Why INT2ACT?
INT2ACT provides a unique opportunity to integrate academic expertise in omics data analysis with industrial innovation, building a methodological bridge to translate cfRNA sequencing research into clinically applicable tools for early cancer detection.
Dr. Esther Lizano Gonzalez is a senior researcher within the Comparative Genomics Lab (Pompeu Fabra University) at the Universitat Pompeu Fabrain in Barcelona, Spain.
Her lab focuses on evolutionary and comparative genomics, developing computational and experimental methods to analyze complex genomic datasets and understand biological diversity across species.
Within this context, her individual activities include supervising doctoral candidates, designing experiments, and developing and optimizing sequencing protocols and bioinformatics pipelines. Her research focuses on applying high-throughput sequencing and computational approaches to cfRNA and other omics datasets, aiming to identify novel biomarkers and advance early disease detection, bridging fundamental research with translational applications.
I am originally from Barcelona and spent ten years in Germany, where I deepened my training in molecular biology and data-driven approaches to understanding complex biological systems. Over time, this led me to specialize in sequencing methods and omics data analysis. My research focuses on applying these techniques to biomedical challenges, with the goal of connecting fundamental science to translational applications that can have real-world impact.
I hold a degree in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona and a PhD in Molecular Biology from Leipzig University, where I specialized in RNA biochemistry and applied early Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) methods to study gene expression in primates. With over 20 years of experience in developing and implementing cutting-edge high-throughput sequencing protocols, I co-founded Flomics Biotech, where I currently serve as Scientific Advisor. In this role, I lead the company’s research strategy and drive innovation to address emerging needs in healthcare and biotechnology. Additionally, I hold a Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling, reflecting my commitment to bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and its practical application in healthcare. My passion lies in advancing precision medicine and fostering solutions that improve patient outcomes.
Cabús L., Lagarde J., Curado J., Lizano E., Pérez-Boza J. (2022) Current challenges and best practices for cell-free long RNA biomarker discovery. Biomark Res. 2022 Aug 18;10(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s40364-022-00409-w
Kuderna LFK. et al. (2023) A global catalog of whole-genome diversity from 233 primate species. Science, Jun 2;380(6648):906-913. Lizano E. is co-author. doi: 10.1126/science.abn7829
Ferrández-Peral L., Zhan X., Alvarez-Estape M., Chiva C., Esteller-Cucala P., García-Pérez R., Julià E., Lizano E., Fornas Ò., Sabidó E., Li Q., Marquès-Bonet T., Juan D., Zhang G. (2022) Transcriptome innovations in primates revealed by single-molecule long-read sequencing. Genome Res., Aug 25;32(8):1448-1462. doi: 10.1101/gr.276395.121