Research & Initiatives

At the Mata-Garrido Lab, we are driven by a fundamental question: how do cells adapt, change, and sometimes go astray to form cancer? Our research explores the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie cancer development, progression, and therapy resistance, with a special focus on colorectal cancer and rare pediatric tumors such as hepatoblastoma and medulloblastoma.

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Cancer is not a single disease; it is a complex ecosystem shaped by the interplay of genetics, metabolism, the immune system, and the surrounding microenvironment. We study how age, cellular plasticity, and epigenetic regulation influence these interactions, and how subtle molecular changes can determine whether a treatment succeeds or fails. Our goal is to translate this knowledge into real benefits for patients, trying to help design therapies that are more precise, less invasive, and more effective across different ages and tumor types.

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Our approach is deeply interdisciplinary, combining molecular and cell biology with computational modeling, bioinformatics, and systems-level analyses. We use cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, epigenome and metabolome profiling, exosome analysis, and microbiome–metabolome integration to map cancer at unprecedented resolution. By merging these data-rich approaches with clinical insights, we aim to discover new biomarkers and therapeutic targets that can guide personalized medicine.

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But our motivation goes beyond scientific curiosity. We are inspired by the patients and families who face these diseases, by the child diagnosed with a rare tumor for which few treatments exist, and by the adult confronting colorectal cancer and its long-term challenges. Our work is a commitment to them: to understand the biology behind their disease, to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic strategies, and ultimately, to improve quality of life and outcomes for people across the lifespan.

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Through collaboration, curiosity, and compassion, the Mata-Garrido Lab seeks to bridge the gap between basic discovery and societal impact, advancing the promise of precision oncology for all.