Andrea Celeste del Valle Pinzón Postdoktor

• Spring 2026:Fall 2025:
  Stem Cells and Organoids Models with Focus on Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska
  Institutet, Sweden
  Organs on a Chip and Bioreactors, UVG, Guatemala (Course Director)Medical Wearable Devices, UVG, Guatemala (Course Director)
  
• Spring 2024:
  Medical Wearable Devices, UVG, Guatemala (Course Director)
  
• Fall 2023:
  Glucose Metabolism, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
  Ergometry and Lactate Analysis, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
  Stem Cells and Organoids Models, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
  Organs on a Chip and Bioreactors, UVG, Guatemala (Course Director)
• Fall 2024:
  Stem Cells and Organoids Models with Focus on Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska
  Institutet, Sweden
  Organs on a Chip and Bioreactors, UVG, Guatemala (Course Director)
• Spring 2025:
• Medical Wearable Devices, UVG, Guatemala (Course Director)
• 2015-2018:
  AP Biology and Science Educator, HIS, Taiwan (Course Director)
  
• 2014-2016:
  Teaching Assistant, Biochemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Research

• My research sits at the intersection of nanotechnology, oncology, and bioengineering, with a strong translational focus on overcoming therapy resistance and improving cancer treatment in diverse populations. I develop and apply advanced nanotherapeutic platforms and organ-on-a-chip models to elucidate tumor-stroma interactions, drug-delivery barriers, and mechanisms of resistance in solid tumors, particularly in the context of liver metastasis and desmoplastic cancers.I am particularly interested in how interdisciplinary approaches that combine nanomaterials, patient-derived organoids, microfluidics, and clinical data can accelerate the development of more effective, personalized cancer therapies and support equitable implementation across healthcare settings.​
•  
• 1. Nanotechnology & nanomedicine
  • NIR‑activatable gold nanostars and platinum‑decorated nanostructures for combined photothermal/ferroptotic therapy and chemo‑photodynamic treatment.​
  • ROS‑responsive and cleavable nanocarriers that release drugs selectively in the tumor, enhancing therapeutic index while minimizing off‑target toxicity.​
  • Development of nanotherapeutics that modulate the tumor stroma and vascular niche to improve drug penetration and immune cell infiltration.​
  These platforms are evaluated in physiologically relevant models, including patient‑derived organoids and organ‑on‑a‑chip systems, to bridge the gap between nanomaterial design and clinical translation.
• 2. Oncology & tumor microenvironment​
  • Investigating the origin and function of idiosyncratic, zonated stroma in desmoplastic liver metastases and its role in promoting tumor progression and treatment resistance.​
  • Studying mechanisms of drug resistance (e.g., multidrug resistance, ferroptosis evasion) and developing nanotherapeutic strategies to overcome them.​
  • Integrating molecular profiling, imaging, and functional assays to identify vulnerabilities in the tumor microenvironment that can be exploited therapeutically.​
  This work aims to translate mechanistic insights into novel combination therapies that are more effective and less toxic for patients.
• 3. Organoids and organ‑on‑a‑chip
  • Developing and applying tumor organoid‑on‑a‑chip platforms that recapitulate key features of the tumor microenvironment, including perfusion, mechanical cues, and stromal interactions.​
  • Using these models for high‑throughput drug screening, immunotherapy testing, and personalized therapy prediction, with a focus on improving clinical predictability.​
  • Integrating nanotherapeutics with organ‑on‑a‑chip systems to study real‑time drug delivery, biodistribution, and response in a controlled, human‑relevant setting.​
  This approach enables a more physiologically accurate assessment of novel therapies and supports the development of precision oncology strategies.
• 4. Engaging scientific diaspora and global scientific networking
  • Co‑organizing and contributing to diaspora networks that foster collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge exchange between researchers abroad and institutions in their home countries.​
  • Promoting inclusive scientific networking and shared learning as tools to address regional disparities in research infrastructure, funding, and training.​
  • Advocating for policies and programs that facilitate sustainable engagement of the scientific diaspora in science diplomacy, capacity building, and translational research for global health.​
  These efforts complement my technical research by ensuring that innovations in nanomedicine and cancer models are developed and evaluated with a global health perspective.​