Biography
Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral researcher specializing in tuberculosis (TB) and respiratory infections, combining microbiology, public health, and metabolomics. Doctoral research focused on non-sputum biomarkers for improved TB diagnosis and monitoring. Passionate about developing innovative diagnostic solutions adapted to resource-limited settings, particularly in high-TB burden countries (Haiti, Mozambique, Angola). Recognized through patents, peer-reviewed publications, and the Barcelona Tuberculosis Research Unit Foundation’s Best Doctoral Thesis Award.
Key Impacts
Demographic and immunological patterns in tuberculosis infection: Insights from a hospital cohort of over 14,000 QFT-tested patients
This large-scale hospital-based analysis supports the hypothesis that TBI contributes to persistent immune activation. The sex and age differences observed in IFN-γ levels may reflect variability in exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, particularly in young men. These findings represent a profile of TBI in low incidence country and confirm progress toward understanding the long-term impact of TBI on cardiovascular health.
Source: Conference 2024
Diagnostic accuracy of SOS-Xpert Ultra on frozen stool samples for TB detection in rural Angola: Preliminary findings
Preliminary findings suggest that frozen stool processed with the SOS method shows high concordance with fresh samples and may be a practical alternative where immediate testing is not feasible.
Source: Conference 2024