Research
Research lines & ongoing projects
NanoToxGen research activities are focused on the field of Health Sciences, and specifically on Toxicology — with three complementary lines and several active national and international projects.
Research line 1 — Nanotoxicology
One of the main research lines of the group focuses on the study of the interaction between nanomaterials and biological systems, the evaluation of the biocompatibility of these compounds and the factors that influence it, and the characterization of the possible toxicological effects of nanomaterials in different in vitro and in vivo systems. This line also includes the development and validation of new specific tools for biomonitoring studies and nanotoxicity assessment.
Research line 2 — Compounds with potential biomedical applications
Synthesis, characterization and testing of compounds with potential biomedical applications. In particular, this line focuses on the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of new vanadium and molybdenum complexes. Their catalytic activity and biological activity are addressed to evaluate their potential as enzyme-mimetic compounds and antitumor agents.
Research line 3 — Biomarkers for risk assessment
Use of biomarkers, model organisms and cell systems to assess the effects of environmental and occupational exposure to known or emerging pollutants on health and the environment. This line also includes the development of new cellular and molecular biomarkers for the early identification of different pathologies or medical conditions, focusing in particular on frailty syndrome in older adults.
Ongoing projects
Funded research in progress
NeuroNanoMet (2025–2028)
Funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and led by Dr. Vanessa Valdiglesias. Given the promising potential of many engineered nanomaterials for medical applications, the project evaluates the biological behaviour of various nanomaterials with biomedical potential in the nervous system, in order to rule out possible adverse effects on human health and determine optimal conditions for their use — verifying biocompatibility for safe use as nanodrugs in the diagnosis and/or treatment of brain cancer and neurological disorders.
The proposal builds on NanoAssess (2021–2025), also funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, in which several techniques and model systems were validated for the specific study of nanotoxicity.
MixingTOX (2022–2026)
Investigates the potential toxic effects of ingested nanomaterials (iNM) and iNM–metal mixtures and assesses the transferability, reproducibility and robustness of the methodology through an international collaborative trial. Led by Dr. Teresa Reis and Dr. Vanessa Valdiglesias, developed at the Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit) of the Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto (ISPUP) in collaboration with CICECO and CESAM (University of Aveiro, Portugal) and the CICA Research Center (University of A Coruña, Spain).
PARC — Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals
NanoToxGen participates in PARC, an EU-wide research and innovation partnership programme that supports EU and national chemical risk assessment and risk management bodies with new data, knowledge, methods, networks and skills. PARC develops next-generation chemical risk assessment to protect human health and the environment, supporting the European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the European Green Deal’s «Zero pollution» ambition.
Collaborations
Partner institutions
International
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology — Dr. Bojana Zegura
- Unit of Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana (Rome, Italy) — Dr. Stefano Bonassi
- Environmental Health Department, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (Portugal) — Dr. João Paulo Teixeira
- Department of Toxicology, Gazi University (Ankara, Turkey) — Dr. Bensu Karahalil
- Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University (Austria) — Dr. Dietmar Fuchs
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Institute of Public Health, University of Porto (Portugal) — Dr. Carla Costa, Dr. Solange Costa
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen (Denmark) — Dr. Peter Moller
- Institut Nanosciences et Cryogénie, CEA (Grenoble, France) — Dr. Marie Carriere
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford (UK) — Dr. Diana Anderson
National
- Behavioral and Molecular Diagnosis Applied to Health (DICOMOSA), University of A Coruña — Dr. Eduardo Pásaro Méndez, Dr. Blanca Laffon
- Molecular Self-Assembly and Nanomaterials Lab (Nanoself), University of A Coruña — Dr. Alejandro Criado, Dr. Jesús Mosquera
- Vertebrate Neuroanatomy Research Group (NEUROVER), University of A Coruña — Dr. Mónica Folgueira
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, University of Navarra — Dr. Amaya Azqueta
- Gerontology Group, University of A Coruña — Dr. José Carlos Millán Calenti, Dr. Laura Lorenzo, Dr. Ana Maseda
Recognitions
Awards
- Dolores Trigo Research Award — 2021
- Royal Academy of Medicine and Surgery of Valladolid Award — 2020
- IAGG-ER Emergent Scholar Award — 2019 (International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics)
- European Young Scientist Award — 2015 (European Environmental Mutagen and Genomics Society, EEMGS)
- Scientist Award from the Galician Royal Academy of Sciences — 2015
- Dolores Trigo Research Award — 2013
- Young Scientist Award from the Galician Royal Academy of Sciences — 2008