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María Blasco Marhuenda facts for kids

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Blasco and the second or maternal family name is Marhuenda.
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María Blasco
María Antonia Blasco Marhuenda recibiendo los Premios a la Investigación 2014-2015 de la Comunidad de Madrid (cropped).jpg
Born
María Antonia Blasco Marhuenda

1965 (age 59–60)
Alicante, Spain
Nationality Spanish
Alma mater Universidad de Valencia, BSc Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, PhD
Awards EMBO Gold Medal (2004)
Scientific career
Fields Molecular biology
Institutions Spanish National Cancer Research Centre

María Antonia Blasco Marhuenda (born in 1965), known as María Blasco, is a Spanish scientist who studies molecular biology. This field looks at how tiny parts of living things, like cells, work. She is currently the director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). This is a very important research center in Spain.

Her Life and Career

María Blasco was born in 1965 in Alicante, Spain. She loved science from a young age. She earned her PhD in 1993. During her studies, she worked with a famous scientist named Margarita Salas.

After her PhD, María went to New York, USA. She joined the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. There, she worked with Carol W. Greider, who later won a Nobel Prize. This was a great chance to learn from top scientists.

In 1997, María returned to Spain. She started her own research group in Madrid. In 2003, she joined the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). She became the head of the Molecular Oncology Programme. This program studies how cancer starts and grows. She also led the Telomeres and Telomerase Group.

María Blasco became the Vice-Director of Basic Research at CNIO in 2005. Then, in 2011, she was chosen to be the director of the entire CNIO. This is a very important role in science.

In 2010, María also helped start a company called Life Length. This company uses scientific discoveries to help people.

Her Important Discoveries

María Blasco's research focuses on something called telomeres and telomerase.

  • Telomeres are like tiny caps at the ends of our DNA. They protect our chromosomes, which carry all our genetic information. Think of them like the plastic tips on shoelaces that stop them from fraying.
  • Telomerase is an enzyme. It helps to keep telomeres long. When telomeres get too short, cells can stop working properly or even die.

Here are some of her key discoveries:

  • She found the main parts of telomerase in mice. She also created the first mouse that didn't have telomerase. This helped scientists understand what telomerase does.
  • She made the first mouse that had more telomerase in its body. This helped show how telomerase affects aging.
  • Her team found that telomeres and the areas next to them have special "marks." These marks affect how genes work.
  • They discovered tiny RNAs (molecules similar to DNA) that can stop telomerase from working. These RNAs are different in cancer cells.
  • María's research showed that how long telomeres are and how active telomerase is affects how well our body's stem cells can repair tissues. Stem cells are special cells that can turn into different types of cells.
  • She found that the longest telomeres are usually found in areas where adult stem cells live.
  • Her team showed that if mice have more telomerase, they age slower and live longer. This was a big step in understanding aging.
  • They also discovered that telomeres can become "younger" when cells are reprogrammed.
  • Her work helped explain why short telomeres can stop cells from being reprogrammed.
  • Finally, she found that a protein called TRF1, which protects telomeres, can also help prevent cancer and slow down aging.

Awards and Recognition

María Blasco has received many awards for her amazing work. Here are some of them:

  • In 2004, she won the prestigious EMBO Gold Medal. This award is given to young scientists who have made outstanding contributions to biology.
  • In 2008, she received the Körber European Science Award.
  • In 2010, she was given the National Research Award Santiago Ramón y Cajal. This is one of Spain's highest science awards.
  • In 2017, she received a special award from the Generalitat Valenciana for her scientific achievements.
  • In 2018, she was included in the Periodic Table of Scientists. This was to celebrate the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements.
  • In 2021, she received the Progressive Women of Retirement Award.

These awards show how important her research is for understanding cancer and aging.

Images for kids

  • María Antonia Blasco Marhuenda recibiendo los Premios a la Investigación 2014-2015 de la Comunidad de Madrid (cropped)

    María Blasco receiving an award.

See also

A robot, symbolizing science and discovery. In Spanish: María Blasco Marhuenda para niños

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