Specialization
- Medical Microbiology
- Translational Cancer Research
- Vaginal Microbiome
- Biomarker Discovery
- Multi-omics Analyses
Focus of research
Mariano Molina works in the identification and analysis of molecular biomarkers for cancer detection in liquid biopsies. Traditional biopsies are challenging and invasive, but recent oncology research has shifted its focus toward analyzing biological fluids rather than whole tissues for tumor-derived components. This technique is referred as liquid biopsy. Liquid biopsy involves blood sampling, and other body fluids like mucosa, pleural effusions, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. Thus, liquid biopsy provides enhanced sensitivity in diagnosis and ease of repeated sampling throughout treatment in a convenient and non-invasive manner. Mariano's current work focuses on urine samples as liquid biopsy for gynecological cancers.