Marta Vilaseca: 'The information provided by mass spectrometry facilitates the understanding of diseases'

Marta Vilaseca (Barcelona, 1970) leads the Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics Core Facility at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona). Comprising eight members of staff, this facility supports the cutting-edge research conducted at the centre. In this regard, by developing and implementing innovative methodology, the facility helps scientists to improve the results obtained from their experiments.

Thanks to technological advances in mass spectrometry, new methods of analysis and bioinformatics tools, it is now possible to decipher the roles of proteins in certain diseases and to determine how proteins interact with each other or with a certain drug.

Mass spectrometry-based techniques can now identify and quantify proteins in tissues or cells. They also allow observation of protein shape and interactions with other molecules and the monitoring of the changes proteins undergo in vivo.

"The information provided by mass spectrometry allows us to further our knowledge of diseases, and it facilitates the design of new drugs," says Vilaseca.

Capturing the essence in images

Vilaseca is keen on photography. She particularly likes to take pictures of nature, especially those that capture the beauty and the immensity of the sea. And in the video she draws an analogy with her work, saying, "Through the camera I can capture the essence of my life. And I think that, in the same way, mass spectrometry and proteomics help us understand the complexity of biological systems through good images.”

"Meet Our Scientists" is a series of short videos that presents the group leaders at IRB Barcelona. The videos seek to showcase the vision, passion, character and talent of the scientists working at the centre.

The videos are supported by the Spanish Foundation of Science and Technology (FECYT) and the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.