Welcome to the Espinosa-Diez Lab

Cristina, originally from Madrid, Spain, obtained her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the Center of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa (CBMSO) under the guidance of Dr. Santiago Lamas. Her research focused on microRNAs and their role in endothelial cell dysfunction, particularly in response to oxidative stress. She then pursued a postdoctoral position at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, working with Dr. Sud Anand to investigate non-coding RNA responses in the tumor microenvironment. Seeking to expand her knowledge in epigenetics and vascular remodeling, Cristina joined Dr. Delphine Gomez's team at the Vascular Medicine Institute (VMI) at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research in Pittsburgh has centered around understanding the interplay between histone modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNAs in vascular smooth muscle cell lineage identity and morphology. Cristina's work in this field has been recognized with an American Heart Career Development Award, enabling her to further explore the role of non-coding RNAs in pathological microvascular remodeling. In October 2023, Cristina will begin her role as an Assistant Professor at Wayne State University, joining the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics and the Department of Physiology. Her primary focus will be investigating the impact of cancer therapies on the epigenetic landscape of vascular cells and their potential long-term complications. Outside of her research, Cristina enjoys coffee, rock music, and science-fiction shows.