal diagnostics (dogs, cats, horses) and obesity modeling leverages species-specific physiological similarities to advance translational medicine, particularly in gastrointestinal disorders and metabolic diseases.

Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in veterinary molecular diagnostics, with 62% focusing on microRNA biomarker validation across species and 38% examining obesity mechanisms in Göttingen Minipigs. These studies consistently employ multi-omics approaches to identify clinically actionable biomarkers while establishing porcine models for human metabolic conditions.

She actively mentors students at all levels and secures competitive funding for critical projects:

• FTP-funded research on fecal microRNA biomarkers for GI cancer/IBD in dogs & cats
• AGRIA-supported urinary microRNA identification for feline pyelonephritis
• AGRIA-funded CNS disease biomarker discovery in dogs
• Novo Nordisk collaboration characterizing Göttingen Minipig for NASH/obesity modeling

Her laboratory maintains a unique bio-bank of 600+ porcine tissue samples and collaborates with clinical teams at Copenhagen's small animal hospitals, while her qPCR methodology (Balcells et al. 2011) remains foundational in microRNA quantification worldwide.