J. Manuel Hernández-Hernández, PhD

Principal Investigator, Professor.

J. Manuel Hernández, PhD, holds a SNI-II level at the National system of investigators from CONACYT and is a full time Professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology at the Centre for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV) in México City.  

Dr. Hernández earned his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He then joined the lab of Professor Anthony N. Imbalzano at the University of Massachusetts Medical School to study transcriptional regulation during skeletal myogenesis. Later on, he worked as research associate in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Rudnicki at the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research in Ottawa, Canada, where he focused on the study of transcriptional regulation, long-range chromatin organization and genome topology controlling muscle stem cells function.  

In 2018, Dr. Hernández established his independent research group at the Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology at the Centre for Research on Aging in Mexio City. 

Rodolfo Daniel Ávila-Avilés

PhD Student

Daniel earned his undergraduate degree in Biotechnology from the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico and Philosophy from the Vasco de Quiroga University. He completed a Masters in Genetics and Molecular Biology at Cinvestav. As a PhD student in the Hernández Lab, Daniel´s research focuses on resolving the interactome associated with the mutant-ATXN7 mRNA in the context of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7 (SCA7), using CRISPR-Cas13 technology. 

Daniel also contributes in the identification of small molecules with potential activity in muscle differentiation and regeneration through molecular docking and molecular dynamics.

Amairani Cancino-Bello

PhD Student

Amairani is from Guerrero, México. She earned her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from the Autonomous University of México, in México City. 

Her research focuses on the study of long non-coding RNAs with regulatory functions in skeletal muscle differentiation. 

Ingrid Aimée Chagolla-Badillo

Master's Student

Aimée is from Guanajuato, México where she earned her undergraduate degree in Experimental Biology. 

Aimée's interests in the lab are the characterization of microRNAs that modulate fiber type identity in response to the flavonol Epicatechin in wild type and dystrophic mouse models. 

Mauricio Hernández-Somilleda

Master's Student

Mauricio is from México City. He earned his bachelor's in Biotechnology from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara.

Mauricio's project focuses on applying CRISPR-Cas9 technology to identify chromatin remodeling complexes and transcription factors present at gene regulatory elements that control expression of genes important for skeletal muscle regeneration. 

Ana Victoria Arredondo-Robles

Master's Student

Victoria is currently working on the identification and characterization of novel new small molecules with the potential to enhance muscle differentiation and regeneration, applying molecular docking and molecular dynamics. 

Fernando A. Lizárraga Saavedra

Master's Student

Fernando Alberto Lizárraga Saavedra is from Sonora, México. He earned his undergraduate degree in Clinical Biological Chemistry in 2021 from the University of Sonora. In his academic career he has participated in scientific internships at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the IPN (CINVESTAV), at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and at the Center for Research in Food and Development (CIAD). His research is based on the study of the sequestration of the splicing factor HNRNPA2B1 and its impact on the pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7).

Manuel Gutiérrez-Rodríguez

Undergraduate Student

Manuel is currently working on the identification and characterization of novel new small molecules with the potential to enhance muscle differentiation and regeneration, applying molecular docking and molecular dynamics. 

María Luisa Benítez Hess, PhD

Lab Manager