GROUP CNIO-FCNC

Nabil Djouder, born in France, earned his PhD in Molecular Pharmacology from the University of Strasbourg and the University of Freiburg, focusing on mast cell activation and the role of small GTPases in this process. After a postdoctoral stint at the Novartis Friedrich Miescher Institute in Switzerland, where he delved into growth control and cancer, he moved to the Institute of Cell Biology at ETH Zurich in 2003. In 2009, he joined CNIO as a Junior Group Leader, exploring Growth factors, Metabolism, and Cancer. He was awarded the Ramon y Cajal award in 2011 and secured multiple grants. In 2018, he was promoted to Senior Group Leader, concentrating on the molecular links between environmental stresses and diseases affecting the digestive system.

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Karla Santos born in Oñati (Gipuzkoa), Karla obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU). During this time, she did a short research internship in the group of Arkaitz Carracedo at CIC bioGUNE. For her bachelor’s dissertation, she joined the group of María del Mar Vivanco at the CIC bioGUNE to study the tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer. Afterwards, she moved to Madrid to pursue her Master studies in Molecular Biomedicine at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and joined Jesús Paramio’s group at CIEMAT to carried out her master thesis on understanding the role of YAP activation in head and neck cancer. On 2020, Karla joined the Growth Factors, Nutrients and Cancer Group under the supervision of Dr. Nabil Djouder. In 2021, she obtained an AECC Predoctoral Fellowship. The main objective of her project is to decipher the role of dormant cells in cancer relapse.

PROJECTS (LAST 5 YEARS)

  • Reference: P2022/BMD-7393; Title: Cellular senescence in physiology and disease; Principal Investigator: Nabil Djouder; Funding Entity: CAM; Date: 01/2022–12/2026; Amount: 151.000 Euros.
  • Reference: PRYGN211184DJOU; Title: Elucidating the role of liver cirrhosis in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: towards novel therapeutic strategies; Principal Investigator: Nabil Djouder; Funding Entity: Spanish national grant from AECC; Date: 11/2021–09/2024; Amount: 300.000 Euros.
  • Reference: PID2021-122695OB-I00; Title: From cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma: a mechanobiology perspective; Principal Investigator: Nabil Djouder; Funding Entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation; Date: 10/2022–09/2025; Amount: 475.000 Euros.
  • Reference: EIC21-1-243; Title: The cholinergic immunosurveillance of ketogenic diet in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma; Principal Investigator: Nabil Djouder; Funding Entity: Fundación BBVA; Date: 07/2022–06/2025; Amount: 150.000 Euros.
  • Reference: CIVP22S18835; Title: Neuroinmunomodulación dietaria de la metástasis; Principal Investigator: Nabil Djouder; Funding Entity: FRA Ayudas; Date: 02/2025–01/2028; Amount: 152.000 Euros.
  • Reference: PRYGN259122DJOU; Title: The glutamate–macrophage axis in the immunosurveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma; Principal Investigator: Nabil Djouder; Funding Entity: AECC; Date: 12/2025–11/2029; Amount: 400.000 Euros.
  • Reference: PID2024-155810OB-I00; Title: Neutrófilos en la patogénesis de la obesidad y las disfunciones metabólicas asociadas; Principal Investigator: Nabil Djouder; Funding Entity: Ministry of Science and Innovation; Date: 09/2025–08/2028; Amount: 452.000 Euros.

THESIS  (LAST 5 YEARS)

I have trained technicians, undergraduate and master’s students, doctoral students, medical residents, and postdocs. In the last five years, nine doctoral students defended their theses cum laude, received awards, and continued their postdoctoral training in high-level laboratories in the United States, including those of Drs. Yasmine Belkaid, Scott Lowe, Rafael del Cabo, Xavier Rammsik, Nabeel Bardeesy, among others.

