Meet our Early Career Scientist Grant Winner Jennifer Monereo Sánchez
It’s time to introduce the next winner of our monthly Early Career Scientist Grant - Jennifer Monereo Sánchez!
Our monthly $500 grant is awarded to a life science PhD or postdoc to support them with their career development. Previous winners have used the funds to attend science conferences, cover publishing fees or buy essential lab supplies for their latest research.
This month’s winner is a postdoc working in Valentín Fuster's lab under the supervision of Marta Cortés-Canteli at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) in Madrid, Spain. She plans to use the grant to help fund her trip to the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Toronto, Canada, from July 27 to 31, 2025.
When we asked Jennifer how she felt about receiving the grant, she told us:
Receiving the Hello Bio Award is a fantastic opportunity that allows me to share my research at AAIC, engage with leading experts, and foster new collaborations. This support is invaluable in advancing our understanding of how cardiovascular health impacts brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease risk. Jennifer Monereo Sánchez, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC) in Madrid, Spain, Hello Bio Early Career Scientist Grant winner
Congratulations Jennifer! First, can you tell us a bit more about your current research work?
I am currently investigating the associations between cardiovascular health, cerebrovascular health, and Alzheimer's disease pathology using multimodal neuroimaging and biomarker data from the PESA-Brain cohort. My research focuses on understanding how midlife cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis contribute to early brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
What excites you most about your field of research?
What excites me most about my field is the interdisciplinary nature of dementia research. Combining cardiovascular data, neuroimaging, and clinical biomarkers allows us to uncover how lifestyle and vascular factors shape brain health decades before symptoms appear. The possibility of identifying modifiable risk factors that could delay or prevent Alzheimer's disease is incredibly motivating.
Which scientists working today do you most admire, and why?
I greatly admire Marta Cortés-Canteli for her groundbreaking work on the vascular contributions to Alzheimer's disease, particularly in understanding how thrombotic mechanisms impact neurodegeneration. Additionally, I admire Valentin Fuster, whose research has transformed our understanding of cardiovascular health and prevention strategies. Their work has shaped my perspective on the strong connection between heart and brain health.
What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing life scientists and their work?
One of the biggest challenges is the need for longitudinal, high-quality data to fully understand disease progression and develop effective interventions. Additionally, securing funding for ambitious, interdisciplinary projects remains a major hurdle. The rapid advancement of technology also presents both opportunities and challenges in terms of integrating new methodologies, managing large datasets, and ensuring reproducibility in research.
And finally… what’s your favourite science quote?
“Every man can, if he so desires, become the sculptor of his own brain.” – Santiago Ramon y Cajal, Advice for a Young Investigator.
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Thank you so much Jennifer! We hope you have a fantastic time at the AAIC in Toronto, Canada!
Connect with Jennifer:
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X(Twitter): @NeuroMRI_MoSa
Are YOU a life science PhD or postdoc researcher? Why not apply for our next monthly grant!
Application is quick and easy, just fill out the form here: https://hellobio.com/early-career-scientist-grant-application
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