0000-0002-3820-5744Edurne Berra obtained her BSc in Pharmacy from the University of Navarra (Pamplona) and a “Licence Spéciale” in Toxicology at the ULB (Brussels, Belgium). She continued her scientific pursuits by completing her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University Autonomous of Madrid (UAM, CBM Severo Ochoa), Spain.
After a first postdoctoral period at the Glaxo-Wellcome-CSIC laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology (Madrid), Dr. Berra joined the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Pouysségur at the University of Nice where she was appointed “Chargé de Recherche” (CNRS-CR1) and she got her HDR (Habilitation à la Direction de Recherche).
In 2007, Dr. Berra joined CIC bioGUNE as an Associate Principal Investigator to lead her independent research, which is devoted to understand the molecular mechanisms of the hypoxia signaling pathway, emphasizing its significance in hypoxia-related pathologies, particularly in the context of cancer. The exploration centers on the critical role of oxygen homeostasis in organisms and the potential for irreversible damage caused by hypoxia.
Our research has a core focus on the mechanisms of cellular adaptation to oxygen deficiency or hypoxia through three mains research projects:
- • We aim at deciphering the molecular basis of the hypoxia cascade and its crosstalk with other signaling pathways. In this context, we try to understand the role of DUBs that we have identified through a RNAi based genetic screen in the context of the hypoxia signaling pathway.
- • We work on the molecular understanding and the design of new therapies for the Von Hipple-Lindau Syndrome (VHL), a hereditary condition associated with tumors arising in multiple organs. VHL is caused by genetic mutations on the VHL gene, a master regulator of the hypoxia signaling pathway.
- • In synergy with the central focus of the Cancer Cell Signaling and Metabolism laboratory, we are also interested in investigating how hypoxia-driven changes in cellular metabolism influence tumor cell behavior and impact on prostate cancer progression, and how this knowledge could be translated.
Awards & recognitions
Fundación Renal “Iñigo Alvarez de Toledo” Prize (2007), “Dr Joseph Amalrich” Prize for Excellence in Cancer Research (2002) and the HFSP (1999) and EMBO (1998) Fellowships.
Collaborations
Julián Aragonés (University Autonomous de Madrid, Spain), Alberto Pascual (IBiS - Institute of Biomedicine, Seville), Sonia Rocha (University of Liverpool, UK), Jesús Ruiz-Cabello (CIC biomaGUNE, Spain), Violaine See (University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France), Verónica Torrano (University of the Basque Country, Spain). Dr. Berra is on the Management Committee of the Spanish and the European Hypoxia Networks (HypoxEU). She collaborates with the Spanish Association for Cancer Research (AECC) and VHL syndrome charities (Alianza Española VHL and Sendabide), and actively participates in programs to promote STEAM (11F, Conócelas ASEICA and Inspira STEAM).
Latest Publications
2024
2022
2021
2020
2019
2017
2015
2014
The research in the Carracedo lab is aimed at deconstructing the essential requirements of cancer cells with special emphasis on the translation of the acquired knowledge from bench to bedside. In order to define the genuine features of cancer cells, we focus on the signalling and metabolic alterations in prostate and breast cancer. Through the use of a hierarchical approach with increasing complexity, we work on cell lines and primary cultures (using cell and molecular biology technologies), mouse models of prostate cancer that are faithful to the human disease and the analysis of human specimens through the development of prospective and retrospective studies. Our work stems from the hypothesis that cancer is driven by signalling and metabolic alterations that, once identified, can be targeted for therapy. The center and our collaborator institutions offer state-of-the-art technologies (from OMICS to in vivo imaging), which allow us to build and answer our hypotheses with high level of confidence.
To address our scientific questions in cancer, the Carracedo lab has developed a series of research lines:
- Bioinformatics-based discovery. The lab takes full advantage on publicly available human prostate and breast cancer datasets in order to identify candidate genes to contribute to cancer pathogenesis, progression and response to therapy. Best hits are then validated employing genetic mouse models, xenograft surrogate assays and the latest advances in cellular and molecular biology combined with OMICs technologies.
- Genetic mouse models as a source for the identification of novel cancer players. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) can faithfully recapitulate many aspects of human cancer. Dr. Carracedo envisions the molecular analysis of GEMMs with high throughput technologies as a mean to identify novel cancer-related genes. These hits are then validated through the analysis of human cancer specimens and cellular and molecular biology approaches.
