RESEARCH TEAM
Manuel Álvarez Rodríguez (PhD)
I am a Biologist (University of León, Spain, 2007) with years of research experience in the field of comparative animal reproduction. I am also a PhD (University of León, Spain, 2013) acquainted and experienced in the application of different laboratory techniques and instruments such as flow cytometry for comparative studies of mammalian spermatozoa.
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Keywords:
Cryobiology, Developmental Biology, Male-Female Communication, RNA expression, Protein expression, Comparative Animal Reproduction, porcine, rabbit, rooster.
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· 2024 - . INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain. Científico Titular (Tenured Scientist)
· 2022 - 2024. INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain. Ramón y Cajal Researcher
· 2018 - . University of León, León, Spain. Instituto de desarrollo ganadero. Collaborator.
· 2018 - 2022
University of Linköping, Sweden
Senior Researcher Obtetrics & Gynecology
· 2018 - 2022. Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona
Animal Health and Anatomy
· 2014 - 2018. University of Linköping, Sweden. Postdoctoral Researcher Obtetrics & Gynecology
· 2008 - 2013. University of Leon, Spain. PhD. Animal Reproduction
· 2001 - 2007. University of Leon, Spain. BSc. Molecular and Cell Biology
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Código ORCID: 0000-0003-0120-354X
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manuel-Alvarez-Rodriguez
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Helena Nieto (PhD)
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Helena Nieto is a PhD in Science at the University of Cadiz in 2016. She is graduated in Marine Science at the University of Cadiz in 2009. After that, she obtained the Master Degree in Acuaculture and Fisheries: Marine Resources and Sostenibility at the University of Cadiz in December 2012. She has worked in the research group “Ecotoxicology, Ecophysiology and Biodiversity of Aquatic Systems” in the Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (2010-2016). Her research is focused on the behaviour and distribution of emergent pollutants and their ecotoxicological effects. Design and application of bioassays for ecotoxicity assessment employing freshwater, marine and estuarine organisms. Effects of emergent contaminants (pharmaceuticals) on aquatic and sediment biota at different trophic levels under global change scenarios. Currently, she is working as research assitant in the Animal Reproduction Department at INIA-CSIC (Since July 2020).
Código ORCID: 0000-0003-1192-9467
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helena-Nieto
Eduardo de Mercado (PhD)
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Eduardo de Mercado is graduated in Biology by the SEK University of Segovia (2004). He completed a Master's degree in Biotechnology of Porcine Reproduction, by the University of Murcia (2007), and obtained his PhD in 2011 by the Complutense University of Madrid, with the thesis "Characterization of freezability and improvement of diluents of sperm cryopreservation in Iberian pigs”. He worked from 2010 to 2018 as Technician at the “Centro de Pruebas de Porcino”, of the ‘Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León’, and from 2018 to 2020 was contracted as Researcher at the same institution. From 2020 to the present, he works as Specialized Senior Technician in the Animal Reproduction Department of the “Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, (INIA)” integrated into “Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)”.
During his professional career, he has worked on different aspects of animal production (reproduction, genetics, nutrition and animal welfare), especially in the pig species. Highlighting his work in improving the sperm cryopreservation process in this species, mainly in the Iberian pig breed, and focusing on the modification of conservation extenders, as well as in the thawing process.
Código ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0321-2431
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=juYLjqkAAAAJ&hl=es
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eduardo-Mercado-2
Adrián Martín (PhD student)
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Adrián Martín San Juan is graduated in Biology by the UAM Autonomous University of Madrid (2021). He completed and internship at Hertfordshire University (Hatfield, UK) after ending his degree in 2021 gaining laboratory skills.
He completed a Master's degree in Animal Health and Production, by the Complutense University of Madrid (2023) specializing in Reproduction, Sanity and Nutrition in ruminant species.
He conducted his master’s and bachelor’s degree practices and final projects in the Laboratory of Reproduction Physiology and Technology in Wild Species at the Animal Reproduction Department at INIA-CSIC.
