Dr. María Antonia Fortuño has been appointed manager of the Biobank Service of the University of Navarra, replacing Dr. Gemma Toledo. position She will be in charge of the scientific coordination and the management of the Human Biological Sample Bank of the University. The goal is to achieve a unified service, with accredited quality and nationally registered, that collaborates with clinicians and researchers involved in the research with human samples. "The general procedures of the Biobank Service are covered by the Biomedical research Law 14/2007. But soon the publication of the Royal Decree that will regulate this rules and regulations in subject of biobanks will force the introduction of modifications", explains Dr. Fortuño.

With a degree in Biological Sciences, Master's Degree in Biotechnology and a PhD in Sciences from the University of Navarra (1995), Dr. Fortuño completed a postdoctoral stay at the New York Medical College in 1998. New York Medical College (Valhalla, New York) and at the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital of the University of Montreal (Canada). After returning to the University of Navarra as partner of research in the department of Vascular Physiopathology, since 2001 she has developed her degree program as a scientist in the laboratory of Hypertensive Cardiopathy of the area of Cardiovascular Sciences of the research center Applied Medicine (CIMA). There she has directed a group analysis of molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in myocardial hypertrophy. Her main line of work has been the pathogenic role of cardiotrophin-1 in hypertensive cardiac involvement.

Dr. Fortuño is the director of 1 project of Master's Degree and 3 doctoral thesis , co-author of 35 international publications and 28 national publications and has presented more than 90 communications at conferences. Accredited by the National Agency for Assessment of Quality and Accreditation in 2004 as Associate Professor and private university professor, her teaching tasks in the last 8 years have been focused on postgraduate courses.