As a cancer investigator, my goal is to develop innovative and effective strategies for cancer treatment. I am a postdoctoral fellow at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in the Genomic Epidemiology Branch. My research interests include cancer genomics, molecular epidemiology, digital pathology, translational oncology, artificial intelligence applications in cancer research, and health equity in admixed and underrepresented populations. I earned my B.Sc. in Biology and Microbiology from Universidad de los Andes and my M.Sc. in Evolution, Ecology, and Systematics from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. I completed my PhD in Oncology through the first Latin American PhD program in oncology jointly led by Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología. My doctoral research focused on identifying predictive biomarkers of chemotherapy response in Latino breast cancer patients by integrating gene expression, genetic ancestry, tumor microenvironment, and survival analyses. I also completed an international research fellowship at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where I investigated the role of genetic ancestry in chemotherapy response and conducted transcriptomic validation studies in breast cancer biopsies.
My professional journey has been shaped by international collaborations integrating cutting-edge technologies and genomics into cancer research, an approach that aligns with the AMC’s mission to foster networking and partnerships among scientists. I am committed to sharing knowledge, experiences, and methodologies to inspire more early-career researchers to engage with the AACR community. Receiving the AACR Global Scholar-in-Training Award (GSITA) and Scholar-in-Training Award was a transformative milestone, reinforcing my commitment to addressing disparities in underrepresented communities like Colombia. These honors have not only expanded opportunities for my research but have also strengthened my sense of responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the field. Now, as an AMC member, I am eager to give back by mentoring, collaborating, and advocating for fellow researchers, encouraging them to join the AACR community, and fostering a more inclusive and impactful scientific network. AACR community, and fostering a more inclusive and impactful scientific network.