Dr. Molina is head of the research group in Pneumology of IDIBELL and head of the Functional Unit of Interstitial Lung of the Pneumology Service of the University Hospital of Bellvitge (HUB). She is also an associate professor at the University of Barcelona (UB).
She graduated in Medicine at the UB, specialised in pneumology, and subsequently sub-specialised in diffuse interstitial lung diseases and completed a postdoctoral stay in bioscience at Michigan State University. In 2008 she joined IDIBELL and the University Hospital of Bellvitge (HUB) where, since then, she directs the Pneumology laboratory.
She currently leads, among others, the PRECISION-ILD Precision Medicine project, which aims to improve early diagnosis and personalized treatment of interstitial lung diseases by finding useful biomarkers and applying data interpretation techniques based on artificial intelligence and computational modelling.
Her research on the renin-angiotensin protein system in the process of fibrosis in the lung was of great relevance, which became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was discovered that lung damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus infection was mediated through ACE-2. She also studied the relationship between lung repair and telomere length, and her results were instrumental in translating genetic analysis into clinical practice. To date, she has published more than 200 articles, of which she is the first or last author in more than 50, accumulates nearly 10,000 citations and has an h-factor of 37. Her translational research goals with an impact on clinical practice, and her capacity for national and international, multidisciplinary and multilevel networking are noteworthy, which have led her to scientifically direct the CIBER of Respiratory Diseases from 2023.
The new Director will replace Dr. Fernando Fernández Aranda, who has been Scientific Director of IDIBELL since 2021, and to whom the members of the Board of Trustees have thanked his work and dedication during these years. Dr. Fernandez Aranda has contributed decisively to the internationalization of the Institute and the achievement of international competitive funds. Internally, he has promoted the updating and improvement of IDIBELL operating regulations.
The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) is a biomedical research center created in 2004. It is participated by the Bellvitge University Hospital and the Viladecans Hospital of the Catalan Institute of Health, the Catalan Institute of Oncology, the University of Barcelona and the City Council of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat.
IDIBELL is a member of the Campus of International Excellence of the University of Barcelona HUBc and is part of the CERCA institution of the Generalitat de Catalunya. In 2009 it became one of the first five Spanish research centers accredited as a health research institute by the Carlos III Health Institute. In addition, it is part of the “HR Excellence in Research” program of the European Union and is a member of EATRIS and REGIC. Since 2018, IDIBELL has been an Accredited Center of the AECC Scientific Foundation (FCAECC).