Iria Gomez-Tourino CD1-MR1 Workshop 2025

Iria Gomez-Tourino

I am Principal Investigator of the Immunity and Small Molecules lab at the Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS) of the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) since 2022, and Associate Professor of Immunology of the same university. My research career has always focused on the molecular mechanisms that drive autoimmunity, with a focus in Type 1 Diabetes. We made significant contributions to the autoimmunity field (e.g Nat Commun 2024, Diabetologia 2020, Nat Commun 2017), specifically in autoantigen discovery, autoimmune TCR profiling and autoantigen-specific T cell phenotyping. My lab is focused in understanding the molecular mechanisms of autoimmunity, and how small molecules could be involved in both fostering and/or disrupting the functioning of the immune system, employing high-throughput techniques. For this, I received the Career Development Award from Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF, USA, 2023-2028, 1M$), to identify the self-antigens recognized by MAIT cells in T1D. This award is aimed to foster the careers of exceptionally promising researchers with disrupting ideas in the Type 1 Diabetes field. Additionally, and taking advantage of the excellent drug screening capabilities of our research centre, we also work in drug discovery in autoimmunity, as we identified a portfolio of novel and repurposed small molecules with previously unknown immunomodulatory properties. I have been awarded several fellowships and awards, including two prestigious Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual fellowships (King’s College London, UK, 2013-2015, and USC, Spain, 2018-2020), the Award to Young Researchers by the Royal Academy of Sciences of Galicia (2025), and the Career Development Award by Breakthrough T1D (2023). I am also the inventor of three patents, European Union Expert Evaluator, Nobel Laureate Lindau alumni, and elected member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Society of Immunology (2022-2026). I am also very active in outreach activities. I look forward to meeting other MR1/MAIT/TCR/autoimmunity enthusiasts and creating new networks, so feel free to reach out!