Hi everyone! I am Víctor Barrios, and growing up in a small village in the island of Lanzarote, surrounded by rural life on my family’s modest farm, sparked my early scientific curiosity. This curiosity has guided me through different research environments across Spain, shaping both my personal and scientific growth.

​

My journey began in Salamanca in 2014, where I pursued a degree in Biotechnology. During my thesis project, I explored the impact of isolated mitochondrial import on the mitochondrial network and cellular features of fibroblasts receptor cells, aiming to restore mitochondrial function in disease.

In September 2018 I landed in Valencia, where over the course of 3 years, I completed a Master’s in Molecular Approaches in Health Sciences and worked as a researcher at the Biomedicine Institute of Valencia. Fascinated by mitochondrial biology, I investigated how mitochondrial content and activity regulates adult neural stem cell neurogenesis.

In January 2022, I moved to Bilbao, where I worked for nearly four years as a senior laboratory scientific technician at CIC Biogune, contributing to the development and characterization of humanized antibodies designed to inhibit the oncogenic activity of Wnt proteins in prostate cancer.

 

In October 2025, I embarked on my next adventure by moving to Portugal to join Dr. Sandra Catarina Alves’s group at the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, as a MSCA PhD fellow within the EFFecT network. My project focuses on the preclinical validation of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based therapies as a novel approach for treating Mucopolysaccharidosis III, targeting genes involved in the heparan sulfate biosynthetic pathway.

 

Beyond the lab, I love going to the gym and seeking out different experiences, whether it’s discovering new places and cultures, hiking up a mountain, or relaxing by the beach with friends (a refreshing beer is always welcome!). This PhD offers an exciting chance to channel that same curiosity and energy into meaningful scientific impact.

 

I’d like to end with a saying I really like: “The only constant in life is change”. Science gives it direction, and the scientists around us make the journey worthwhile. Gracias. Gràcies. Eskerrik asko. Obrigado

​

​

​

DC3: Development of Antisense Oligonucleotide-Based Therapies for Lysososmal Storage diseases

​

Supervisor: Dr. S. Alves

External mentor: Dr. H. Tran

Host Institute: Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Portugal (www.iceta.up.pt)

Secondments planned: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain; Institut de Recherches Servier, France

Doctoral program: International Doctoral Programme in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology applied to Health Sciences (Biotec Health) - Porto University

Starting date: October 13th, 2025

​

Project description:

​

This project aims to develop a novel therapeutic approach for MPS III, a subgroup of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). LSDs are severe inherited metabolic diseases, often accompanied by neurodegeneration. Despite significant advances in understanding their molecular mechanisms, specific therapeutic options are virtually non-existent. Our team is focusing on RNA-based therapies, particularly ASOs, to address these disorders (consult our projects and works in this link).

This study will focus on the preclinical validation of ASOs for the treatment of MPS III (subtypes A, B, C, and D). The approach targets genes involved in the heparan sulfate biosynthetic pathway, whose accumulation is particularly detrimental in MPS III patients. The goal is to reduce the mRNA levels of these genes, ultimately triggering the decrease of the pathological buildup of heparan sulfate. ASOs will be tested in patient-derived neuronal and hepatocyte lines (iPSC-derived), as well as in an MPS III zebrafish model. Ultimately, this project seeks to validate ASO-based therapies for MPS III and expand treatment options for neglected LSDs.