María Soengas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
María S. (Marisol) Soengas
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Soengas interviewed in 2019
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| Born | 1968 (age 56–57) |
| Alma mater | Autonomous University of Madrid University of A Coruña |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Michigan Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Spanish National Cancer Research Centre |
María S. (Marisol) Soengas (born in 1968) is a Spanish scientist who studies the body's immune system. She is a top scientist at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO). Her work focuses on understanding and finding new ways to treat a serious type of skin cancer called melanoma. In 2022, she was chosen to be part of the European Molecular Biology Organization, which is a big honor for scientists in Europe.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marisol Soengas was born in a place called Agolada, Spain. She started her university studies at the University of A Coruña. Later, she moved to the Autonomous University of Madrid to work on her PhD, which is a very advanced degree.
During her PhD, she studied molecular biology with a famous scientist named M. Salas. After finishing her PhD, she continued her research at two important labs in the United States: the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the University of Michigan.
At the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, she learned about how certain factors can stop melanoma cells from growing. She then decided to work more closely with real patients. So, she moved to the dermatology department at the University of Michigan, which had special clinics for melanoma patients.
Research and Discoveries
In 2008, Dr. Soengas returned to Spain and joined the Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO). There, she started her own research group. Her main goal was to understand melanoma better and to turn new scientific discoveries into actual treatments for people.
Dr. Soengas and her team look for new signs in the body that can show if someone has melanoma or how it might behave. They also study how cells get stressed and how this stress can lead to melanoma.
Her group made an important discovery: they were the first to create special mice called "MetAlert" mice. These mice help scientists see early signs of melanoma spreading without needing to do surgery. This discovery has helped them understand how melanoma can resist the body's immune system. It has also helped them create new treatments using tiny particles called nanoparticles.
Awards and Recognitions
Dr. Soengas has received many awards for her important work. These awards show how much her research has helped us understand and fight cancer.
- Dana Ashby Young Investigator Award from the Society for Melanoma Research
- 2009 Premio M. Josefa Wonenburger from the Xunta de Galicia
- 2013 Melanoma Research Alliance Award
- 2016 L’Oreal-MRA Women-Lead Team Award
- 2022 Elected to the European Molecular Biology Organization
- 2022 Pezcoller-Marina Larcher Fogazzaro-EACR Women in Cancer Research Award
Images for kids
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Marisol Soengas interviewed in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Marisol Soengas para niños