He has a large laboratory skills in molecular and cellular biology, as well as specific abilities in gametes handling, analysis and report elaboration.
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Código ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4904-1570
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adrian-Martin-30
FORMER MEMBERS
Jaume Gardela Santacruz (PhD)
Dr. Jaume Gardela Santacruz earned a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine degree with honors from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB, Spain) in 2017 and obtained a Ph.D. in Animal Medicine and Health from UAB in 2022 (co-supervised by Dr. Manel López Béjar and Dr. Manuel Álvarez-Rodríguez). His research focused on the role of cold-inducible proteins in the animal reproductive physiology in bovine oocytes and female reproductive tissues. Other lines of research include animal welfare, animal reproduction in wildlife and domestic species, and zoonotic diseases at the human, animal, and environment interface. His work has been published in a variety of journals and presented at several international congresses.
He has experience working abroad in Sweden (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University) and Uganda (National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre (NADDEC), Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University). Additionally, he has teaching and mentoring experience at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UAB).
He likes to keep his hands dirty in veterinary medicine, and has volunteered as a firefighter in the Veterinary Emergencies and Rescue Group of the Fire Department of the Government of Catalonia and as a field research assistant for Daktari NGO in rural and remote regions of Uganda for brucellosis detection and anti-microbial resistance awareness.
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Currently, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Arboviruses and Arthropod Vectors research group at IRTA-CReSA (Research Center for Animal Health), Barcelona, Spain.
Código ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7524-2088
Google Scholar profile: ‪Jaume Gardela‬ - ‪Google Académico‬
Researchgate: Jaume Gardela (researchgate.net)
Mateo Ruiz Conca (PhD)
Dr. Mateo Ruiz Conca graduated in Biology (First Class Honors and Honorary Mention to his Academic Achievement) at University of Alicante in 2014. He completed the last year of his degree at the University of Exeter (United Kingdom). After that, he obtained a MSc. in Reproductive Biology and Cytogenetics (2016) at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and worked in the human reproductive medicine private sector. In 2017, he was awarded with a national grant (FPU) to complete his PhD studies at UAB (co-supervised by Dr. Manel López Béjar and Dr. Manuel Álvarez-Rodríguez). His PhD research was carried out in reproductive physiology, focused in the influence of glucocorticoids signaling during relevant reproductive events, including oocyte cryopreservation. In addition, during this period, he also completed research stays at INRA-Université de Tours (France) in 2019, and Linköping University (Sweden) in 2021. During his PhD, he taught in the degree of Veterinary Medicine at UAB, being involved in educational research and innovation projects. Moreover, he also worked in the management of the germplasm bank of exotic species from the Barcelona Zoo and the Gorilla EEP (European Endangered Species Program).
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Currently, "Profesor Sustituto", Universidad de Alicante, Departamento: FISIOLOGIA, GENETICA Y MICROBIOLOGIA. Área: Fisiología.
Código ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7092-7993
Google Scholar profile: ‪‪Mateo Ruiz-Conca‬ - ‪Google Académico‬
Researchgate: Mateo Ruiz-Conca (researchgate.net)
ALUMNI
1. Silvia Dudkiewicz (Erasmus + Master. Poland october 2022-january 2023)
2. Nerea Gala Ginés (TFG Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, enero-julio 2023)
3. Andrea Cabero Pampliega (TFG Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid; septiembre-diciembre 2023)
4. Lucas Pidal Acal (TFG Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid; enero-junio 2024)
5. Jaime Hernán (Prácticas Extracuriculares; Universidad CEU; abril-mayo 2024).
6. Paula Serres Corral (Visiting PhD student; UAB, enero 2025).
7. Irene Ortega Baño (TFM Universidad de Murcia; enero-junio 2025).
7. Yana Azizi Hammadeh (TFG Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid; enero-junio 2025).
8. Claudia Cerrato Martín-Hinojal (TFG Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid; enero-junio 2025).
