Dr. Raquel Cortés Vergaz
Principal Investigator
Research Group on the Study of Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk
Presentation
Raquel Cortés Vergaz holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Valencia, where she received the Extraordinary Doctorate Award. She completed her predoctoral training at the Myocardial Dysfunction and Cardiac Transplantation Unit at the Health Research Institute Hospital La Fe in Valencia. In 2011, she secured a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral contract, becoming a member of the Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk Study Group at INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute. Currently, she holds a prestigious Miguel Servet excellence contract (2022) and has been recognized as an emerging researcher since 2019.
In 2013, Dr. Cortés opened a new field of research on the molecular mechanisms associated with the development of kidney damage in hypertension, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases, focusing on the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargoes (ncRNAs, surface antigens…). EVs, which are small structures released into the blood by the different cell types that make up the organism, act as intercellular mediators. Their content is specific to patient’s pathophysiological state, transmitting signals that regulate key cellular pathways involved in disease progression.
Currently, she is focused on the development of a diagnostic algorithm using sensitive and specific artificial intelligence, based on the characterization of these structures using sequencing techniques, to transfer precision medicine to clinical practice, so that the patient can benefit from a more accurate diagnosis, thereby improving their quality of life.
Her research excellence is demonstrated by her leadership as the principal investigator in three consecutive national projects funded by the Carlos III Health Institute and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, as well as by the achievement of funding for human resources for predoctoral staff and laboratory technicians, milestones that are the basis of a new line of research within the group and the institution. The results of this line have led to numerous international publications as senior author (28 translational publications), the supervision of three doctoral theses, and the guidance of multiple master’s and bachelor’s theses. In parallel, international collaborations have been established with the University of La Frontera (Chile) and the University of Turin (Italy).
Publications
Plasma exosomal non-coding RNA profile associated with renal damage reveals potential therapeutic targets in lupus nephritis. Flores-Chova A, Martinez-Arroyo O, Riffo-Campos A, Ortega A, Forner M, Cortes R. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023 Apr 11;24(8):7088. doi: 10.3390/ijms24087088. PMID: 37108249
Rab3A/Rab27A system silencing ameliorates high glucose-induced injury in podocytes. Martinez-Arroyo O, Flores-Chova A, Sanchez-Garcia B, Redon J, Cortes R, Ortega A. Biology-Basel. 2023 May 9;12(5):690. doi: 10.3390/biology12050690. PMID: 37237503
Exosomal and plasma non-coding RNA signature associated with urinary albumin excretion in hypertension. Riffo-Campos A, Perez-Hernandez J, Ortega A, Martinez-Arroyo O, Flores-Chova A, Redon J, Cortes R. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022 Jan 13;23(2):823. doi: 10.3390/ijms23020823. PMID: 35055008
Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles as non-coding RNA therapeutic vehicles in autoimmune diseases. Martinez-Arroyo O, Ortega A, Forner M, Cortes R. Pharmaceutics. 2022 Mar 29;14(4):733. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040733. PMID: 35456567
Small Rab GTPases in intracellular vesicle trafficking: the case of Rab3A/Raphillin-3a complex in the kidney. Martinez-Arroyo O, Selma-Soriano E, Ortega A, Cortes R, Redon J. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021 Jul 18;22(14):7679. doi: 10.3390/ijms22147679. PMID: 34299299
Therapeutic Potential of Extracellular Vesicles in Hypertension-Associated Kidney Disease. Martinez-Arroyo O, Ortega A, Redon J, Cortes R. Hypertension. 2021 Jan;77(1):28-38. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16064. PMID: 33222549
Urinary exosomal miR-146a as a marker of albuminuria, activity changes and disease flares in lupus nephritis. Perez Hernandez J, Martínez Arroyo O, Ortega Gutiérrez A, Galera Martos M, Solis Salguero M, Chaves Martínez F, Redón Mas J, Forner Giner M, Cortés Vergaz R. Journal Of Nephrology. 2021 Aug;34(4):1157-1167. doi: 10.1007/s40620-020-00832-y. PMID: 32803682
Urinary- and Plasma-Derived Exosomes Reveal a Distinct MicroRNA Signature Associated With Albuminuria in Hypertension. Perez-Hernandez J, Riffo-Campos A, Ortega A, Martinez-Arroyo O, Perez-Gil D, Olivares D, Solaz E, Martinez F, Martinez-Hervas S, Chaves F, Redon J, Cortes R. Hypertension. 2021 Mar 3;77(3):960-971. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16598. PMID: 33486986
Projects
Title: Identificación de ARN no codificantes en biopsia líquida con énfasis en exosomas como biomarcadores pronóstico de actividad en el lupus eritematoso sistémico. Implicación fisiopatológica en el daño renal
Funding body: Instituto de Salud Carlos III – Cofinanciado FEDER
Principal Investigator: Raquel Cortés Vergaz, Mª José Forner Giner
Duration: 2022 – 2024
Total budget: 135.520 €
Title: Perfil de microRNAs exosomales y su valor pronostico a largo plazo en el lupus eritematoso sistemico. Asociacion con marcadores establecidos de daño renal
Funding body: Instituto de Salud Carlos III – Cofinanciado FEDER
Principal Investigator: Raquel Cortés Vergaz, Maria José Forner
Duration: 2019 – 2021
Total budget: 111.320 €