Author: Sandra Ferreiro

Bioinformatics Specialist and Head of the Scientific Area at ADNTRO. She holds a degree in Biotechnology from Francisco de Vitoria University, where she received two scholarships for outstanding academic performance. She worked on a research project on left-right asymmetry in Newcastle, winning the award for best poster at the Cardiovascular Research Center Trainees Meeting (2018). She completed a Master's degree in Computational Biology at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. There, she studied metabolic interaction networks in the microbiome of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis at the CBGP research center, a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (2020). Since 2020, she has worked as a Bioinformatics Specialist at ADNTRO, where she develops predictive models, performs annotations and analyses of pathogenic variants, conducts GWAS literature research, and engages in science outreach.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease and one of the leading causes of hypothyroidism in the world. In this disorder, the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, affecting its ability to produce essential hormones for metabolism. Below, we explore in detail what it is, its symptoms, its prevalence and its [...]

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, damaging the myelin sheaths that cover neurons. This damage, caused by inflammatory processes, interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses, slowing them down or blocking them completely. Myelin plays an essential role in the conduction of electrical impulses in the brain.

DNA replication

Our cells are constantly changing due to a series of events that occur during the phases of the cell cycle. Among these events is DNA replication, which is essential for cells to renew themselves. What does cell renewal consist of? Cellular renewal is the capacity of cells to renew themselves.

Metabolism of sugar spikes

Glucose, commonly known as blood sugar, is an essential energy source for the human body and its proper regulation is very important. So-called "sugar spikes" - rapid and abrupt increases in blood glucose after eating certain foods - can have a significant impact on our long-term health. In this article, [...]

Electron transport chain

The electron transport chain, also known as oxidative phosphorylation, is the most energy-producing step of cellular aerobic respiration. This process occurs in the inner membrane of the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and depends on the presence of oxygen to take place. This set of metabolic reactions [...]

Beta-oxidation of fatty acids

Once lipolysis is complete, the fatty acids generated enter the bloodstream to be utilized by our body in a process known as beta-oxidation. This process occurs mainly in the mitochondria of cells such as those of skeletal muscle and the heart. Transport of fatty acids to the mitochondria So, how do we [...]

Saxenda

Saxenda (liraglutide as active ingredient) is mainly used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. But what has really caught the attention of this drug is its approval for weight loss in obese or overweight people with certain pathologies. How does Saxenda act in your body? It is a drug that [...]

Ozempic, what is it, what is it for and why does it not always have the expected effect?

Ozempic is the trade name for a drug that is primarily used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This drug lowers blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (in addition to diet and exercise) and aids in weight loss although it does not always have [...]

Fat burning: Lipolysis

In the human body, fats, in addition to other functions, serve as an energy reserve to obtain the fuel the body needs in situations of high energy demand. This process, popularly known as fat burning, is called lipolysis. Function of fats Fats, or lipids, serve several vital functions in the body [...]

What are genetic tests used for, and what types are there?

Genetic testing is a type of medical test used to identify changes in genes through DNA analysis. It is a very valuable tool for prevention as well as for the personalization of treatments and diagnosis, among many other functions. There are different types of genetic tests that can be classified into [...]