- Multi-OMICs analysis for non-invasive biomarker identification. Biofluids are the perfect source for cancer biomarkers that can inform about the presence or features of cancer. The lab has undertaken a biomarker discovery approach by applying the latest OMICs technologies to biofluid specimens from well-annotated prostate cancer patients, in order to define better molecules that inform about this disease.
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Group Leader
Arkaitz Carracedo
ERC Consolidator Grant - Ikerbasque Research Professor Emerging Scientist -
Marco Piva
Ikerbasque Research Fellow - Ramón y Cajal (RyC) Programme -
Isabel Mendizabal
Ikerbasque Research Fellow - Ramón y Cajal Programme IKERBASQUE RESEARCH FELLOW -
Amaia Ercilla Eguiarte
Ikerbasque Research Fellow - Juan de la Cierva Fellow -
Oihana Iriondo Martinez de Zuazo
Ikerbasque Research Fellow RESEARCH ASSISTANT -
Amaia Zabala Letona
AECC Researcher -
Natalia Martín Martín
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER -
Jaione Auzmendi Iriarte
Juan de la Cierva Fellow -
Blanca Calle Ciborro
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Mikel Pujana Vaquerizo
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Laura Bozal Basterra
TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Victoria Cid I Centelles
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Adrián Vicente Barrueco
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Onintza Carlevaris
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Ianire Astobiza
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Kathrin Keim
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Uxue Lazcano Dobao
AECC Predoctoral Fellow -
Irati Aguirre Vicente
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Mikel Arana Castañares
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Encarnación Pérez Andrés
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María Ponce Rodríguez
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Belén Martínez La Osa
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Maria Camila Salazar Palacio
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Saioa García Longarte
Members
Latest Publications
Transcriptional analysis of metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer primary tumor biopsies reveals a relevant role for SOX11 in prostate cancer cell dissemination
Martin-Martin, N; Garcia-Longarte, S; Corres-Mendizabal, J; Lazcano, U; Astobiza, I; Bozal-Basterra, L; Herranz, N; van Splunder, H; Carlevaris, O; Pujana-Vaquerizo, M; Blasco, MT; Aransay, ...
GENOME BIOLOGY
2025-06-03
Secreted spermidine synthase reveals a paracrine role for PGC1α-induced growth suppression in prostate cancer
Schaub-Clerigué, A; Hermanova, I; Pintor-Rial, A; Sydorenko, M; Valcarcel-Jimenez, L; Macchia, A; Lectez, B; Garcia-Longarte, S; Fagoaga-Eugui, M; Astobiza, I; Martín-Martín, N; Zabala-Letona, ...
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
2025-04-23
Syndecan-3 positively regulates the pro-inflammatory function of macrophages
Lee, SY; Prieto-Fernández, E; Egia-Mendikute, L; Antonaña-Vildosola, A; Velasco-Beltrán, P; Bosch, A; Jimenez-Lasheras, B; de Blas, A; de Durana, JED; Valdaliso-Díez, E; Bozal-Basterra, L; Ercilla, ...
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
2025-04-07
A class I PI3K signalling network regulates primary cilia disassembly in normal physiology and disease
Conduit, SE; Pearce, W; Bhamra, A; Bilanges, B; Bozal-Basterra, L; Foukas, LC; Cobbaut, M; Castillo, SD; Danesh, MA; Adil, M; Carracedo, A; Graupera, M; McDonald, NQ; Parker, PJ; Cutillas, PR; ...
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
2024-08-21
MetSCORE: a molecular metric to evaluate the risk of metabolic syndrome based on serum NMR metabolomics
Gil-Redondo, R; Conde, R; Bruzzone, C; Seco, ML; Bizkarguenaga, M; González-Valle, B; de Diego, A; Lain, A; Habisch, H; Haudum, C; Verheyen, N; Obermayer-Pietsch, B; Margarita, S; Pelusi, S; ...
CARDIOVASCULAR DIABETOLOGY
2024-07-24
Metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer: a distinct biological entity
Corres-Mendizabal, J; Zacchi, F; Martín-Martín, N; Mateo, J; Carracedo, A;
TRENDS IN CANCER
2024-07-23
The PP2A regulator IER5L supports prostate cancer progression
Crespo, JR; Martín-Martín, N; Garcia-Longarte, S; Corres-Mendizabal, J; Carlevaris, O; Astobiza, I; Zabala-Letona, A; Guiu, M; Azkargorta, M; Gonzalez-Lopez, M; Macías-Cámara, N; Doan, P; Elortza, ...
