EVCNA Expert Interview Series XIII - Dr. Hernando A. Del Portillo
EVCNA recently had the privilege of interviewing Prof. Dr. Hernando A. Del Portillo, an ICREA Research Professor at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Spain. In the interview, Prof. Del Portillo shared insights from his pioneering work in extracellular vesicles, reflecting on his roles as a co-founder of the first European EV Society, GEIVEX, and one of the initiators of the MOVE project. He discussed the original intentions and long-term vision of MOVE, as well as his thoughts on receiving the EVCNA MOVE Award. Prof. Del Portillo also highlighted his transition from molecular malaria research to exploring EV-based vaccines through his Spanish spin-off, Innovex Therapeutics S.L., and offered valuable advice for early-career scientists aspiring to enter this dynamic field.
Watch the following video for expert insights from Prof. Dr. Hernando A. Del Portillo:
Interview Questions:
Q1: We know that you are a co-founder of the first European EV Society, GEIVEX, and one of the initiators of the MOVE project. Could you share with us the original intention and your vision for MOVE?
Q2: We are honored to collaborate with MOVE and sponsor this award. Could you share your thoughts and feelings about receiving the EVCNA MOVE Award?
Q3: We know that your initial research direction mainly focused on the molecular biology of malaria. Could you share with us how you incorporated extracellular vesicles into your research, and what progress has been made so far?
Q4: We understand that you have created the first Spanish spin-off, Innovex Therapeutics S.L., to use extracellular vesicles as vaccines against infectious diseases. Could you share some of the recent developments with us?
Q5: What suggestions would you give to early-career scientists who are just entering this field?
Q6: What are your goals for the next five years?
About Prof. Dr. Hernando A. Del Portillo:
Prof. Dr. Hernando A. Del Portillo, ICREA research professor at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institue (IGTP), Spain.
Hernando del Portillo studied molecular aspects of parasites at the University of Georgia, USA, where he received his PhD in 1985, followed by two WHO postdoctoral trainings at the New York University Medical Centre (USA) and the Institut Pasteur (France) where he specialized in molecular biology of malaria parasites. Since then, he has pursued molecular studies in malaria to unveil the mechanisms of virulence and to develop rational control strategies.
He consolidated his independent scientific career as an Assistant/Associate Professor at the Department of Parasitology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil and as a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), Heidelberg, Germany.
He joined ISGlobal as an ICREA Research Professor in 2007 and co-ascribed to the Institut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP) in 2015. He is presently the Head of the Malaria and Neglected Parasitic Diseases Programme at ISGlobal, President of the Grupo Español de Investigación e Innovación en Vesículas Extracelulares (GEIVEX) and Co-Founder of Innovex Therapeutics SL, the first Spanish company using Extracellular Vesicles as vaccines against infectious diseases.
Editor: Yan Lei
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Nucleic Acids
