About

Why do several mammalian tissues regenerate early in life yet lose this capacity soon after birth?

Most explanations for the closure of this regenerative window have focused on maturation of the injured tissue itself: changes in proliferative capacity, metabolism, or extracellular matrix. Yet the immune system is undergoing an equally dramatic transformation during this same period, and its contribution to regenerative decline remains underappreciated.

I am an Ecuadorian immunologist interested in how changes in the immune system across the lifespan shape tissue function, repair, and regeneration. I currently conduct research in the laboratory of Dr. Eric Olson at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where I study the immune mechanisms that enable the mammalian neonatal heart to regenerate after injury. A major goal of my work is to determine whether immune mechanisms that support neonatal regeneration can be harnessed to improve adult tissue repair.

My research combines mouse genetics, immune profiling, lineage tracing, and single cell genomic approaches, and is currently supported by a Career Development Award from the American Heart Association.

Beyond the laboratory, I am interested in building stronger connections between scientists in the Global South and Global North, giving greater visibility to Latin American research, and encouraging young people to consider science as a possible career.