Knowledge Transfer & Press

“No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.”

Virginia Woolf

Activities

2026

June 2026. Invited speaker at the II Tissue Engineering Conference, held at Rey Juan Carlos University. By María Salazar-Roa.

May 2026. Invited speaker at the State Congress of Biosciences Students (CEEBI, Congreso Estatal de Estudiantes de Biociencias). By María Salazar-Roa.

February 2026. Participation in the International Day of Women and Girls in Science at the Complutense University (activity coordinated by UCM and AECC). By María Salazar-Roa.

2025

September 2025. Invited speaker at the 1st Open Conference on Cancer Research: Humanizing from the Laboratory (Albacete, Spain), with the talk “The Invisible Axes of Cancer: Understanding Complexity.” By María Salazar-Roa.

July 2025.Invited to close the seminar series of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Oviedo and IUOPA. By María Salazar-Roa.

June 2025. Coordination of the doctoral course “Graphic Design in Science,” aimed at PhD students from different faculties (experimental sciences and humanities) at UCM. By Mateo de las Casas and María Salazar Roa.

June 2025. In charge of the Contigo + Ciencia booth at the first AECC volunteer fair. By María Salazar-Roa.

Since April 2025, I have been appointed as Tenured Associate Professor (Profesora Titular de Universidad). I teach in several graduate programs, including the Master’s in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, the Master’s in Medicinal Cannabis Research, and the Master’s in Molecular Biology of Cancer at UCM, as well as the Master’s in Molecular Biomedicine at UAM. I am also involved in undergraduate teaching in the Biochemistry degree and the joint degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry, where I teach Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II (second year) and History of Biochemistry (fourth year). In addition to these teaching activities, I supervise several undergraduate (final degree projects) and Master’s theses every year. Since then, more than in other areas of outreach and knowledge transfer, I focus my efforts within the classroom, where I aim to integrate scientific rigor with critical thinking and a broader perspective on science.

2024

November 2024.Invited talk- scientific seminar series at the department of Biochemistry and Molecular BIology, UCM. María Salazar-Roa.

November 2024.Short talk at ASEICA-Joven first meeting, in Zaragoza (19th ASEICA congress). María Salazar-Roa.

November 2024.Invited as moderator of the round table for the presentation of the thirdreport “Committed to Cancer research”, promoted by La Caixa Foundation and the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC). AECC Madrid. María Salazar-Roa.

October 2024. Participation in the “Week for Science” at Complutense University, together with AECC. Outreach activities for “immersion in science for one day”, devoted to students between 12 and 18 years old. UCM-AECC. María Salazar-Roa.

October 2024: Science in motion. Inspirational international talk to contribute to the AECC-Seedtag crowdfunding for breast cancer. Maria Salazar-Roa.

June 2024: Coordination of a Doctorate Curse called “Graphic Design in Science”, aimed to PhD students from different Faculties (experimental science and humanities) at UCM. By Mateo de las Casas and María Salazar Roa.

February 2024- April 2024: Outreach activities in schools. We have talked about the scientific career, our work at the School of Biology (UCM), and our particular research projects. By María Salazar Roa and Nuria García Martínez Illescas.

February 2024: In collaboration with ASEICA Mujer, we have organized a talk about cancer research at Faculty of Biology UCM, aimed to master and PhD students from Biology and Biochemistry. By María Salazar Roa.

December 2023- June 2024: Promoter and organizer, together with Dr. Ignacio Belda, of the annual research conferences at the Faculty of Biological Sciences (Complutense University of Madrid). María Salazar-Roa.

2023

February 2023- April 2023: Outreach activities in several schools, all through the Comunity of Madrid, aimed to undergraduate students. We have talked about the scientific career, our work at the School of Biology (UCM), and our particular research projects. By María Salazar Roa and Nuria García Martínez Illescas.

