In comparison to healthy cells, stressed cells, like those in cancer or viral infections, rely on specific translational mechanisms.
As a 2025 Schmidt Science Fellow, Marta’s research will focus on translation, the cellular process of making proteins from RNA templates. She aims to understand why and how tumor cells need these translational mechanisms and will explore whether this difference between tumor and normal tissues can be exploited for effective treatment.
One promising avenue is RNA-based therapies, which can be engineered to target stressed cells selectively. By integrating fundamental research of translational mechanisms and RNA therapeutics, Marta strives to advance scientific progress and RNA-based therapies for combating diseases.
Marta will pivot from Cancer Immunology to Molecular & Cell Biology