Nerea Gandoy: «Researchers have a debt to society: we must share all the knowledge generated in the laboratories»
The word has immeasurable power. In the right hands, it is the best weapon we have as a society to fight against misinformation. And also, to give a voice to those people or objects of study who do not enjoy it.
Rare diseases fall into this category. Given their low prevalence, they are often relegated to second or third place in the media and are also at the tail end of public budget allocations and private investment.
To try to reverse this dynamic, it is critical to make the general public aware of these invisible realities, highlighting the importance of investing in their in-depth study. This is precisely what underpins the research work of our interviewee today, Nerea Gandoy Fieiras.
Predoctoral researcher at the Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Veterinary Science of Campus Terra, member of the Veterinary Pathology Group - GAPAVET and president of the association AgroMar, Nerea Gandoy devotes her time to the study of rare diseases, such as congenital defects of glycosylation, through gene editing of zebrafish.
Something that, at the same time, she combines with a fervent passion for scientific dissemination.
Pint of Science, DivulgaT, G-Night, Xuvenciencia... More recently, the I Iberian Early-Career Researchers' Congress of the Campus Terra, in which she won the Best Oral Communication Award. The list of activities and dissemination actions in which Nerea Gandoy has participated is constantly growing. A clear indication that it will not be easy to lose track of her in the coming years...
Today, we take advantage of her valuable reflections to know the vicissitudes of her work with rare diseases, the current funding situation in this scientific field and her experience as a participant and organizer of the I Iberian Early-Career Researchers' Congress.
-Her current lines of research are focused on the study of rare diseases. Given the particularities inherent to this object of study, what difficulties can research in this field face? Is it easy to get the necessary funding?
-Rare diseases, as their name suggests, are rare. More than 7,000 rare diseases have been described. Although there are only a few patients in the world for each of them, the total number of patients is very large.
The low prevalence is an important limitation of their study since it is very difficult to determine the associated symptomatology. Not having the disease well described complicates diagnosis and research because we cannot focus on studying the symptoms. In addition, these diseases usually affect genes of great biological importance involved in very complex cellular mechanisms.
Achieving funding is another of the weaknesses of rare diseases, since the bulk of public or private funding goes to common diseases that affect large numbers of people, such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease or cancer, leaving rare diseases at the bottom of the list of priorities.
Moreover, "rare diseases" is a very broad term that encompasses diseases ranging from rare types of cancer to defects in cellular processes. In our case, the funding to start the project came from a crowdfunding project called Precipita. Promoted by FECYT, thousands of people collaborated with us to be part of the project.
-You participated in the project 'Pelayo and zebrafish help in the research of rare diseases', focused on studying congenital defects of glycosylation. What can you tell us about this work?
-I always start this question by putting glycosylation in context. People with a background in science or health sciences know the terms proteoglycans, glycosylated proteins or similar terms. In my experience, we rarely stop to think about what this means.
To understand it, we have to look at our cells. They have DNA in their nucleus, which is transcribed into RNA and then translated into proteins. Proteins are the hard workers of our cells and carry out most of the processes necessary for life. To function properly, they need "complements" such as glycans. The binding of these glycans to proteins is called glycosylation.
For example, if we manufacture a car with all its components but do not put the wheels on, apparently we have a car, but in practice, it cannot achieve its functionality, which is to move.
Saving distances, something similar occurs with congenital defects of glycosylation. These are mutations in genes involved in the glycosylation of proteins. When a person has one of these mutations, their proteins do not have glycans and cannot function properly, so most cellular processes cannot be carried out normally. Sufferers have symptoms and signs in all organs and systems of their body.
-In previous interviews with other colleagues, the relevance of zebrafish as a model in research was explored because of its similarity to the human genome. What other advantages can working with zebrafish bring to your field of study? What other species would be good candidates as animal models?
-Genetic homology is one of the keys to why zebrafish are so useful in studying rare diseases since many of these ailments originate in specific genes. Using a fish as a model for studying human diseases is extremely useful since, as vertebrates, they share many physiological processes and organs that perform similar functions to humans.
In addition, their reproductive characteristics greatly facilitate their management. For example, since they are externally fertilized, it is possible to observe the entire embryonic development from the moment of fertilization, which is a unique advantage for developmental and genetic studies.
Another interesting model is the murine or mouse model, best known for its numerous advantages. However, other researchers' experience in using mice for the study of congenital defects of glycosylation is that mutations in these genes do not allow the survival of embryos, declaring them incompatible with life.
-You are currently a beneficiary of one of the predoctoral contracts offered by Campus Terra. What opportunities is it giving you on a professional and personal level?
-When you are doing a doctoral thesis, your professional and personal life are very intertwined. This stage is characterized by constant training, which is essential for our professional future, and many of these teachings are transferred to our individual lives. In addition, during this time, a large network of contacts is created around you thanks to attendance at courses, congresses, research stays, participation in various activities and many others. As a result of these contacts, collaborations arise and, on many occasions, friendships that last over time.
Having funding during these years was essential to be able to dedicate myself exclusively to research without having to combine it with other complementary professional activities. This was a key point in deepening the knowledge of congenital defects of glycosylation and advancing the results.
-One of the most outstanding aspects of your profile as a researcher is your passion for scientific dissemination. In fact, you have just won the Best Oral Communication Award at the I Iberian Early-Career Researchers' Congress of the Campus Terra. What attracts you most to scientific communication? What role does popularization play in today's society?
-It was my thesis directors who encouraged me to start science communication as a way to fight stage fright. And from the first experience, I was dazzled by it. I have been participating in science outreach activities since 2021, collaborating in many different activities: street workshops, talks in primary schools, vocational training centers and soon in secondary and high schools, the G-night, the DivulgaT and of course scientific congresses. In all of them, the interest in the project was very welcoming.
Researchers have a debt to society, so we must share all this knowledge generated in the laboratories, especially from public universities. Through these activities, we can do our bit to fight against the disinformation that surrounds us daily and promote a critical spirit, inspiring and bringing science closer to future generations of scientists, who are undoubtedly the best audience.
-And about the Congress itself, what can you tell us about your experience? How important is generating this space for researchers taking their first steps in the research world?
-For me, it was a resounding success, both at the level of the attendees and the organizing committee. From my experience, this type of activity is always worth attending, especially when it takes place in our city.
This activity is of great value as it allows us to share the first results of our scientific work, create a network of contacts, and share our experiences with others. In addition, the round tables with companies and different agencies' heads allowed us to clarify any doubts regarding our professional future.
-You are also the president of the AgroMar Researchers Association, what does this grouping consist of?
-AgroMar is an association of researchers linked to Campus Terra. It is mainly composed of predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers. Among the objectives of this organization is to be a channel of union among us to share experiences and weave networks.
Currently, the main activity carried out by the association is to promote scientific dissemination and connect university research with citizens through projects such as the Scientific Routes, the G-Night, the Pint of Science or the DivúlgaT, collaborating both in the organization and in the development of the activities.
Initially, the association was born in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, but today, it has members from different faculties, both as associates and on the board of directors.
-And finally, what advice would you give to the new generations who want to enter the world of scientific research?
-First, I warn you that research is a long-distance race, with many experiments that do not turn out as expected and bureaucracies that seem endless. So, learning to cope with frustration and not give up is important because the effort is worth it.
My advice is to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the university, do an internship, and, if you are interested in a particular topic, talk to the research group members. You never know where you might find your niche.