November 2022-July 2023:Promoter and organizer, together with Dr. Mercedes Echaide, Moisés Mato and Marian Alonso, of the university accompaniment program called ELEVEN, at the Complutense University of Madrid. María Salazar-Roa. Read more

April 2023. Invited speaker at San Pablo CEU University (Madrid). Participation in promoted by the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer. María Salazar-Roa.

February 2023. Invited as moderator of the round table “ACTESxS transdisciplinary challenges”, in the conference organized for the day of women and girls in science 2023, at the initiative of the Metabolic Planet Program ACTESxS (Art_Science_Technology_Entrepreneurship_Society x Sustainability). Complutense University of Madrid & Madrid+d Foundation. María Salazar-Roa.

January 2023. Teaching participation as invited speaker in the “Maintenance Program for training in animal experimentation and other scientific purposes” organized by the Office of the Vice Rector for Research and Transfer UCM. Function Modules d: Design of Projects and Procedures; Session 4 (entitled “Human Organoids and Organotypic Cultures: Affordable, Improved, and Unique Systems for Studying Human Biology and Medicine”). Complutense University of Madrid. María Salazar-Roa.

January 2023. Teaching participation as invited speaker in the course “BMM6-Biology of Cancer academic year 2022-2023”, within the Molecular Biomedicine Master of the Autonoma Universty of Madrid. Teaching of the class entitled “cancer stem cells” and its corresponding practical session (6 hours). Autonoma University of Madrid. María Salazar-Roa.

January 2023. Teaching participation as invited speaker in the course “Molecular Foundations of Medicine”, with the talk entitled “Cell therapy strategies against T1 diabetes”. Spanish Royal National Academy of Medicine. María Salazar-Roa.

2022

December 2022- June 2023. Promoter and organizer, together with Dr. Ignacio Belda, of the annual research conferences at the Faculty of Biological Sciences (Complutense University of Madrid). María Salazar-Roa.

November 2022. Presentation at the 22^nd annual congress of the Spanish Society for Research on Cannabinoids (in Pamplona). Talk title: “Cannabinoid-based strategy to induce cancer stem cell differentiation”. Nuria García Martínez-Illescas and María Salazar-Roa.

November 2022. Invited as moderator of the round table for the presentation of the second report “Committed to Cancer research”, promoted by La Caixa Foundation, ASEICA and the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC).Caixa Forum Auditorium (Madrid). María Salazar-Roa.

27 – 29 July 2022. Participation in the direction and coordination of one of the UCM Summer Courses 2022: “THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS IN SPANISH SOCIETY:https://theconversation.com/las-8-acciones-que-necesita-la-ciencia-espanola-para-servir-mejor-a-la-sociedad-188348

July 27, 2022. Moderator of the round table entitled “Towards a fruitful (re)insertion of scientists in Spanish society and economy”. UCM-El Escorial summer course (San Lorenzo de El Escorial). María Salazar-Roa.

July 2022. Participation in the 15-hour teacher training course entitled “creativity techniques applied to education”, led by Professor Moisés Mato. PDI training course at Complutense University of Madrid. María Salazar-Roa.

July 2022 (MIT; Cambridge, USA). Teaching participation as invited speaker in the HST Training Program (Health Sciences and Technology) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University (10 hours). María Salazar-Roa.

18 February 2022- 18 March 2022: Outreach activities in several schools, all through the Comunity of Madrid, aimed to undergraduate students. We have talked about the scientific career, our work at the School of Biology (UCM), and our particular research projects. These activities are part of a common initiative, in collaboration with our Vice-Dean of Research (School of Biology, UCM).

By María Salazar Roa and Nuria García Martínez Illescas.

IES La Senda

IES Juana de Castilla

IES María de Molina

IES Eijo y Garay

IES Las Musas

IES Liceo Sorolla B

IES Don Pelayo de Villalbilla

April 2021-June 2022. Promoter and organizer, together with Dr. Ignacio Belda, of the annual cycle of Research Seminars at the Faculty of Biological Sciences (Complutense University of Madrid). María Salazar-Roa.

