AIAS Fellows' Seminar: Alfonso Blázquez Castro, AIAS Fellow
Single cell laser photodynamics: Lasers as tools to modulate cell physiology
Info about event
Time
Location
The AIAS Auditorium, Building 1632, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000 Aarhus C
Abstract
Currently laser technology offers the possibility to control light delivery, both in time and space, to unprecedented levels. Lasers with femtosecond pulses (~10-13 s) output allow for submicron spatial accuracy and very fine tuning of the delivered light dose. This accuracy is exploited in this project to induce photodynamic effects at the single cell level. The photodynamic effect relies on Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation when a photosensitizing compound is excited in the presence of molecular oxygen (O2). Low amounts of ROS are produced by human cells as physiological signalling agents, therefore low-dose photodynamic treatments activate cellular signalling pathways under the right conditions. This research project paves the way to modulate cellular physiological responses by making use of laser-produced ROS with implications spanning from basic science to clinical applications (regenerative medicine).
Short CV
Alfonso Blázquez Castro is an AIAS-Marie Curie COFUND junior fellow. He received his PhD in Genetics and Cell Biology at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) in 2010. Previous postdoctoral research has been at the Department of Physics of Materials (UAM-Madrid), in relation with photoinduced electrical field’s effects on cell cultures, and low-dose photodynamic cellular effects both at the Institute for Biomedical Research (IIB-Madrid) and the Center for Oxygen Microscopy and Imaging (COMI-Aarhus University). His main scientific interests deal with biological responses to different energy forms and ROS as cellular metabolic modulators.
Alfonso Blázquez Castro's project at AIAS.
What is a Fellows' Seminar?
The AIAS Fellows' Seminar is a session of seminars held by the AIAS fellows or by other speakers proposed by the fellows. In each seminar, one fellow will present and discuss his/her current research and research project, closing off with a question and discussion session.
All seminars are held in English and open to the public. Registration to the seminar is not necessary. Read more about the AIAS Fellows' Seminar here.