RESEARCH SCHOLARS PROGRAMS – HIV 2025
6 March, 2025PERMED EP: FAST TRACK CALL 2025
7 March, 2025
The IIS Aragón researcher talks in this interview about her work leading the 'Maternal and Fetal Health research group' (GIIS106) and the main challenges they face
Cristina Paules Tejero, graduated in Medicine from the University of Zaragoza, has 14 years dedicated to researchShe completed her residency at the Lozano Blesa Clinical Hospital in the specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and later completed her doctoral thesis on the development of prenatal biomarkers for the prediction of neurological deterioration in the early stages of life, co-directed by the University of Zaragoza and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (United States)He received an extraordinary doctorate award from the University of Zaragoza and the Royal Academy of Medicine.
'Since I was little, science has been very present in my life. At home, the work of great scientists, and in particular, Santiago Ramón y Cajal, has always been spoken of with admiration. My grandfather and my mother were passionate about his legacy, not only for his discoveries, but also for his vision of science as a driver of knowledge and progress. I grew up in an environment where the figure of the researcher was deeply valued, which awakened in me a natural interest in the search for answers beyond the obvious.'
El Aragon Health Research Institute has been present in his career since the beginning of his research career, since it was in this environment that she completed her doctoral thesis. In 2020, after years of training in the 'Fetal and Perinatal Medicine Research' group at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, she decided to return to the IIS Aragón. Through a Juan Rodés contract, she rejoined with the aim of applying all the knowledge acquired in her specialization in Fetal Medicine and biomedical research. This return marked the beginning of a new stage leading the group 'Maternal and Fetal Health research group' (GIIS106).
'From very early in my career, I knew that research had to be a fundamental part of my professional development, because it is through it that we really advance knowledge and can offer better solutions to patients.'
What lines of research are being worked on in your group?
Our research group focuses on two key areas of maternal-fetal medicine: the threat of premature birth and gestational diabetes, addressing its impact both during pregnancy and on the long-term health of mothers and children.
In the case of the threatened preterm labor, we were pioneers in demonstrating that even when delivery occurs at term, it is not a benign condition. Our work, published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, opened a new line of global research by demonstrating its impact on child neurological development. Currently, we are studying how APP influences cardiovascular and metabolic programming from fetal life to childhood, as well as its effect on neurodevelopment and visual development, following children up to 6-8 years of age. Since APP affects 10% of pregnancies and cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in Europe, our research also seeks to identify biomarkers for early detection and prevention of cardiac remodeling, which could have a significant impact on public health and the sustainability of the health system.
Furthermore, the gestational diabetes It is one of the most frequent complications of pregnancy, affecting 10% of pregnant women and increasing the risk of preeclampsia, premature birth, macrosomia and neonatal complications. Its relevance transcends the gestational period, as it predisposes both mothers and their children to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in the future. This represents a major public health problem, not only in the area of maternal health, but also in that of their offspring, by generating a key opportunity for early monitoring and the implementation of preventive measures.
Our research in this field seeks a more precise phenotypic characterization of gestational diabetes that will allow the development of a classification that favors personalized clinical management. We also evaluate how GD influences perinatal outcomes and the long-term health of mothers and children, with the aim of developing strategies that minimize its adverse effects and allow a better adaptation of the health system to this growing pathology.
What is the main challenge your research group is currently facing?
The main challenge that our research group is currently facing is consolidate ourselves within the scientific ecosystem, guaranteeing the continuity of our projects and the stability of the teamAs an emerging group with a large proportion of predoctoral researchers, we are at a key stage in which it is essential to secure competitive funding to continue our lines of research and offer development opportunities to our young researchers.
La Training and growth of predoctoral researchers is another fundamental challenge. We have a highly motivated team, but the difficulty of incorporating clinical researchers into the healthcare system can reduce the dedication of these professionals to research. This forces us to look for strategies that allow us to make research work compatible with healthcare activity. In addition, as in any expanding group, another important challenge is to strengthen our collaborations both nationally and internationally. Translational and clinical research requires synergies with other groups to maximize the impact of our findings and accelerate their application in clinical practice. Therefore, one of our objectives is to continue expanding our collaboration network with other leading teams in maternal-fetal medicine.
Any ongoing projects that you would like to highlight?
Currently, The most important project of the group is the Pheno-GestDM which aims at Creation of a new classification of pregnant women with gestational diabetes This will allow for a better selection of patients at risk of complications, both from the point of view of the mother and the fetus, during pregnancy, childbirth or in the postnatal stage. The creation of this new classification of GD with different risk groups aims to make a personalized approach to gestational diabetes according to the individual characteristics of each pregnant woman. This type of more precise and individualized medicine hopes to reduce complications in the pregnant woman and the newborn. It also hopes to avoid unnecessary interventions in the population that is not at risk and to perform them early in the population at risk before the pathology worsens.
What profiles make up your research team?
Our research group is emerging and recently created. It has a interdisciplinary team that combines basic and clinical research. Currently, it is made up of two basic researchers and six clinical researchers.
In the field of basic research, we have a biologist and a biotechnologist specializing in bioinformatics. In the clinical area, we have a pediatrician and four specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Finally, we have a graduate in Nursing who actively collaborates in the different projects.
Why should companies bet on research, and specifically, on your group?
Companies should invest in research because it is Knowledge generation not only drives scientific progress, but also has a direct impact on health improvement, technological innovation and the sustainability of the health system.Investing in research allows us to improve the prevention, diagnosis and prognosis of diseases, as well as optimise treatments and improve the quality of life of the population, which translates into both social and economic benefits.
Our research group represents a Strategic opportunity for companies to invest in a field with significant clinical and economic impact: gestational diabetes (GD). This pathology affects 10% of pregnant women and has both short- and long-term consequences, with direct implications on maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality and on the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in the offspring. In Spain, in 2022, more than 32.000 pregnant women were diagnosed with GD, which underlines its high prevalence and the urgent need to optimize its approach.
Therefore, companies have an opportunity in our research to develop personalized treatments and preventive strategies with a huge real impact on public health.
Advice for someone starting out in healthcare research?
For someone who is starting their journey in health research, the first advice I would give is to have Patience and perseverance. Research is an exciting path, but also demanding and full of challenges. Immediate results are not always obtained, and the learning process is continuous. It is essential to stay motivated, understanding that each step – even failures or unexpected results – provides knowledge and brings us closer to new answers.
It is also crucial surround yourself with good mentors and collaborators. Research is a team effort, and having an environment that provides support, guides you in times of doubt, and motivates you to keep moving forward makes a big difference. Seeking out reference groups in your area of interest and not being afraid to ask questions or seek advice from more experienced researchers is one of the best ways to grow in this field.
Furthermore, I recommend that young researchers not limit themselves to their area of knowledge. Interdisciplinarity is key in current health research. Working with professionals from other fields, such as biostatisticians, biologists, engineers or artificial intelligence experts, allows us to approach problems from innovative perspectives and opens up new lines of work with great application potential.
Finally, something that I consider fundamental is finding balance between research and personal life. Science can be absorbing and often requires extra effort, but it is important to learn to manage time, set priorities and not neglect personal well-being. Research is a long-distance race, and to be able to maintain passion over time, it is necessary to enjoy the process without becoming exhausted.