01 March 2022: Liceo Sorolla B School, Madrid_ Educational introductory talk to kids from 6 to 8 years-old about biomedical science, how scientists work… and experimental activity adapted. Visit under the initiative from AECC called “Science for all, volunteers for Science”. By María Salazar Roa

2021

2021-2022. Participation in several activities promoted by the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer, as “volunteers for science”. Talks and workshops in schools and institutes (Community of Madrid). María Salazar-Roa.

November 2021-July 2022. Promoter and organizer, together with Dr. Mercedes Echaide, of the university accompaniment program called ELEVEN, at the Complutense University of Madrid. ELEVEN pilot program was developed in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-Rector for UCM Students during the academic year 2021-2022. Preparation of the new edition is ongoing. María Salazar-Roa.

July 2021. Participation as a collaborator in the summer camp organized by the Office of the Vice-Rector for UCM Students and aimed at high school students. María Salazar-Roa.

From June 2021…: Maria is participating in a new initiative of the FCAECC, dedicated to presenting (in 10 seminars) cancer research funded by the AECC, the organization and objectives of the AECC Scientific Foundation as well as the activities created and promoted by them. As one of the invited senior AECC researchers, María exposes all these aspects and more, to members of the National AECC Association -specially to those who do not work directly in the Scientific Foundation-, so that they can learn more about the incredible work developed by the FCAECC team.

10 March 2021: Nuria has participated in the meeting organized by AECC “Mujer y Ciencia l Un encuentro científico entre la Dra. Marisol Soengas y Nuria García Martínez- Illescas“. Learn more

29 January 2021: Liceo Sorolla B School, Madrid_ Inspirational talk to young students, from 15 to 17 years old, about the Research Career. By María Salazar Roa. Learn more

14 January 2021: Participation in the innitiative “Jornadas sobre la Carrera Investigadora”, organized by the Spanish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM) and the Faculty of Veterinary at Computense University (UCM). Together with Fátima Valdés, Abel Martínez and Sara García, María explained the different aspects and processes during the research path, with special mention to the “tenure track” in Spain: competitive funding calls, strategies, opportunities, personal perspectives, suggestions and advices. This was the first module of a series of interesting round tables (programmed from January to April 2021), mainly devoted to young reserachers, Master and PhD students. Learn more

2020

14 December 2020: Participation in the Round Table “Women in Science”, organized in the III Young Researchers Meeting by CIBERONC_ Invited by Ciberonc, Maria has taken part of this amazing round table, with Dr. Marisol Soengas, Dr. Marta Macho and Dr. Nuria Salán, debating about the career track, equity and opportunities of women in science today.

10 December 2020: Presentation of the new Research Lines incorporated at Faculty of Biology, Complutense University (Madrid)_Maria has presented today her postdoctoral trajectory and the research lines of her recently established group here, at UCM. The event has been organized by the Vice Dean of Research in our Faculty and supported and materialized by UCM Foundation.

25 November 2020: XVIII Curso para postgraduados sobre “Fundamentos Moleculares de la Medicina” (Real Academia Nacional de Medicina en España & Universidad Complutense de Madrid)_Maria has been honored to be invited to these prestigious curses, organized by the FRANME. She was accompanied by some of the best researchers in Biomedicine in Spain today, such as Enrique Blázquez, Miguel Angel del Pozo, Manuel Serrano, Maria Blasco, among many others.

11 November 2020: Science Week at Complutense University (Madrid)_Our lab collaborates on the divulgation activities promoted by the Research Vice Dean, Faculty of Biology. We organized debates about the scientific career on Biology with high-school students.

20 October 2020: WiseCro and CancerCom (Universidad de Monterrey, Mexico)_María Salazar Roa collaborates with the community of CancerCom and the Wise office at University of Monterrey, to divulgate and inspirate to young women in science.

25 September 2020: Madrid_Starting to build the bases of the Global CoCreation Lab Program dedicated to inspiration and education of STEM girls: Girls Teaching Girls (GTG). Our Cancer STEM Lab has been honoured to actively participate in this amazing initiative.