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
2024-07-18
Metabolic adaptations in prostate cancer
Pujana-Vaquerizo, M; Bozal-Basterra, L; Carracedo, A;
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
2024-07-05
SERS analysis of cancer cell- secreted purines reveals a unique paracrine crosstalk in MTAP- deficient tumors
Valera, PS; Plou, J; Garcia, I; Astobiza, I; Viera, C; Aransay, AM; Martin, JE; Sasselli, IR; Carracedo, A; Liz-Marzan, LM;
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2023-12-26
STAT3/LKB1 controls metastatic prostate cancer by regulating mTORC1/CREB pathway
Pencik, J; Philippe, C; Schlederer, M; Atas, E; Pecoraro, M; Grund-Gröchke, S; Li, W; Tracz, A; Heidegger, I; Lagger, S; Trachtová, K; Oberhuber, M; Heitzer, E; Aksoy, O; Neubauer, HA; Wingelhofer, ...
MOLECULAR CANCER
2023-08-12
METTL1 promotes tumorigenesis through tRNA-derived fragment biogenesis in prostate cancer
García-Vilchez, R; Anazco-Guenkova, AM; Dietmann, S; López, J; Morón-Calvente, V; DAmbrosi, S; Nombela, P; Zamacola, K; Mendizabal, I; García-Longarte, S; Zabala-Letona, A; Astobiza, I; Fernández, ...
MOLECULAR CANCER
2023-07-29
Metabolism in the tumor cell and beyond
Carracedo, A;
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
2023-06-06
Machine Learning-Assisted High-Throughput SERS Classification of Cell Secretomes
Plou, J; Valera, PS; García, I; Vila-Liarte, D; Renero-Lecuna, C; Ruiz-Cabello, J; Carracedo, A; Liz-Marzán, LM;
SMALL
2023-04-12
Identifying prognostic parameters related to surgical technique in patients treated by robotic radical prostatectomy
Iriarte, AL; Viscasillas, IL; Gonzalez, SR; Martín, AS; Aparicio, DG; Olano, AU; Pérez, AC; Urzaiz, MU;
ACTAS UROLOGICAS ESPANOLAS
2023-01-01
Master Transcription Factor Reprogramming Unleashes Selective Translation Promoting Castration Resistance and Immune Evasion in Lethal Prostate Cancer
Santasusagna, S; Zhu, S; Jawalagatti, V; Carceles-Cordon, M; Ertel, A; Garcia-Longarte, S; Song, WM; Fujiwara, N; Li, P; Mendizabal, I; Petrylak, DP; Kelly, WK; Reddy, EP; Wang, L; Schiewer, ...
CANCER DISCOVERY
2023-01-01
CiberAMP: An R Package to Identify Differential mRNA Expression Linked to Somatic Copy Number Variations in Cancer Datasets
Caloto, R; Lorenzo-Martín, LF; Quesada, V; Carracedo, A; Bustelo, XR;
BIOLOGY-BASEL
2022-10-01
RAD51 is a druggable target that sustains replication fork progression upon DNA replication stress
Feu, S; Unzueta, F; Ercilla, A; Pérez-Venteo, A; Jaumot, M; Agell, N;
PLOS ONE
2022-08-15
Pyruvate Kinase M1 Suppresses Development and Progression of Prostate Adenocarcinoma
Davidson, SM; Schmidt, DR; Heyman, JE; Brien, JPO; Liu, AC; Israelsen, WJ; Dayton, TL; Sehgal, R; Bronson, RT; Freinkman, E; Mak, HH; Fanelli, GN; Malstrom, S; Bellinger, G; Carracedo, A; Pandolfi, ...
CANCER RESEARCH
2022-07-01
Epigenetic Mechanisms Influencing Therapeutic Response in Breast Cancer
Arruabarrena-Aristorena, A; Toska, E;
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
2022-06-14
Methionine Cycle Rewiring by Targeting miR-873-5p Modulates Ammonia Metabolism to Protect the Liver from Acetaminophen
Rodríguez-Agudo, R; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Serrano-Maciá, M; Fernández-Tussy, P; Fernández-Ramos, D; Lachiondo-Ortega, S; González-Recio, I; Gil-Pitarch, C; Mercado-Gómez, M; Morán, L; Bizkarguenaga, ...
ANTIOXIDANTS
2022-05-01