Project Description

Biography:

Originally from Madrid, Javier Herranz del Cerro received his BSc in Biotechnology from the University Francisco de Vitoria (UFV). His scientific curiosity led him to seek international experience early on, completing an Erasmus year at The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) in Poland. During his undergraduate training, he also gained extensive research experience at the Molecular Oncology Unit of Hospital 12 de Octubre (H12O)  in Madrid, where he generated CRISPR/Cas9-edited cell lines and studied drug resistance in pancreatic cancer.  However, it was his internship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI)  in Boston that marked a turning point in his career. There, while working on cancer epigenetics and NGS protocols, Javier realized the transformative potential of data science in oncology. Motivated to bridge the gap between biology and big data, he pursued an MSc in Bioinformatics for Health Sciences at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona. During this period, he conducted research at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), applying machine learning algorithms to large-scale genomic datasets to improve the detection of cancer driver genes.

Javier now joins the ADAPTMET network as a PhD student hosted by ZS Associates in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen (KU). His project focuses on the sub gene-level dissection of cell-cell interactions within the cancer metastasis microenvironment. By integrating single-cell whole-transcriptome sequencing with deconvoluted bulk transcriptomics, Javier aims to investigate how isoform-level changes in receptors and ligands influence tumour-immune interactions. He strives to uncover whether subclonal isoform switching acts as an adaptive mechanism for immune escape, potentially identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention.

Javier views the close collaboration between industry and academia as a defining strength of the ADAPTMET program, believing that the integration of advanced data science with translational research is essential to accelerate medical innovation. Beyond the scientific challenge, he is strongly motivated by the prospect of contributing to improved outcomes for cancer patients. He hopes that uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying metastasis will help pave the way toward more effective and durable cancer therapies.