15 September 2020: Madrid_Divulgative interview with Manolo HH and Aranzazu Meana (UCM) in “Historias de la gente” (Radio 5).

12 March 2020: Madrid_Science Communication to the general public. From their own personal experiences, Arkaitz Carracedo and María Salazar Roa explain how we can talk to the audience about our scientific projects in a more accesible way. Webinar series organized by the AECC Scientific Foundation.

11 February 2020: Caixa Forum, Madrid_María Salazar Roa participates in the International Day of Women and Girl in Science, 2020 event organised by La Caixa.

2019

23 May 2019: Liceo Sorolla B School, Madrid_ Educational introductory talk to kids from 6 to 8 years-old about biomedical science, how scientists work… and experimental activity adapted. Visit under the initiative from AECC called “Science for all, volunteers for Science”. By María Salazar Roa. Learn more

23 April 2019: Liceo Sorolla B School, Madrid_ Educational talk to undergraduate students about CNIO, how we work and how we investigate against cancer and experimental activity of DNA extraction. Visit under the initiative from AECC called “Science for all, volunteers for Science”. By María Salazar Roa.

8-11 April 2019: CNIO, welcoming students through the initiative of 4ºESO-Empresa_ Immersion in the lab for one week, guided visit to the centre and units, etc. By María Salazar Roa.

5 April 2019: Aldovea School, Madrid_ Educational talk about CNIO, how we work and how we investigate against cancer and presentation of our project on Precipita platform. By María Salazar Roa.

1 April 2019: Sagrada Familia School, Madrid_ Educational talk about CNIO, how we work and how we investigate against cancer and presentation of our project on Precipita platform. By María Salazar Roa.

27 March 2019: MM Concepcionistas School, Madrid_ Educational talk about CNIO, how we work and how we investigate against cancer, under the initiative from AECC called “Science for all, volunteers for Science”. By María Salazar Roa.

1 March 2019: CNIO, welcoming students through the initiative of DIVERCIENCIA_ Immersion in the lab for one day, guided visit to the centre and units, etc. By María Salazar Roa.

2018

17-21 December 2018: CNIO, welcoming two students through the initiative of CNIO & The city_ Immersion in the lab for one week, development of a little lab project, guided visit to the centre and units, etc. By María Salazar Roa.

15 November 2018: CNIO, welcoming students from Stanford University. Activity developed together with Mariano Barbacid_ Guided visit to the center, round table with Mariano talking about CNIO history, how we work at CNIO and cancer research nowadays. By María Salazar Roa.

14 November 2018: Nuestra Señora de la Merced School, Madrid_ Educational talk about CNIO, how we work and how we investigate against cancer, under the initiative from AECC called “Science for all, volunteers for Science”. By María Salazar Roa.

19 October 2018: CNIO, welcoming Retamar School, Madrid_ Educational talk about CNIO, how we work here and how we investigate against cancer. By María Salazar Roa.

9 October 2018: CNIO, welcoming Ausonia and AECC to the centre_ Educational video about how we investigate against cancer stem cells in the scenario of breast cancer. By María Salazar Roa.

4 October 2018: AECC auditorium in Madrid_ round table together with breast cancer patients and psychologists, under the sponsorship of AECC and Ausonia. By María Salazar Roa.

23 April 2018: Lleida University, Lleida_ Educational talk about pluripotency and how we investigate the use of miRNAs to favor stem cells differentiation. By María Salazar Roa.

9 April 2018: Sagrada Familia School, Madrid_Educational seminar about stem cells and cancer. By María Salazar Roa.

9 March 2018: Stem Cell Insitute, Cambridge_ Seminar about pluripotency and how to use miRNAs to boost stemness potential. By María Salazar Roa.

18 January 2018: Inmaculada Concepción School, Madrid_ Educational talk about CNIO, how we work here and how we investigate against cancer. By María Salazar Roa.