Meet Our Team
Our team is a diverse group of scientists, researchers, and students committed to exploring cellular hierarchies and advancing cancer research. We thrive on collaboration, innovation, and mentorship, creating an environment where ideas flourish.
Verónica Rodilla, PhD
Group Leader
Born in Barcelona, Verónica was always passionate about science and decided to study Biology at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. She obtained her PhD in Biomedicine in 2011, basing her thesis on the study of Notch and Wnt signaling pathways in colorectal cancer and intestinal homeostasis. She performed her doctoral thesis at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar under the supervision of Dr Anna Bigas and Dr Lluis Espinosa. Then, she moved to Paris to work as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institut Curie (2011-2015) under the incredible mentorship of Dr Silvia Fre. Back in Barcelona, she performed a second postdoctoral training at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (2015-2020) before starting her own research group at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), with a Ramon y Cajal contract.
Verónica loves chocolate and is addicted to TV-shows
David Olivares
Lab Manager
Born in Barcelona, David started as a trainee lab technician in Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), he spent three years at the Catalan Institute of Oncology, and after a brief contact with a biotech company located at Barcelona Scientific Park, he decided to focus in cancer research. In 2015, he joined Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, where he enrolled in the Master's Degree in Translational Biomedical Research. In 2017, the Spanish Association of Laboratory Technicians awarded him with the XXII Soria Melguizo Foundation Prize. From 2018 until 2020, based in Asunción (Paraguay), he worked with national and international institutions for the development of cancer research in Latin America. David joined CHH Lab in 2021 as a lab manager.
David is a Star Wars fan and amateur guitarist
Postdoctoral Researcher
Elena Vinuesa
Born in Alcalá de Xivert (Castellón), Elena studied Biotechnology at the Universitat de Lleida (2019) and obtained her Master’s Degree in Biomedicine in the Universitat de Barcelona (2020). She performed her Master’s Final Project in the Growth Factors Group headed by Prof Joaquín Arribas at VHIO. Elena joined CHH Lab as a PhD student in September 2020. Thereafter, she was granted with a FI-2021 grant from the Agency for the Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) and a PIF-Salut grant (2021-2025) from the Health Research and Innovation Strategic Plan (PERIS), which was accepted to develop her project on breast cancer and cellular plasticity. Her work focuses on the cellular origin of breast tumors.
Elena loves music and plays her clarinet in her town's festival
PhD Student
Joan Balibrea
Born in Tarragona and raised in Barcelona, Joan studied Biotechnology at the Chemical Institute of Sarrià (Universitat Ramon Llull, 2019) where he carried out his final degree project with Prof Salvador Borrós related to nanomedicine and lung cancer research. Then, he obtained an MSc in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in 2020, after doing his Master’s thesis in the Structural Biology of Alzheimer’s lab, studying a dendrimer with therapeutic potential. In the summer of 2021, Joan joined Verónica Rodilla’s group as a research assistant to study the role of therapy-induced senescence in non-Hodgkin lymphoma relapse and metastasis.
Joan is a sports enthusiast and a nature enjoyer
Daniel Ortega
Postdoctoral Researcher
Born in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), Dani studied Biotechnology at the Universitat de Barcelona (2021) and completed his Master’s degree in Translational Medicine at the Universitat de Barcelona (2022) with excellent marks. He joined the Cancer Heterogeneity and Hierarchies group as a graduate student in July 2021 to carry out his Master’s final project, and he enjoyed the experience so much that he decided to stay with us for his PhD. He is a passionate PhD student searching for new biomarkers that can help us better classify breast cancer patients and understand the biological diversity within triple-negative tumors.
Dani is a saxophonist and loves watching cult movies
PhD Student
Annamaria Inneo
@Annamar46798092
Born in Puglia, Italy, Annamaria earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Parma in 2021, followed by a Master’s in Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine from the University of Bari in 2024. She joined our group as a PhD candidate through the CarrerasPathfinders MSCA-COFUND program, under the co-supervision of Dr. Graupera. Her research focuses on understanding how chemotherapy-induced endothelial alterations may contribute to non-Hodgkin lymphoma relapse and tumor recurrence, with the aim of uncovering how vascular and microenvironmental changes influence disease progression.
Annamaria is a music lover, she sings and enjoys cooking.
Basseem Radwan
Postdoctoral researcher
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Born in Cairo, Egypt, Basseem earned his Master’s degree in Pharmacy from Erciyes University, Turkey, in 2019, and completed his PhD cum laude at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, in 2023. He subsequently carried out short postdoctoral trainings in neuroimmunology at the Nencki Institute (Poland) and in biosensing at the Max Planck Institute (Germany), along with several international research visits. In January 2025, he joined the Cancer Heterogeneity and Hierarchies group as a CarrerasLeaders (MSCA-COFUND) Postdoctoral Fellow. His project, MAESTRO-NHL, focuses on therapy-induced senescence in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma relapse.
Basseem is a football fan, loves travelling, hiking and swimming.
PhD Student
Annamaria Inneo
Former Members
Elena Castillo - Research Technician (2025)
Born in Cazorla (Jaén), Elena studied Biomedicine at the Universitat de Barcelona and later completed a Master’s degree in Basic and Translational Cancer Research. She joined the Cancer Heterogeneity and Hierarchies group in 2023 as a technician, contributing to research on the mechanisms driving cancer progression. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the Graupera Lab.
Elena enjoys playing the piano and running on the beach.
Cristina Guardia - Postdoctoral Fellow (2024)
Born in Barcelona, Cristina earned her degree in Biology from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2012) and completed her PhD in Biomedicine at IMIM–Hospital del Mar in 2019. In our lab, she contributed to research on how therapy-induced senescent cells influence NHL dissemination, supported by a Juan de la Cierva fellowship. She now continues her career at SOLTI.
Cristina is a beach volleyball enthusiast and a cheesecake lover
Mariia Sydorenko - TFM Trainee (2023)
Born in Odesa, Mariia was in love with nature and science and, following her dream, obtained her bachelor's degree in Biology. She carried out her Master in Biomedicine in the University of Barcelona with us. In October 2023, she joined VTorrano Lab to perform her PhD.
Mariia loves photography and finds inspiration in nature
Laura Yera - TFG Trainee (2021)
Born in Barcelona, Laura finished her degree in Biotechnology at the University of Barcelona. She carried out her final degree project at our laboratory. Laura is passionate about cancer research and she is currently working in Transcriptional dynamics in leukemia group at IJC.​
Laura loves sports and is addicted to travel
Join Us
We are periodically seeking enthusiastic new members; so, if you are interested, please contact us.