Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common pediatric cancer, originates in many cases from the malignant transformation of a developing B lymphocyte in the bone marrow. Understanding the mechanisms of B cell maturation and how their perturbation contributes to the onset of this pathology is essential for evolving improved strategies for those patients not responding to current therapies.

Ph.D. Berta Vázquez, from the Chromatin biology laboratory led by Alejandro Vaquero, will study the “Mechanisms of Sirtuin-dependent regulation of immunity and leukemogenesis,” SirT-IMLEU project, granted with a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Individual Fellowship (MSCA-IF, Grant Agreement 895979).

MSCA-IF is one of the most prestigious grants for researchers conceded by the European Commission, which finances a researcher’s salary for two years and a percentage for his or her training and research project. Besides, it eases mobility between different research centers across Europe.

Vázquez will focus on novel mechanisms of B lymphopoiesis and the interplay of SIRT7, a Sirtuin family member with critical roles in genome homeostasis, with master regulators of lymphocyte development. Sirtuins play key roles in the maintenance of genome integrity under stress, and their deficiency relates to the pathogenesis of cancer. Importantly, SIRT7 is highly expressed in developing lymphocytes, yet their role in immune cells and its relationship with leukemia awaits further investigation.

Vázquez will work together with more Josep Carreras Institute’s Groups, such as Pablo Menéndez’s Stem cell biology, developmental leukemia and immunotherapy research group, and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (Barcelona), among others.