Prof. Ana V Villar, University of Cantabria, Spain
Dr. Ana V. Villar Ramoa, Associate Professor at the University of Cantabria, is a globally recognized leader in cardiac fibrosis, theragnostics, and extracellular vesicle-based therapies. With over two decades of academic, clinical, and translational research experience, she serves as Head of the FIBROHEART Group, focusing on multidisciplinary cardiovascular innovation. Her work spans imaging, nanomedicine, and regenerative science.
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📘 Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Villar graduated from Complutense University in 1996, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry from UPV Bilbao under the mentorship of the renowned Felix Goñi. Her early career featured prestigious postdoctoral positions across elite institutions including the NOVARTIS GNF Institute (California), University of Barcelona, and IDIVAL, reflecting a deep commitment to scientific excellence and global collaboration.
🧪 Professional Endeavors
Since 2008, she has served as Associate Professor at the University of Cantabria and, from 2015, leads the FIBROHEART group at IBBTEC. Her professional path showcases sustained research leadership, being the principal investigator (PI) on 13 major national and international projects, many funded through the Horizon Europe Programme, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and regional initiatives like Gobierno de Cantabria.
🔬 Contributions and Research Focus
Dr. Villar’s research lies at the intersection of biophotonics, fibrosis biology, and theragnostic nanomedicine. Her group has achieved several scientific firsts, including the 3D tomography reconstruction of cardiac fibroblasts using cryoSIM fluorescence and synchrotron X-ray techniques. She has developed novel drug targets (e.g., CDT-Hsp90) and electrostimulated EV therapies for tissue regeneration, contributing two European patents a milestone in translational science.
🌍 Impact and Influence
Her scientific output includes multiple D1-ranked journal publications (e.g., Theranostics, J. Extracell Vesicles, Chem. Science, iScience), and her work has had substantial influence on fibrotic disease modeling, precision medicine, and nano-delivery systems. Her technologies have practical clinical implications for cardiac, skin (scleroderma), and lung fibrosis, reinforcing her multidisease research relevance.
📈 Academic Citations and Research Skills
With a citation index of 25, Dr. Villar demonstrates sustained influence in her field. Her research strengths include extracellular vesicles, organ-on-chip modeling, epigenetic profiling, in vivo nanotracking, and advanced imaging modalities. Her commitment to data transparency is evident through the publication of datasets on BioRxiv, Zenodo, and Mendeley.
👩🏫 Teaching Experience
A dedicated educator, she has mentored multiple PhD students, organized international training programs, and served as director of the Nanomedicine course at UIMP (2022–2025) and UC Summer School in Laredo. Her educational outreach includes lectures, symposia, and hands-on scientific workshops, reflecting a strong pedagogical presence in higher education and postgraduate training.
🏆 Awards and Honors
Her visionary research was formally recognized by Fundación Figeva (2022) for excellence in multidisciplinary research, and she was publicly acknowledged by the Government of Cantabria. She has twice received OpenLab competitive funding to advance therapies to preclinical trials, demonstrating applied success beyond academia.
🌐 Legacy and Future Contributions
As an executive member of high-impact networks such as REDFIBRO and Conexion Nanomedicina CSIC, Dr. Villar plays a critical role in shaping the future of biomedical research in Spain and Europe. Her future contributions are expected to revolutionize EV-based diagnostics, fibrosis-specific imaging tools, and precision-targeted therapies through continued innovation, strong academic leadership, and effective knowledge transfer to clinical environments.
Top Publications
Fibroblast-derived extracellular vesicles as trackable efficient transporters of an experimental nanodrug with fibrotic heart and lung targeting
- Authors: Villar AV, et al.
Journal: Theranostics
Year: 2024
Short telomeres in alveolar type II cells associate with lung fibrosis in post COVID-19 patients with cancerfibrosis biology
- Authors: Martínez P, Sánchez-Vazquez R, Saha A, Rodriguez-Duque MS, Naranjo-Gonzalo S, Osorio-Chavez JS, Villar-Ramos AV, Blasco MA
Journal: Aging
Year: 2023
Profibrotic Role of Inducible Heat Shock Protein 90a Isoform in Systemic Sclerosis
- Authors: Villar AV, et al.
Journal: Journal of Immunology
Year: 2022
Correlative 3D cryo X-ray imaging reveals intracellular location and effect of designed antifibrotic protein–nanomaterial hybrids
- Authors: Villar AV, et al.
Journal: Chemical Science
Year: 2021
Engineering multifunctional metal/protein hybrid nanomaterials as tools for therapeutic intervention and high-sensitivity detection
- Authors: Villar AV, et al.
Journal: Chemical Science
Year: 2021