  • 2021/05 – 2026/09: Karla Santos de Frutos: ¨Elucidating the role of dormant cells in hepatocellular carcinoma relapse¨. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). She is planning to go abroad for a Postdoc.
  • 2020/10 – 2026/04: Paula Sanchez: ¨Elucidating the role of bile acids in liver fibrosis¨. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). She is planning to go abroad for a Postdoc.
  • 2020/10 – 2025/06: Maria del Mar Rigual: ¨Elucidating mechanisms of liver regeneration¨. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). She will join the lab of Dr. Sohail Tavazoie,11Rockefeller University, NY, USA.
  • 2019/10 – 2024/06: Irene Herranz Montoya: “Mechanisms of colorectal cancer initiation”. UAM. She will join the lab of Dr. Anil Rustgi, Columbia University, NY, USA.
  • 2017/03 – 2023/06: Sergio de la Rosa: “Role of URI during embryonic development”. UAM. PostDoc with Dr. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, Caltech, Pasadena, California, USA.
  • 2017/01 – 2022/06: Tatiana Grazioso: ¨Unconventional therapies for cancer treatment¨. UAM. PostDoc with Dr. Jesus-Garcia Donas, HM Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
  • 2015/02 – 2020/12: Amanda Garrido: “Role and functions of MCRS1 in liver disease”. UAM. PostDoc with Dr. Rafael de Cabo, NIH, Baltimore, USA.
  • 2015/02 – 2020/09: Ana Teijeiro: “Il-17A in obesity, metabolic syndrome and HCC”. UAM. PostDoc with Dr. Yasmine Belkaid, NIH, Bethesda, USA.

PUBLICATIONS

  • 2025 – Herranz-Montoya I, Angulo-Aguado M, Cristian Perna C, Zagorac S, García-Jimeno L, Park S and Djouder N (2025) p53 protein degradation redefines the initiation mechanisms and drives transitional mutations in colorectal cancer. Nature Communications. 16(1):3934.
  • 2025 – Rigual MdM, Angulo-Aguado M, Zagorac S, Benítez-Mondéjar M, Yi F, Álvarez-Díaz R, Martínez-Garay M, Santos-de-Frutos K, Kim E, Campos-Olivas R and Djouder N (2025) Macrophages harness unleashed pericentral hepatocyte glutamate to boost liver regeneration. Nature. 641(8064):1005-1016.
  • 2025 – Rigual MDM and Djouder N (2025) Glutamate as a therapeutic strategy to promote liver regeneration. Clin Transl Med. 15(7):e70421.
  • 2025 – Grazioso TP, Rigual MdM, Perna C, Caleiras EJ and Djouder N (2024) Cold exposure reinstates NAD+ levels and attenuates hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Stress. 8:125-139.
  • 2024 – Montégut L,…Djouder N,…Kroemer G (2024) Acyl-coenzyme A binding protein (ACBP) – a risk factor for cancer diagnosis and an inhibitor of immunosurveillance. Mol Cancer. 23(1):187.
  • 2024 – Gallo R, Teijeiro A, Angulo-Aguado M and Djouder N (2024) IL-17A produced by POMC neurons regulates diet-induced obesity. iScience. 27(7):110259.
  • 2024 – Blázquez-García I, Guerrero L, Cacho-Navas C, Djouder N, Millan J, Paradela A, Carmona-Rodríguez L, Corrales FJ (2024) Molecular Insights of Cholestasis in MDR2 Knockout Murine Liver Organoids. J Proteome Res. 23(4):1433-1442.
  • 2023 – De la Rosa S, Rigual MdM, Sagrario O and Djouder N (2023) Endogenous retroviruses shape pluripotency specification in mouse embryos. Science Advances. 10(4):eadk9394.
  • 2023 – Martinez-Garay C and Djouder N (2023) Dietary interventions and precision nutrition in cancer therapy. Trends in Molecular Medicine. 29(7):489-511.
  • 2023 – Grazioso TP and Djouder N (2023) The forgotten art of cold therapeutic properties in cancer: a comprehensive historical guide. iScience. 26(7):107010.
  • 2023 – Grazioso TP and Djouder N (2023) A mechanistic view of the use of cold temperature in the treatment of cancer. iScience. 26(4):106511.
  • 2022 – Chaves-Pérez A, Santos-de-Frutos K, De la Rosa S, Herranz-Montoya I, Perna C and Djouder N (2022) Transit-amplifying cells control R-spondins in the mouse crypt to modulate intestinal stem cell proliferation. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 219(11):e20212405.
  • 2022 – Rigual MdM, Sánchez Sánchez P and Djouder N (2022) Is liver regeneration key in hepatocellular carcinoma development? Trends in Cancer. S2405-8033(22)00228-X.
  • 2021 – Garrido A, Kim E, Teijeiro A, Sánchez Sánchez P, Gallo R, Nair A, Matamala M, Perna C, Vicent GP, Muñoz J, Campos-Olivas R, Melms JC, Izar B, Schwabe RF and Djouder N (2021) Histone acetylation of bile acid transporter genes plays a critical role in liver cirrhosis. Journal of Hepatology. S0168-8278(21)02294-7.
  • 2021 – Teijeiro A, Garrido A, Ferre A, Perna C and Djouder N (2021) Inhibition of the IL-17A axis in adipocytes suppresses diet-induced obesity and metabolic disorders in mice. Nature Metabolism. 3(4):496-512.
  • 2021 – Herranz-Montoya I, Park S, Djouder N (2021) A comprehensive analysis of prefoldins and their implication in cancer. iScience. 24(11):103273.
  • 2021 – Sánchez Sánchez P, Rigual MDM, Djouder N (2021) Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Mechanisms Controlling Cirrhosis Development. Cancers (Basel). 13(20):5045.
  • 2021 – Torres-Ruiz R, Grazioso T, Brandt M, Martinez-Lage M, Rodriguez-Perales S and Djouder N (2021) Detection of Chromosome Instability by Interphase FISH in Mouse and Human Tissues. STAR Protocols. 2(3):100631.
  • 2021 – Santos-de-Frutos K and Djouder N (2021) When dormancy fuels tumour relapse. Communications Biology. 4(1):747.
  • 2021 – Pfister D,…Djouder N,…Heikenwälder M (2021) NASH limits anti-tumor surveillance in immunotherapy-treated HCC. Nature. 592(7854):450-456.
  • 2020 – Garrido A and Djouder N (2020) Cirrhosis, a questioned risk factor for HCC. Trends in Cancer. S2405-8033(20):30237-5.
  • 2020 – McGinley AM, Sutton CE, Edwards SC, Leane CM, DeCourcey J, Teijeiro A, Hamilton JA, Boon L, Djouder N, Mills KHG (2020) Interleukin-17A Serves a Priming Role in Autoimmunity by Recruiting IL-1β-Producing Myeloid Cells that Promote Pathogenic T Cells. Immunity. S1074-7613(20)30029-7.
  • 2019 – Grazioso TP, Brandt M and Djouder N (2019) Diet, Microbiota and Colorectal Cancer. iScience. 21:168-187.
  • 2019 – Malehmir M,…, Djouder N,…, Heikenwalder M (2019) Platelet GPIbα is a mediator and potential interventional target for NASH and subsequent liver cancer. Nature Medicine. 25(4):641-655.
  • 2018 – Youssif C,…, Djouder N, Nebreda AR (2018) Myeloid p38gamma signaling promotes intestinal IGF-1 production and inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. EMBO Mol Med. 10(7):e8403.
  • 2018 – Djouder N (2018) Prefoldins: the new chaperones. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol. 1106. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-3-030-00736-2.
  • 2018 – Chaves-Pérez A, Thompson S, Djouder N (2018) Roles and Functions of the Unconventional Prefoldin URI. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Vol. 1106:95-108. Springer Nature.
  • 2017 – Garrido A and Djouder N (2017) NAD+ deficits in age-related diseases and cancer. Trends in Cancer. 3(8):593-610.
  • 2011 – Theurillat JP, Metzler SC, Henzi N, Djouder N, Helbling M, Zimmermann AK, Jacob F, Soltermann A, Caduff R, Heinzelmann-Schwarz V, Moch H, Krek W (2011) URI Is an Oncogene Amplified in Ovarian Cancer Cells and Required for Their Survival. Cancer Cell. 19(3):317-32.

