Mercedes Fernández Moreno

My name is Mercedes Fernández Moreno and I am graduated in Biology at the University of Santiago de Compostela in 2000 and obtained my PhD in the University of A Coruña in 2006. I joined to the INIBIC in 2006. I started to work in the genomic area focused my research in stablished the relation between rheumatic diseases and mitochondrial DNA haplogroups. In this line we can published the first articles that described the connection between osteoarthrosis and mtDNA haplogroups, this first publication allowed us analyzed several global cohorts. All data showed that the individuals with superhaplogroup JT had a protective phenotype for develop the pathology.

From 2010 to 2012 I worked with Dr Garesse in the IIB-UAM in Madrid developed a part of European project. My job during this period contributed to develop and characterization cybrid cell models from different cell types. When returned to INIBIC lab I have continues work in this new line generating new Rho-0 cells (cells without mtDNA), with this knowledge we can develop transmitochodrial cybrids with different nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. Obtaining cellular in vitro model to test the role of mitochondria in complex pathologies.

Actually I am a post-doctoral researcher in the Rheumatology group of the INIBIC and CIBER-BBM (my employer). I work mainly focuses on the design of transmitochondrial cybrids to study the contribution of mitochondrial genetic alterations in the development of OA. During my postdoctoral period I published more than 20 papers and I had attended to several national and international congress related with OA and mitochondria. In 2017 we received the Sociedad Española de Reumatologia Award at the best publication in OA; "Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups influence the risk of incident knee osteoarthritis in OAI and CHECK cohorts. A meta-analysis and functional study". From 2015 I am thesis supervisor. I am a Project Supervisor to Final Year Students of Biology and Master en Asistencia e Investigación Sanitaria Students, University A Coruña from 2013 to the present. And from 2012 I teach a subject in the Master en Asistencia e Investigación Sanitaria.

Mercedes Fernández Moreno.