Clara García Astrain has been awarded a Leonardo Grant for Scientific Research and Cultural Creation 2025 by Fundación BBVA in the area of Basic Sciences (Chemistry).

Her project, “Monitorizar las infecciones bacterianas en modelos de tejido por bioimpresión 3D (MOBIN)”, aims to develop advanced 3D tissue models that realistically mimic bacterial infections in the human body. By integrating fluorescent sensors into these bioprinted models, the project will make it possible to visualize bacterial activity in real time. This includes pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori, which infects nearly half of the global population and is linked to ulcers and gastric cancer.

Clara García Astrain joined POLYMAT after completing her PhD in Renewable Materials Engineering at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and conducting research in institutions such as the University of Strasbourg and CICbiomaGUNE. At POLYMAT, she leads a research group dedicated to the design and functionalization of polymeric materials for 3D cellular models and in situ monitoring of biological processes.