MERITS & RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Desde 2010 – Miembro de la Oficina de Asuntos Académicos del Decano y coorganizador de actividades para estudiantes del CNIO, incluyendo el CNIO Lab-Day.
  • Desde 2010 – Participación en comités de evaluación científica, de subvenciones y becas del CNIO, así como en tribunales y comités de tesis doctorales.
  • Presidente de varios grupos de trabajo del CNIO, incluyendo el comité del biobanco.
  • Revisor ad hoc para revistas internacionales de alto impacto, entre ellas: Nature, Nature Cell Biology, Cell, Molecular Cell, Nature Communications, Cell Metabolism, Nature Cancer, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Gastroenterology, Gut, Journal of Hepatology, Hepatology, Journal of Cell Biology, Cell Death & Differentiation, Molecular Oncology, FEBS Letters, PLOS One y Disease Models and Mechanisms.
  • Miembro del comité editorial de Frontiers in Cell and Development Biology, Cell Stress y Translational Oncology.
  • Evaluador de subvenciones y becas para agencias nacionales e internacionales como WCR, ERC, Ministerio de España (Retos, FIS, Ramón y Cajal), AECC, BBVA, ARC, SNF y FNRS.
  • Miembro de comités de evaluación institucionales como iDIFFER y HCERES (Francia).

Miembro de sociedades científicas:

  • Desde 2022: Miembro electo de la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica (SEOM).
  • Desde 2011: Miembro electo de la European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
  • Desde 2012: Miembro electo de la European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (EASL).

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