Dr. Anna Bigas and Professor Ricardo Henriques will join the InFLAMES Flagship as visiting professors at Åbo Akademi University and lend their expertise to strengthen the international InFLAMES network. The two new visiting professors are prominent scientists in their respective fields and are an important piece in mediating knowledge transfer from the world’s top institutions to the Flagship.

Anna Bigas, unlocking the secrets of stem cells to conquer cancer

Anna Bigas is a group leader at Hospital del Mar Research Institute, the deputy director of preclinical research at Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, and the scientific director of CIBERONC, a virtual center for collaborative oncology research (Spain). Her research group studies blood cell-producing stem cells and the process of leukaemia development and has revealed central details on cell signalling related to stem cell behaviour and blood cancer progression.

– Anna’s expertise in hematopoietic stem cells and leukemogenesis will enhance our capacity for cutting-edge discoveries regarding blood stem cells and blood-related disorders as well as foster collaborative opportunities, says InFLAMES group leader, Åbo Akademi University Professor Cecilia Sahlgren.

Ricardo Henriques, on an interdisciplinary quest to study cell biology and host-pathogen interactions

Ricardo Henriques is a principal investigator at Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB NOVA, Portugal), where he leads an interdisciplinary research group exploring host-pathogen interactions. Originally trained as a particle physicist, his interest in biological physics pushed him into pioneering super‐resolution microscopy – developing imaging technologies that reveal cellular and viral structures with unprecedented resolution. Today, his team combines state‐of‐the‐art microscopy with artificial intelligence and computational biophysics to create innovative tools that decode cellular mechanisms at the nanoscale. Professor Henriques has also spearheaded the development of widely adopted open‐source tools, empowering researchers worldwide to advance life sciences research.

– Ricardo’s multidisciplinary expertise, technological vision, and successful industry collaborations will significantly strengthen our local community, says InFLAMES group leader, Åbo Akademi University Associate Professor Guillaume Jacquemet.