Elena María Ribe finished her programs of study in Biology at the University of Navarra in 2000 and then went to Biochemistry . In 5 years she did two undergraduate degrees and also had the opportunity to stay for a whole year at the University College Dublin thanks to a scholarship European Exchange Fellowship. After completing her doctoral thesis at the University of Navarra and passing through Columbia University in New York and King's College in London, she landed at the University of Oxford where she is currently doing research on Alzheimer's disease. Today, she looks back on how and where it all began.

What memories do you have of your time at the University?
Those were very special years. I remember the camaraderie, but above all, the involvement and closeness of the professors. This is something that I valued at the time and that now, with the passing of time, makes the University of Navarra unique. In addition, there I learned that the hard work , the desire to excel, determination and commitment, all under the respect, take you where you want. Undoubtedly, a great lesson.

In addition to this, was there anything you learned during the degree program that was especially useful to you afterwards?
On the one hand, the large number of internships done during the degree program. I think the University in that sense is extraordinary, excellent. Basically, any subject experiment I have had to perform was covered in more or less depth in the laboratory sessions. On the other hand, what I have already commented, I also think that the University of Navarra does a great work in transmitting and appreciating the discipline, a value that I consider vital for the professional development and staff.

Let's jump back in time to the present day, what does your work consist of?

I joined my current position in May 2014. I belong to the department of Psychiatry and the department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at the University of Oxford. This stage is a great challenge as I lead the group of molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways in neurodegenerative processes focusing on Alzheimer's disease. Thus, while studying the molecular mechanisms of this disease, we are developing a more applied phase for the creation of a drug discovery platform.

What challenges or projects does this pose for the future?
Very many. One of the most interesting is to define the role of neuroinflammation in the disease. But the one that motivates me the most is to find molecules that interfere with the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer's disease. We have just started working on this and we hope to find molecules that interact with the therapeutic target we are investigating and thus slow down the disease.

Finally, what committee would you give to students who choose science as a career path?
I would tell them that if it is their passion: Go ahead! You can go very far if you set your mind to it. It is very nice to trace your own path. It is also hard, but very satisfying. In this sense, the University of Navarra is a unique place where they help you to outline that path from the beginning, opening countless doors for you.