- Number of six-year research period granted (date of the last one): 4 (13/07/2020)

- Number of doctoral theses supervised: 12

- Number of master theses supervised: 20

- Number of peer-review publications indexes in JCR (Scopus): 80

- Number of publications in the first quartile (Q1): 60

- Number of citations: 3041

- h-Index: 34

I am an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology, and Immunology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), where I lead the Genetics and Male Fertility Group. My research focuses on the genetic basis of male infertility through a multifaceted approach, encompassing three main interconnected projects.
First, we have made significant strides in identifying genetic biomarkers of male infertility. Through exome analysis, we have discovered pathogenic variants in genes linked to seminal abnormalities (Coral-Zurera et al., in preparation). Additionally, we have demonstrated that sperm from patients with seminal abnormalities exhibit distinct gene methylation patterns (Camprubí et al., 2012; Camprubí et al., 2016) and differential expression of mRNAs and microRNAs (Salas-Huetos et al., 2015, 2016; Corral-Vázquez et al., 2019). Recently, we established a strong association between altered seminal parameters and reduced success rates in assisted reproductive technologies, attributed to changes in the expression of nine sperm mRNAs (Anton et al., 2025). Furthermore, we identified a significant correlation between sperm chromosomal anomalies (Sarrate et al., 2019) and sperm DNA fragmentation (Coral- Zurera et al., 2025) and poor ART outcomes, reinforcing the role of genetic abnormalities in male infertility. Moving forward, we aim to integrate genetic data with seminal parameters and clinical outcomes from assisted reproductive treatments to improve diagnostic accuracy and optimize prognostic tools. Additionally, we are expanding our research into female infertility, leveraging multi-omics data to identify key biomarkers for both male and female reproductive health.
Second, we investigate chromosomal territoriality in spermatogenic cells. Our research has shown that chromosome topology in germ cells is tightly regulated from spermatogonia to spermatozoa by chromosomal factors (size and morphology) and gene activity (Vergés et al., 2014; Solé et al., 2021). We have also identified germ-cell chromosome topology alterations in various cases of male infertility (Solé et al., 2017; Mayans et al., 2018). Notably, recent findings suggest that homologous chromosomal pairing is already established in premeiotic cells, at least in the murine model (Solé et al., 2022). Currently, we are extending this analysis to knockout mice for SYCP3 and SIRT7 to investigate the role of these proteins in the chromosomal territoriality of premeiotic cells (Pascual et al., in preparation).
Finally, my research extends to environmental influences on male fertility. Our early studies demonstrated that dietary interventions, such as nut consumption, can enhance semen quality in healthy men by improving sperm DNA integrity, vitality, motility, and morphology (Salas-Huetos et al., 2018). Currently, we are investigating the effects of environmental pollutants, such as nanoplastics, on gamete functionality (Gentz et al., 2025). This new research direction integrates lifestyle and environmental exposures into our understanding of male infertility, addressing modern challenges in reproductive health.
Throughout my career, I have participated in nine research projects funded by both public and private institutions. As a principal investigator, I have secured two Ministry of Health grants (PI21/00564; PS09/00330) and one UAB grant (EME2005-38). Dedicated to translating basic research into clinical applications, I maintain active collaborative agreements with Dexeus Mujer, Fertilab, and Reproclinic—three leading assisted reproduction clinics in Barcelona. These partnerships facilitate access to clinical samples and are driven by the strong interest of these centers in our findings and their potential to advance reproductive medicine.
In addition to my research, I serve as a peer reviewer for several international scientific journals and as a referee for the Spanish funding agency (Agencia Nacional de Evaluación y Prospectiva, ANEP). I am currently a member of the Board of Directors of the European Cytogeneticists Association (ECA), a member of the Editorial Board of the Molecular Cytogenetics journal, and a deputy member of the working group on Reproductive Genetics at the Association for the Study of Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR).
Passionate about education, I am deeply committed to higher education. I teach Reproductive Genetics and Cytogenetics in UAB’s Genetics degree program, which I helped design and implement. I also contribute to the master’s program in Cytogenetics and Biology of Reproduction and serve as the coordinator of the Master’s program in Biology of Reproduction and Assisted Reproductive Techniques, jointly organized by UAB and Dexeus Woman (Barcelona).