Dr Marc Fernandez-Yague

Profile

During my doctoral studies at University of Galway (Ireland), I explored the concept of bioelectric signaling as central to the regulation of cell differentiation. I demonstrated that cell function and tissue repair processes could be controlled by biomaterials interactions. My research attracted considerable attention from both the media and medical community, resulting in a patent (EP20152766.0) and funding for the development, production, and commercialization of a medical device for repairing rotator cuff tendon tears.

To gain further expertise in the areas of cell-matrix interactions and immune responses, I pursued postdoctoral studies with Andrés García at the Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) and Arancha del Campo at the Institute for New Materials (Germany) under a Global MSCA Fellowship (PI: Fernández-Yagüe). I focused in developing biomimetic platforms and molecular tools, i) to investigate how mechanical forces are integrated into signaling at individual adhesion complexes and ii) engineer immune responses to biomaterials for regenerative medicine and immunomodulation applications.

ACADEMIC TRAJECTORY:

• Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, 2023 
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Institute for New Materials (Saarbrucken, Germany) 2022-2023
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience - GeorgiaTech (Atlanta, US) 2019-2022
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering & Research Associate, Centre for Medical Devices - University of Galway (Galway, Ireland), 2014-2019
• BSc & MSc (1st) in Materials Science & Research Engineer, BarcelonaTech (Barcelona, Spain), 2006-2014

SELECTED AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS

• Rising Star in Engineering in Health, 2022
• NextProf Nexus, 2022
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Global Fellowship, 2021-2023
• Julia Polak Award, 2021   

And other prestigious recognitions...

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

Investigated the immunomodulatory potential of cell-adhesive hydrogels for enhanced tissue healing.

Using biomimetic 3D models, I Investigated how mechanosensitive proteins affect cell migration and tissue repair processes.

Introduced an innovative regenerative bioelectric therapy for tendons, which has set a benchmark in tissue remodeling and scar tissue prevention.

An many more to come….

Teaching

CHE600/601

SEF004

 

Research

Research Interests:

Within our bodies, cellular interactions maintain a delicate equilibrium, ensuring health and functionality and any disruptions in this balance can lead to conditions like cancer or fibrosis. My research aims to understand the physical principles behind these cellular interactions, focusing on cellular communication and response to biophysical cues. By bridging the worlds of mechanobiology, cell engineering, and materials science, I aim to create synthetic materials that can steer cellular behavior, potentially revolutionizing regenerative medicine and offering fresh solutions to age-old medical challenges.

At Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) I lead the CREATION “Cellular REprogrAmming Through BIomaterials InteractiONs” research group, where we channel our passion into the cutting-edge development and synthesis of “bioprogramming” materials. A significant portion of our work is dedicated to optimizing mechanochemical tools and cell signaling. Our objective is twofold:

Understand the molecular translation of biophysical cues into cellular functions within living tissues.

Develop therapeutic technologies for in situ musculoskeletal soft-tissue regeneration that are reliable, safer, and cost-effective.

Our vision is to shift the paradigm, moving from understanding cell mechanics to harnessing this knowledge in addressing real-world health challenges. From understanding to action, from knowledge to healing.

Research Interests:

Engineering Immunity: I focus on the inflammatory responses to biomaterials, crafting strategies to guide the immune response.

Mechanochemical Cell Biology: I design platforms to grasp the nuances of how cells interact and communicate within their environments.

Regenerative Electroceuticals: By understanding bioelectric signaling in cellular processes, I am pioneering groundbreaking regenerative therapies.

Implant Biointegration: I formulate easy, cost-effective and reliable strategies for superior implant-tissue integration, addressing the issues of post-implantation instability.

Publications

SELECTED ARTICLES

(*: equal contribution; #: corresponding author)

1. Fernández-Yagüe MA*, Hymel LA*, Olingy CE*, McClain C, Ogle ME, R. García J, Minshew D, Vyshnya S, Seo Lim, Peng Qiu H, García AJ, and Botchwey EA#. Analyzing Immune Response to Engineered Hydrogels by Hierarchical Clustering of Inflammatory Cell Subsets. Sci. Adv.8, eabd8056 (2022)
2. Fernández-Yagüe MA#, Trotier A, Demir S, Akogwu Abbah S, Larrañaga A, Thirumaran A, Stapleton A, Tofail S.A.M, Palma M, Kilcoyne M, Pandit A, Biggs MJP#. A self-powered piezo-bioelectric device regulates tendon repair-associated signalling pathways through modulation of mechanosensitive ion channels. Adv. Mater. 33, 2008788 (2021). Highlighted as Front Cover in Advanced Materials.
3. Fernández-Yagüe MA*, Zhou D*, Holland E, García A, Castro N, O’Neill E, Eyckmans J, Chen C, Fu J, Schlaepfer D.D, García AJ#. Force-FAK Signaling Coupling at Individual Focal Adhesions Coordinates Mechanosensing and Microtissue Repair . Nat Commun 12(1) (2021). (IF=14.9). Highlighted in the 50 best papers in the Focus area of 'Structural biology, biochemistry and biophysics' by Nature Communications.
4. Fernández-Yagüe MA, Perez RA, Biggs MJP, Gil FJ, Pegueroles M#.Enhanced osteoconductivity on electrically charged Ti c.p implants treated by physicochemical surface modifications methods. Nanomedicine Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 18, 1549-9634,1-10 (2018).
5. Fernández-Yagüe MA*, Mestres G*, Pastorino D, Montufar E, Manzanares C, Ginebra M.P#. In vivo comparative study of the anti-inflammatory effects of CPC foam with drug delivery and Mg CPC. Materials Science and Engineering: C , 97,84-95,0928-4931 (2019).

And more…